Buncombe County Republican Party

Minutes of the Annual Convention

March 4, 2006

 

The 2006 Buncombe County Republican Party Convention on March 4, 2006, was preceded by Precinct Meetings at 9:00 a.m. in the Ferguson Auditorium, Laurel Building, Asheville-Buncombe Technical College, Asheville, North Carolina.

 

Chairman George Keller called the convention to order at 10:00 a.m.  Don Yelton  pronounced the invocation.  Michael Harrison led the attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Chairman Keller introduced Buncombe County GOP (BCGOP) officers. 

 

Chairman Keller appointed Alice Keller as Convention Secretary.  Brief remarks by elected official Asheville City Council member Carl Mumpower followed.  Sheriff Bobby Medford was also in attendance and was recognized. 

 

Next, convention attendees heard short speeches from the following candidates:  John Armor, candidate for US House of Representatives for District 11; Rusty Duke, candidate for Chief Justice of the NC Supreme Court; Eric Levinson and Gus Gray, candidates for Justice of the NC Supreme Court; R L Clark and Brian Cooper, candidates for NC Senate District 49; Mike Harrison, candidate for NC House District 114; Eric Gorny and Bill Reynolds, candidates for NC House District 115; Bill Porter and Charles Thomas, candidates for NC House District 116; and Don Yelton, candidate for Buncombe County Clerk of Court.

 

Chairman Keller appointed Beki Taylor as Chair of the Convention Credentials Committee. 

 

Next, Robert Van Wagner, Republican member of the Buncombe County Board of Elections, gave a report on the current situation in regard to the use of paper ballots in the May ’06 primary election and the selection of new voting machines before the November ’06 general election.

 

Chairman Keller presented the following awards:  to BCGOP Treasurer, Nancy Day, “The Quiet Competence Behind the Scenes” Award”; to Craig Young, founder of the ACTION Club, “The Spirit Award”; and to Kathie Lack, coordinator for volunteer poll workers in the ’05 elections, “The BCGOP Volunteer Award.”

 

Chairman Keller appointed Marin Reidinger as the Presiding Chairman of the Convention.  Mr. Reidinger appointed Angela Moore as Convention Parliamentarian.

 

Chair Beki Taylor presented the report of the Credentials Committee, which was accepted by the convention.  Credentialed attendees were unanimously elected as delegates.  Delegates elected at this convention are eligible as delegates for the 11th Congressional District GOP Convention in April and the NCGOP Convention in June 2006.

 

Delegate Robin Wilson presented the Rules of the Convention, which the delegates present voted unanimously to accept.  Delegate Charles Thomas made a motion “To authorize the Credentials Committee, Executive Committee, Secretary, and Chairman to name additional delegates to the District and State GOP Conventions before the March 21 deadline for submission.   The motion received a motion and carried.  Delegate Robin Wilson made a

 

 

Buncombe County Republican Party, Minutes of the Annual Convention, March 4, 2006

 

motion to accept the minutes of the 2005 BCGOP Convention as submitted by Convention Secretary Alice Keller.  The motion received a second and carried.  BCGOP Treasurer  Nancy Day presented her annual report which included a balance of $17,367.46 as of February 24, 2006.  This report was approved unanimously by the delegates.

 

There was no unfinished business from the 2005 BCGOP Convention.

 

After a call for new business, Delegate Chuck Durand made a motion “To accept the NC Republican Party Plan of Organization, dated May 2005, as our BCGOP Plan of Organization.”  This motion received a second and carried without opposition after some discussion.

 

Delegate Kathie Lack made a motion “to change the ‘BCGOP Structure’ as follows:  ARTICLE I, COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, 1. Membership, E.  [underlined words to be added]  The Presidents of all Republican Clubs in Buncombe County, to include:  the  Buncombe County Republican Women’s Club; the Blue Ridge Republican Women’s Club; the Buncombe County Republican Men’s Club; the Buncombe County Republican ACTION Club; the Buncombe County Young Republicans’ Club; and the UNCA College Republican’s Club.  If the President of a Republican Club in Buncombe County is already a member of the Executive Committee of the BCGOP because of some other office held, the club President may appoint one other club member to serve on the Executive Committee.”  The motion received a second and carried unanimously.

 

Delegate Mary Jane Westall, representing the Blue Ridge Republican Women’s Club, brought the following resolution:  “We, the members of the BCGOP are proud to be Republicans.  We recognize the potential in our local Republican party by the number of candidates who have filed for elective office.  We therefore urge all Republicans to pay heed to President Reagan’s Eleventh Commandment, ‘Thou shalt not speak ill of other Republicans,’ and therefore resolve that following the primary elections we will strive to elect all of the Republicans on the November ballot.”  The motion received a second and carried unanimously and enthusiastically.

 

David Sawyer, Chairman of 11th District Republicans, announced that the District GOP Convention will be held at Haywood Community College on April 22, 2006, at 3:00 pm.

 

Chairman Keller received a motion to adjourn at 11:45 a.m.  All delegates present favored adjournment.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

/signed/

Alice R. Keller, Convention Secretary

 

Attachments:

1.  Agenda, 2006 BCGOP Convention

2.  Minutes, BCGOP Convention March 5, 2005

3.  Annual Treasurer’s Report as of February 24, 2006

4.  Two motions as presented