Craven Republicans gearing up for county meeting next week

Republicans in the Trent Woods Precinct met on Monday to decide on delegates to the March 21 Craven County Republican Party Convention.

Other precincts in the county have met, including Fairfield Harbour Precinct most recently, said Michael Speciale, county chairman for the past two years, "but we are not as organized as we need to be in Craven County and across the state."

The national Republican ticket in 2008 got the nod from Craven County voters, who also voted to elect a Republican to the U.S. House and N.C. Senate. But Democrats tallied most votes here in many state and local races.

"We felt like we had good candidates and we worked hard," Speciale said. "But the Democrats nationwide did a good job. Obama did a good job. Barack Obama has a good personality. It cost us. He pulled people to his side of the aisle. People liked him and ours was an uphill battle. It cost us and we're not going to let that happen again."

Speciale said a county Republican Party nominating committee composed of Tom Mark, Bernadette McNolte, Jim Dancy, Charlie Collins and Julia Capshaw has worked hard to compile a slate of party leaders to be elected at the convention at the Craven County Courthouse Annex. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the convention at 10 a.m.

"They have done interviews, been very rigorous, not satisfied with just anybody who wants their name on the ballot," he said.

Speciale is not seeking re-election to the local party's top post and in order to "refocus my efforts and energy on the taxpayers' association we just got started - Coastal Carolina Taxpayers Association. They elected me chairman."

But Speciale said he thinks Republican Party efforts "have never been more important. What is happening in America could destroy us if we don't get involved. The time for sitting at home is over."

He said Dallas Woodhouse, president of the N.C. chapter of Americans for Prosperity is scheduled to speak at the convention and "he will get you laughing. But he is the only speaker. We have business to do, a plan of organization changes and the election of the new officers."

The posts up for election include chairman, vice chairman, secretary, treasurer and five members-at-large to serve on the county executive committee.

Also serving as voting members of the executive committee are precinct chairmen, immediate past chairman, and presidents of county party clubs including Republican Men, Republican Women, Teenage Republicans and College Republicans.  Ex-officio members include all local Republican elected officials and past party chairmen.

Speciale said all Republicans are welcome to attend the convention.