Katy's Conservative Corner

Tom Fetzer's Speech to the NC GOP 2009 Convention (Videos)

Part I: How We will Win.  Please forgive your blogger's shaky camera.  

Part II: This part is extremely shaky. It might be better to just listen than to watch. 

Your blogger is sorry for this, but she was extremely tired. Running this blog is a one-woman show and she was constantly running back and forth, among her delegation, seeing friends, writing at the media table, and taking photographs. 

 As of this writing, KCC is still not done. However, the Chairman Fetzer's message is important. This is an exciting time for the North Carolina Grand Ole' Party, and we are looking ahead, now, rather than looking back at the 2008 cycle.

Tommy Adams wins Asst Secretary Post at NCGOP Exec Committee Meeting

By a margin of only one vote, Tommy Adams  (left) won the position of NCGOP Asst Secretary in an afternoon meeting of the NCGOP Executive Committee. 

 The 24-year-old is a recent graduate of Appalachian State University and defeated Clare Mahoney, a 39-year-old mother of three from Mecklenburg County. 

Mrs. Mahoney could not be present at the meeting as she was attending an event in which her daughter was featured. Mahoney was nominated by immediate past State GOP chairman Linda Daves. Adams was nominated by Dr Ada Fisher, the national committeewoman. Mahoney was the only person on Chairman Fetzer's slate that was not elected.  (More on that next post.)

Excited about his win, Adams stated that he runs his family business and he is ready to work hard for the North Carolina Republican Party.   Congratulations.

 All photographs and images are © 2009 by Katy Benningfield/Katy's Conservative Corner, unless otherwise stated.  

Use of these images is not permitted unless written permission is obtained in advance and Katy Benningfield/Katy's Conservative Corner is given proper photo credit.

Your blogger works hard, at no pay, to bring this blog and these images to you. 

Adams Concedes. Fetzer wins. Party Unity Achieved!

During the voting for Chairman of the State GOP Convention, Chad Adams has conceded and has congratulated former Raleigh Mayor Tom Fetzer.  This means that Mayor Fetzer has just been elected State Chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party.

After the Wake County vote was announced, it became clear to Adams that mathematically, he could not win.

In the interest of party unity, Marcus Kindley has seconded the motion, made by Chad Adams, to elect Tom Fetzer by acclimation.

Fetzer is now giving his victory speech, in a very muted way.  The four candidates are standing arm-in-arm on the podium.  

Thanks be to God this is all over.  Party unity has been achieved.  A big relief has filled the room and your blogger is especially happy.  Not necessarily at the outcome, though that did go in her favor, but over the fact that this long,  race is over.  We've all said things we've regretted and its thankfully time to move forward and get on with the job of electing Republicans!

Your blogger congratulates the non-winning candidates for their Class act (Adams, Randall, and Kindley all pictured below).    Thanks to each of the gentlemen for running for this high office and we look forward to their continued involvement.  Everyone of them deserves a seat at the table!

All photographs and images are © 2009 by Katy Benningfield/Katy's Conservative Corner, unless otherwise stated. 

 

Use of these images is not permitted unless written permission is obtained in advance and Katy Benningfield/Katy's Conservative Corner is given proper photo credit.

 

Your blogger works hard, at no pay, to bring this blog and these images to you.

NCGOP: Vice Chairman Vote (updated 7-15-09)

Current Vice Chairman, David Sawyer, has just been nominated for re-election.  Additionally, Tim Johnson of Buncombe County, has also been nominated.

Nominations have just been closed.  Please forgive your blogger, but with the convention floor so crowded, you blogger is exhausted from running back and forth from the media table, to her delegation (Wake), and to the podium to shoot photographs for this blog.  Being a one-woman blogger is not an easy task, especially, when one pays to do this, rather than gets paid.  

Your blogger feels called to do this and started blogging when her son was an infant.  She wanted to inform and educated her fellow North Carolina conservatives. 

The blog has grown much past her expectations and KCC is proud to continue.

