Wayne County Republicans hosts local convention
By Steve Herring
Published in News on March 11, 2018 3:05 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
House Majority Leader John Bell speaks during the Wayne County Republican Party Convention Saturday. He highlighted to importance of voter turnout in the upcoming election.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Chairman Freeman Hardison speaks during the business session of the Wayne County Republican Party Convention Saturday held at the Wayne County Courthouse.
sherring@newsargus.com
Republicans who sit home elect Democrats, state House Majority Leader John Bell said.
And the 2018 election is too important to allow that to happen in light of all that the GOP has accomplished since sweeping into power in 2010, and because of the work that remains to be done, Bell said.
But based on the turnout at Saturday's Wayne County Republican Party Convention, the party could have its work cut out for it.
Less than 40 people attended the convention where Bell was the keynote speaker.
About 10 percent, or 29 out of a possible total of 289 local delegates, attended the convention held in the Wayne County Courthouse's historic courtroom No. 1.
Also, 17 of the county's 30 precincts were not represented at the convention and many of those precincts are unorganized.
But while the party leadership noted the small attendance, they also used it as a springboard to underscore how important it will be for the party faithful to work hard this election.
"We have a great story to tell," Bell said. "So we should be shouting. This room should be full of people. We have a wonderful story to tell. You can't deny it because it is based on fact.
"But remember this, Republicans who sit home elect Democrats, and they are energized because they want to get back in control, and they want to put forth their policies."
If Republicans stay home, don't work the precincts and do not get out the vote, the Democrats will win, Bell said.
"Our Republican candidates need your support," he said. "We all need your support. The grassroots effort this year has to be strong in order for us to maintain the good things that we have done here in the state of North Carolina."
Candidates also need financial support -- campaigns are expensive, he said.
But the biggest thing that is needed is the vote, he said.
"We have to organize, unite, give everything they've got, and if we do that, there is no doubt in my mind we will elect Republicans, our state will continue to prosper, and we will continue not only on the path to make North Carolina great, but making America great," he said.
To know where people are going, they have to know where they have been, Bell said.
He asked the audience to think back to 2010, when the GOP worked hard, got out the vote and gained control of the General Assembly for the first time since the Reconstruction era.
When the Republicans walked through the doors of the legislative building, they had their worked cut out for them, he said.
Out-of-control regulations were killing small businesses, and the state had the third- highest unemployment rate in the nation, he said.
Medicaid was completely out of control and suffered budget shortfalls year after year, Bell said.
The state budget had an approximate $3 million deficit, and the state's roads were in compete disrepair, he said.
"Our state was in a pitiful shape and was getting worse," Bell said. "But these gentlemen went to work and worked hard for two years. We went back out into our community and said, 'Look, we have started a path, give us another shot.'"
They worked hard, winning again in 2012, 2014 and 2016, claiming super majorities in both the state House and Senate, he said.
The results of those labors have led to one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, bonuses and raises for state employees -- particularly for educators -- a nearly $1 billion reserve, tax reform that puts more money back into the pockets of the state's citizens and the elimination of job-killing regulations, Bell said.
Bell said speculation had been that the GOP would not be as successful in the 2016 election, but it was, he said.
The party organized, worked hard and continued to win, he said.
It also was because of that work that Donald Trump carried Wayne County and the state, he said.
However, despite those wins three seats slipped away -- a Supreme Court seat, attorney general and governor, Bell said.
Gov. Roy Cooper has not lived up to his comments that he wanted to work with the GOP majority, Bell said.
Bell said he had believed that, but that one of Cooper's first acts was to establish the Breaking the Majority political action committee.
Cooper and Attorney General Josh Stein have teamed up, and their motto is "Sue Until It's Blue" because the Democratic policies do not work, Bell said.
"North Carolinians have refuted their policies," he said.
Voters across the county have refuted Democratic liberal policies -- policies of more taxes, more regulations, of tearing down monuments, of taking away a person's guns, Bell said.
So the only way for Democrats to pursue their agenda is to sue, he said.
"Our conservative policies, our conservative agenda has produced the fastest-growing state in the union," Bell said.
"The best place to start a business is right here in North Carolina. The best place to do business is right here in North Carolina. We are building roads again."
People have more money in their pockets, Bell said.
That is what conservative policies have done, he said.
"Look around," Wayne County GOP Chairman Freeman Hardison said. "There are a lot of empty seats here. This year and next year we really need to get out in those precincts and get people to work.
"We can't do it alone."
Party volunteers will need to get out and knock on doors, he said.
"I look out here today, and I appreciate everybody who is here," Wayne County Commission Chairman Bill Pate said. "But this room should be full. This is an important election folks.
"We have got to get behind candidates. That is the job that we are here for today."
District 7 Chairman Brent Heath agreed.
"If we neglect this election, if we don't get out the vote, it is going to hurt us in years to come, especially on the judicial side ... if we don't get those in place, we are going to be in trouble," he said.
"Also, the N.C. Republican Party and the caucuses in the House and Senate worked really hard to get good qualified candidates in almost every race in the House and the Senate.
"If Wayne County does not get Robert Freemen elected (in House District 21), we have failed him and we have failed this state."
Heath also announced that the District 7 convention will be held from 9 a.m. to noon April 7 at the Sampson County Exposition Center in Clinton.
The state convention will be held June 7 - 9 at Crown Plaza in Hickory.