FRANKLIN COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY
101 WEST NASH STREET
P.O. BOX 909
LOUISBURG, NORTH CAROLINA 27549
(919) 496-1469
www.FranklinNCGOP.com


March 20, 2009


 

County Convention Highlights

Neal: 'We're going to work to win and work to dominate'



Seated: Chairman Jeremy Neal and Secretary Stephanie Ciaramitaro;
Back row (l-r) : 2nd Vice Chairman Chuck Stires; 1st Vice Chairman Glen Bradley; and Treasurer Janet Barabasz

Neal Elected Chairman

"We're going to work to win and work to dominate," said newly elected Chairman Jeremy Neal at the Franklin County Republican Party's annual County Convention March 20, 2009 at the Hamilton Hobgood Courthouse Annex in Louisburg.

Neal made several proposals to help the county GOP grow. He wants more fundraisers, more community involvement by the GOP and its elected officials, and register more young voters. He also said conservative Democrats think like Republicans in rural areas and stressed that GOP events need to occur in those areas.

Neal reiterated that the party's candidate pool is great and wants to take over the Board of Commissioners and non-partisan school board.

Also elected by acclamation were First Vice Chairman Glen Bradley; reeelcted Second Vice Chairman Chuck Stires; Secretary Stephanie Ciaramitaro; and reelected Treasurer Janet Barabasz.

During the convention two candidates for state party chairman vied for the county's 45 delegates.



Chad Adams

Former Lee County GOP chairman and former county commissioner Chad Adams said he will be a full-time chairman.  He wants permanent term limits on the Democrats in the Legislature and is concerned about socialized health care. He also blasted Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue for taking lottery money away from education.

Adams said he wants to restore the G.O.P. brand back to its conservative roots and is pushing for limited government and personal freedom. He added that the state party needs to reach out more to the counties to ensure that all candidates have a better chance of winning. Adams said that Charlotte mayor and Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory could have won last year if the voter turnout was slightly better in each county.


Tom Fetzer

Tom Fetzer said he was the first Republican ever elected as mayor of Raleigh. He went door to door and still won even though it was 3 to 1 Democrat in the Capital City. During Fetzer's six years as mayor, he was able to cut taxes from 62 cents to 38 cents on the hundred dollars.

As chairman, Fetzer said he enjoys raising money. He emphasized that if each Republican gave a dollar a day, $365 could be raised annually towards the county party. He added that if each one fasted one day a month that could bring in an extra $8 for the county GOP.

Fetzer said that he wants to win one or both houses in the Legislature if he is elected chairman. He also wants limited government and said the bailout is wrong.

Three resolutions were adopted at the convention: Restore North Carolina's Sovereignty; Affirming the Rights of Citizens of N.C. to Keep and Bear Arms and Protecting the Rights Against Infringement from Federal Legislation and Executive Order; and honoring the late Robert Rector who was chairman of the Franklin County Republican Party and was active in the GOP for 30 years.

Outgoing chairman John Edwards was awarded a plaque for his service as chairman. Certificates of appreciation were awarded to outgoing First Vice chairman Danny Pearce and outgoing secretary Opie Pearce for their many years of service in the GOP.

Stephen Phillips was awarded a certificate of appreciation for manning the headquarters during last year's elections. Nicholas Cloer was awarded a certificate of appreciation for being active as a teenage Republican during the 2008 elections.

Delegates were also elected to attend the 2nd District Convention in April and the state GOP's convention in June.

Click Here to Be Added to E-mail List