Meanwhile, Wayne King just completed his nominating speech for David Sawyer.  KCC fears her grammar is going down the drain. What would her English professors at Meredith College say now?  

Currently, Tim Johnson's wife is nominating him.  We regret that we do not have her name.  She's an excellent speaker and major kudos to her on this fantastic speech. She is fiery and your blogger believes she has changed minds.

Mrs. Johnson has told the delegates that Timothy Johnson has repented for his past wrong doings and prays daily about the personal attacks.  

Katy's Conservative Corner has refused to "go negative" against any candidate in any of the races up today.  

However, she did provide a news report from western NC television station, WLOS, as that was considered news.  KCC believes this situation should have been handled "in house" by the former GOP administration and should never have made the news.    

 

Unfortunately, that group chose not to deal with it and work it all out in private.  Your blogger additionally feels that the situation should never have made the "lamestream media" and KCC has removed the post and regrets that it appeared on her blog.  KCC apologizes to  the Johnsons.

 

All photographs and images are © 2009 by Katy Benningfield/Katy's Conservative Corner, unless otherwise stated. 

Use of these images is not permitted unless written permission is obtained in advance and Katy Benningfield/Katy's Conservative Corner is given proper photo credit.

Your blogger works hard, at no pay, to bring this blog and these images to you.

 

UPDATE: 6:48 P.M.  Buncome County Chairman Tim Johnson gave a rousing, and sometimes angry speech.  He was inspirational, angry at how "bloggers" used information that was on WLOS "against him".   Currently David Sawyer is giving his speech.  He's not the speaker that Johnson is, but he's sincere.  Though your blogger has endorsed Mr. Sawyer, she re-states that she has no ill will toward any candidate!

UPDATE: 7:47  The roll call vote is currently underway.  There are only two candidates, so this will be over with the one ballot.  

NCGOP Convention: Voting has ended, Roll Call #1 Underway (photos updated 7-14-09)

The speeches, cheering, and posturing are over.  The ballots have been cast for State Chairman.  We are currently undergoing a roll call vote.  Guilford County Sheriff B.J. Barnes is tallying the votes for your blogger.   The actual "hard" vote count means little.  They must be translated into a "weighted" vote so that the smaller counties like Transylvania (seated right in from of the media table) will have as much say in the election as the largest delegation, host delegation, Wake.

Watch the voting live on Katy's Conservative Corner.

UPDATE: 5:27 p.m. Gee, this afternoon is flying by. Your blogger is exhausted and the roll call continues.  Your blogger has taken many photos these last 2 days and is taking this time to post some of them.  Please keep checking back.  We will be here for at least 2 hours more, as there is a contentious race for Vice Chairman coming up and we expect another rousing speech from Dr. Ada Fisher, NC's National Committeewoman.

UPDATE 5:35 p.m: At least one delegate has made an emergency trip to the hospital.  Conservative firebrand, and Buncombe County delegate, Zora Hays, was taken to Wake Medical Center this morning after becoming ill with some sort of allergy.  A fellow delegate has stayed behind with her, so both are missing the vote.  They were committed delegates to Tom Fetzer and David Sawyer, so those people have two fewer votes to count on.

Meanwhile, a huge number of unexpected people showed up to register as delegates this morning, causing headaches for the staff and volunteers, but making for an even more exciting convention.

UPDATE  5: 41: This vote is so tight that counties are making sure that all of their votes were properly counted.  Moore County was the last to verify.  Prior to that, Cumberland County Chairman, Suzanne Rucker stated that she needed a "math class" and re-reported her county totals.  We'll have them all for you, eventually.

Currently, the popular vote, looks like it goes to Adams, but that is most certainly UNOFFICIAL.  The votes are not official and much work still has to be done.

UPDATE 5:50: A new delegate has just asked the Chair to explain the weighted voting system.  Chairman Billy Miller  called it 

"an incredibly complicated and Byzantine formula that's in the state plan and you are welcome to read it and it's on the state GOP website" to much laughter.  There's much magic, voodoo computer way of doing the math, the chairman finished.

