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


November 11, 2007


Headquarters Packed
GOP Geared Up for 2008 Elections



 

Franklin County Republicans packed the headquarters November 8 as state Republican Party Chairman Linda Daves and House Republican Leader Paul "Skip" Stam spoke about the 2008 elections.

"The fight is coming back to the Republicans," Daves said. Recent Republican victories, including gubernatorial elections, has proven that this has been a year of opportunity, she added. Daves encouraged everyone to help elect Republicans next year because it can be done, especially with voter dissatisfaction with the Democrats in charge.

House Republican Leader Paul "Skip" Stam said there are several reasons the GOP will win next year. The Democrats are "foolish" to put a New York liberal, Sen. Hillary Clinton, on the ticket. Just mentioning her name raises the negatives against the Democrats.

"This district is not unwinnable next year," Stam said. House District 49 comprises of Franklin County and parts of Halifax and Nash counties which has elected Democratic Rep. Lucy Allen since 2002, but Stam said she can be defeated on several issues. Allen's name was not on the Defense of Marriage bill which defines marriage as one man to one woman, she voted to not fix roads and highways and voted to give away millions of dollars in incentives including $60 million for Goodyear, he said.

Stam said that two thirds of the incentive money goes to the 10 riches counties which does not include Franklin County. About half of that goes to Wake County which "economists say that's nuts," he said.

The Imminent Domain bill -which protects private property owners from having their land seized unjustly- is urgently needed, Stam said. He also said a bipartisan bill for school choice for children with special needs should be passed to help parents get tax credits. It will save the government money, he added.

The 49th District should not go uncontested just because Franklin County has been dominated by Democrats, Stam said.

Warren County Republican Party Chairman Mike Wilburt said the Felony Expungement bill, which is supported by Allen and Democratic state Sen. Doug Berger, will be an issue for next year's elections. The bill, and some modified versions sponsored by Berger, allows "youthful offenders" to have some of their felony records expunged. In fact, one of Berger's modified versions would erase criminal records regardless of the age of the felon.

The next Republican meeting will be 7:00 p.m. Thursday, December 13.