The Richmond County Republican Party held a grand opening this past Saturday of its new headquarters, located at 130 E. Washington St., in Rockingham.
According to Josh Austin, county chairman, more than 100 people were in attendance to hear speeches by several political candidates and former office holders like former 8th Congressional District congressman Robin Hayes, who serves as the current chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party.
Founder of Return America, Ron Baity, was present as well as candidate for State Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, candidate for 8th Congressional District Richard Hudson, candidate for District Court Judge John Nance, N.C. House Majority leader Paul “Skip” Stam, 8th Congressional District GOP Chairman David Black, candidate for Richmond County Commissioner Donnie Richardson, candidate for Richmond County Commissioner Georgia Cagle and Richmond County School Board member Tom McInnis.
Austin said he is excited to be able to open the doors of the new facility.
“We are happy to finally be showing some involvement from the community in Richmond County, who is fed up with the Democratic leadership that currently represents us,” said Austin. “From Washington, D.C., on down to Richmond County, people are ready for a change. We are proud of ourselves and I am proud of the hard work that the Executive Committee of the Richmond County Republican Party has done to secure a location for our candidates to use and the public to get information about who we are and who our candidates are. We’d love for anyone interested in our party and candidates to stop in.”
The grand opening served as a speech platform for political conversation to take place.
“We need to give Richmond County back to the citizens and take it out of the hands of the Board of Commissioners,” said Richardson. “My mother came to Richmond County in 1946 when there was only a handful of Republicans in Richmond County. When she saw the GOP Headquarters, it brought tears of joy to her eyes.”
The upcoming election has many talking about changes to come, and former politicians didn’t miss the chance to contribute to the discussion.
“Alright folks, put your helmets on, get your game face together ‘cause we got some Democrats to beat,” said Hayes. “This is the land of opportunity. Under Ronald Reagan, under a many Republican president’s we prospered. But now, under a man who’s never held a real job, a community organizer who has said things that are outrageous and beyond belief and as you have watched his dismal failure for presidency, we’re being told that, because of the government, we’ve been successful.
“I don’t know about you, but I’ve gotten to the point where he’s bottomed out,” continued Hayes. “He cannot go any lower than where he is. You hear if you’re a successful business person, something is wrong with you and also, if you are, you’re there because the government enabled you to have what you have. Folks, this is disgusting. Why would even Democrats support a crook like Beverly Perdue or Walter ‘Bev Part: II’ Dalton?”
“I want you to know that your legislative majority is working for you and I just can’t wait for the day that Richmond County sends a Republican to represent you in Raleigh,” said Stam. “We have balanced the budget without raising your taxes, repealed a Racial Justice Act that was letting people on death row who were white with white victims and an all white jury file an appeal on racial grounds. That’s what we’re doing for you.”
For more information about the Richmond County GOP, call Austin at 910-206-1381.
— Staff Writer Dawn M. Kurry can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 15, or by email at dkurry@heartlandpublications.com.
I ask both parties to refrian from bashing the other and let us know what YOUR solutions are to solve the issue of today. To the Republican Part I say this; as an independant, the devil you know is better than the one you do....please let me see who you are and what your going to do to solve the issues at hand. Bashing will not get you my vote, STATED SOLUTIONS WILL!
The republican party is the party (led by Bush and Cheney) that pushed this country into almost total ruin. With former congressman Hayes lying about his involment with CAFTA and promising to vote against it, early in the morning he voted for the bill,but as we all know by now, lying in politics is like lying in business,lying is not a sin it's just business,