A delegate explained that the weighted system is to reward counties that perform well in elections, and those counties tend to be allotted more delegates.  Those delegates are then "weighted out" to determine the winner.

The convention is briefly in recess until the vote is worked out, the weighting is finalized, and a winner is either determined, or another ballot is taken.  Tom Fetzer has won the popular vote by a hair on the first ballot.   Not enough to win it outright.

UPDATE 5:55: ANOTHER VOTE MOST LIKELY NEEDED.  STAY TUNED FOLKS.  IT ISN'T OVER YET!

 

All photographs and images are © 2009 by Katy Benningfield/Katy's Conservative Corner, unless otherwise stated. 

Use of these images is not permitted unless written permission is obtained in advance and Katy Benningfield/Katy's Conservative Corner is given proper photo credit.

Your blogger works hard, at no pay, to bring this blog and these images to you.

UPDATE 6:00 p.m.: It will take 4,091 weighted votes to elect a new state chairman outright.  Chairman Billy Miller stated he was "willing to entertain a motion to elect a Vice Chairman via rock, paper, scissors."  He's now bringing his eight children on stage.  Obviously he's killing some time while the staff and number crunchers try to figure things out.  God bless Chairman Miller.  He's a real hoot.  

UPDATE 6: 02 p.m.: SECOND BALLOT NEEDED!!!!

Marcus Kindley came in 4th, and therefore is no longer on the ballot.  Fetzer won the vote on first ballot.

BILL RANDALL has also withdrawn.  It's down to two.

Voting to Begin at NC Republican Party Convention (photos updated 7/15/09)

After a series of rousing nominations, inspiring speeches, and many photographs taken by this blogger, KCC regrets that she has been away from her post at the media table.  At this moment, Convention Chairman Billy Miller (Mecklenburg) is calling for each county to caucus.  

More soon!

 

 

Saturday: The Convention Begins Anew (updated June 15, 2009)

The delegates are currently streaming in the convention hall is filling with delegates and there are more delegates than seats.  Guests and visitors (non-credentialed delegates) have been asked to move to the walls or otherwise remain standing.  

In short, the place is packed for the biggest action of the weekend, the election of the State Chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party.   Frankly, your blogger will be glad this is all over.  

 

This has been a long campaign and your blogger has been extremely involved.  We've tried to cover it fairly and positively and we promise to support the elected chairman, despite our endorsement of Tom Fetzer, the former Raleigh mayor.

The Chad Adams' team is sporting red balloons that they surely plan to wave when their candidate speaks.  The Fetzer folks have red, white, and blue signs.  Both teams have "whips" that are to act as cheerleaders and start the applause at the appropriate point.

As a duly credentialed delegate, you blogger will be off and on this afternoon during the votes, and may be be blogging from her iPhone.

There are people yelling, blowing air horns, and getting generally crazy.  This is going to be a rip roaring afternoon.  There is no place that KCC would rather be.

Keep watching for more posts coming this afternoon.   

By the way, at least 1/3 of the delegates are first timers to an NCGOP convention.

Update 2:18 PM  Linda Daves, State Chairman of the NCGOP is giving her final report of the State Party.  She's getting a rousing applause!  Catch this streaming live NOW!

Update 2:34 PM  In closing, outgoing Chairman Daves urged Delegates urged delegates not to abandon the principles of god, and country and she reminded them that "we are the party of courage and American Freedom."

"We are not the party for everyone.  We are not the party of pessimism.  We are not the party that says your government will be your savior.  We are not the party of victim hood...we are not the party of entitlement.  We are not afraid to discuss race and ethic differences.  We are not the party of guilt.  We are not the party that apologizes.  We are the party that are proud to believe in what this great country stands for.  We must be willing so stand up and be willing to speak up and against the most liberal President in our nations history."

Platform Debate, Resolutions and Convention Business at NCGOP Convention (updated with new photos)

Update 2:45 p.m. The speeches by dignitaries have concluded and the convention is now in recess as it awaits the conclusion of the credentials committee report.  

