County GOP convention held
By John Joyce
Published in News on March 6, 2016 1:45 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
U.S. Rep. David Rouzer speaks Saturday at the Wayne County Republican Convention.
Less government.
Lower taxes.
More individual responsibility.
The message delivered Saturday stayed within party lines as more than a hundred supporters, volunteers and elected officials gathered inside the Wayne Center for the Wayne County Republican Convention.
U.S. Rep. David Rouzer, N.C. District 7, attended as the convention's keynote speaker.
Rouzer, pending the approval of the state's newly redrawn congressional district lines, would represent in Congress those who call Wayne County home.
Right now the county is split between two districts represented by fellow Republican Rep. George Holding, District 13, and Rep. G.K. Butterfield, District 1, a Democrat.
Along with fiscal responsibility and the need to paint a more cohesive portrait of the party in Washington, D.C., Rouzer used his allotted time to rally the electorate on one central issue -- unity.
"Let's focus on the real enemies. Let's focus on the real issues," Rouzer told his audience. "When we stick together, we win. When we are fragmented, we lose."
Rouzer is up for re-election, but will not appear on the Wayne County primary election ballot for March 15. He will still appear in his existing home district precincts as bordered under the old district lines. Should the new lines be upheld, Rouzer said his name will appear locally on the congressional ballot during the June 7 election.
Wayne County GOP Chairman Brent Heath hopes those in attendance Saturday received the party's message.
"Be involved. Go vote. Support their candidate," he said.
Heath hopes the new district lines will hold, helping to unify Wayne County under one district giving the party a direct channel for addressing issues it deems important.
"I think it will be great if all the districts that have been drawn are approved. It will put all of Wayne County in one district, where now we are divided between two districts," he said. "So it will give us one congressman to go to and it will give us a united force inside our county. So I think it will be good and I think David Rouzer will be a great representative for us."
Other speakers included State Rep. John Bell, District 10, and State Rep. Jimmy Dixon, District. 4, who said republicans have lowered taxes and raised teacher's pay, among other successes since coming into power in 2012. He said state and local republicans should now be focused on keeping Gov. Pat McCrory in office, not just for the governor's sake, but for all his appointees as well.
"Not only can we not afford to lose Pat McCrory, we can afford less to lose the people Pat McCrory has put in place," Dixon said.
Neither the Wayne County GOP nor any of the elected officials who spoke at the convention endorsed a presidential candidate, but each said the eventual nominee -- whomever that might be -- will have their full support.