Republican candidates speak at convention
By Laura Collins
Published in News on March 14, 2010 1:50 AM
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News-Argus/BOBBY WILLIAMS
Congressman Walter B. Jones Jr. addresses the Wayne County Republican Party Convention on Saturday. Jones warned that if the nation's leaders do not slow spending, the next generation of Americans could wind up paying 75 cents on the dollar in taxes.
Republican candidates for a local, state and national offices got a chance to have their say at the annual Wayne County Republican Precinct Meeting and County Convention Saturday at the county Courthouse.
Rep. Walter Jones, who is running for re-election to the 3rd District seat in Congress, spoke briefly about the national debt, which he said is about $11 trillion. He said the country keeps spending what it doesn't have and said if it continues it's possible that 30 years from now, taxes could be 75 cents on the dollar.
"If Congress does not deal with the critical issues facing this country, then we'll never get the problems fixed," Jones said. "We need to stop taking care of the world and start taking care of America. Fix our problems."
He added that he never votes for foreign aid and plans on continuing to stick to the core values of less government and less spending.
Mark Braden, deputy campaign manager for Sen. Richard Burr, spoke on Burr's behalf. He said Burr, who is running for re-election to the U.S. Senate, has been fighting for North Carolina families and North Carolina businesses to make sure the health care bill doesn't go through.
"We spend too much, we borrow too much and he's up there making sure that they're not saddling (our children) with that burden," Braden said.
Wayne County Sheriff Carey Winders is also running for re-election. He said it's important for people to get out and vote come November.
"People sit at home and depend on somebody else to go and vote," he said. "Help us out, push for us and talk for us."
Three candidates for the 1st District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives were on hand: John Carter of Wilson, Jerry Grimes of Goldsboro and Ashley Woolard of Little Washington. The seat is currently held by Democrat G.K. Butterfield.
Carter said he believes in shrinking government and tax cuts. He said he doesn't buy into the theory that tax cuts cost too much and said former presidents have proven that tax cuts "pay for themselves."
"We can't afford not to do this," Carter said.
He added that all congressional spending should be voted on as a separate bill and said if elected he promises to vote against any tax increase, vote against any congressional pay increase and any government attempt to take over the private sector.
Grimes shared his slogan and belief that the people are the power and reminded those in attendance to always cherish freedom and never take it for granted.
"We need to move together towards November and beyond," he said. "We need to remind everyone why the United States has been, is and will be the greatest nation on Earth."
Woolard previously served as the chairman of the Beaufort County Republican Party. She focused on the need for jobs in the area and cited three principles -- limited government, hard work and entrepreneurship -- as currently being "under attack" by the current government.
"Extreme liberals not only want control of government but control of your daily lives," she said. "We need to send them a clear message that we don't want it."
Louis Pate is running against Democrat Don Davis for the 5th District seat in the state Senate, which includes most of eastern Wayne County.
Pate said he's interested in off-shore drilling for oil and exploring the capabilities of the state's ports in order to possibly create more jobs.
"We are really behind the curve on that and we need to get out there and explore," he said.
Dean Poirier, a Mount Olive native, is running for Court of Appeals Judge against incumbent Martha Geer. He said he is for judicial humility not judicial arrogance and that a judge has to have courage and integrity.
DeAnn Poirier, his wife, is also running for office -- the District 21 seat in the state House. She described herself as "not a politician" but someone who is unable to continue to simply stand by.
She said she is for tax cuts for small businesses and against state-sponsored gambling and government health care, among other things.
State Sen. David Rouzer is running for re-election in District 12, which includes the western half of Wayne, and said he is pushing for less government.
"The more government you have, the lower your standard of living," Rouzer said.
He noted that is has been 112 years since Republicans held control of the state Senate.
Former county commissioner Arnold Flowers is running for the county Board of Education. Flowers said his goal would be making sure every student knows how to read and do math. He contends those two skills will ensure students jobs in the future.
"If you can read, you can read the Constitution. If you can do math, you can balance a checkbook," he said.