The credentials are still being debated.  With so much at stake at this convention, this is not surprizing.

Total delegates registered today: 651.  

Next up: Rules report. Rules have been adopted.

Meanwhile, the Chad Adams election team is running about in full force.  They have ear pieces like the CIA, and they've selected pretty women to wear sashes that indicate their support for Mr. Adams.  

Billy Miller of Mecklenburg County is chairing the convention, once again.  Mr. Miller is a fantastic conference chair, has a quick wit, and is worth the price of admission, just to listen to his quips.  He's also extremely fair.

Update: 4:36   Thus far, nothing of real interest has happened this afternoon, regarding debate over rules.  The convention remains stuck on the first proposal regarding changes to the wording regarding the authority of the Central Committee of the Executive of the NC GOP.  There were three parts of this and they were each broken down.  

With this convention scheduled to adjourn in less than half an hour (5:00 p.m. EDT), your blogger believes we won't get past this.  It appears to this delegate, media member, and blogger that Saturday will provide all of the expected fireworks.

Update 4:45  We expect to see many resolutions introduced from those members of the Republican Liberty Caucus (followers of Ron Paul).  Additionally, Saturday will have a lot of campaigning from the six candidates running for the offices of State Chairman and Vice Chairman.

People are now beginning to drift out of the hall to prepare for this evenings banquet featuring Congressman Mike Pence.  

More later is a separate post from Congresman Pence.  

NC GOP Convention Underway in Raleigh/McCrory first speaker (updated with new photos)

The NC GOP State Convention is underway in Raleigh's new Convention Center.  Arriving delegates had to contend with traffic, as all Wake County high schools were graduating today.  

Included among the Sargents-At-Arms are Sheriff Donnie Harrison of Wake County and BJ Barnes of Guilford County.

Mayor Pat McCrory of Charlotte, started the convention off by discussing how the Republican party is coming back.  He spoke of energy and how the Democrats are happy that gas prices are going up!  He said Dems are happy that the US is still dependent on nations like Venezuela and Saudi Arabia, to much applause.  He also spoke of solar power and conservation and how our current President doesn't bring these issues up.

He also spoke of how the number one responsiblity of government is to protect us and he wonders why the Democrats just don't get that.  

His third point was education from a parents' point-of-view.  He supports parental choice.  He says our President exercised his choice and he's not sending his little girls to public school.   McCrory is sad to say his sister, Linda, won't be a teacher next year.  She's very sad about it but the bureaucracy drove her out.  That same over governance is driving all the good teachers out.

Your blogger has a babysitter at home at this moment keeping our son.  She is a recent graduate of Meredith College and will begin teaching next fall.  However, your blogger wonders just how long our young friend will remain in that profession.  

McCrory said that we need to change the culture of government and get rid of the secret meetings.  He also joked but said it was a true story:  his wife couldn't get a job at UNC-Charlotte, unlike Easley's wife.  Perhaps if he'd been governor, she could have.  (Not that she would have it, or that he would stoop to have pulled such strings).  He urged our current governor to keep her ego on the ground and her ethics in her heart.

He also spoke about the chairman's race.  He urged no more negativity and unity as soon as the election is over.  

McCrory also discussed a lesson we have learned from the "other party".  He said "we gotta raise some money".  

"We cannot win this next election if we just sit in this room and talk to each other.  We have to contribute to the Party and to the candidates of our choice."

All photographs and images are © 2009 by Katy Benningfield/Katy's Conservative Corner, unless otherwise stated. 

Use of these images is not permitted unless written permission is obtained in advance and Katy Benningfield/Katy's Conservative Corner is given proper photo credit.

Your blogger works hard, at no pay, to bring this blog and these images to you.

NC GOP Convention Schedule

Are you heading to Raleigh to the State Republican Party convention this weekend?  If so, please stop by the media table and say hello to your blogger, as KCC will be covering all the action.

The schedule for the weekend is as follows:

WEEKEND AGENDA:

FRIDAY, JUNE 12th

11:30AM-1:30PM- REGISTRATION
12:00PM-1:30PM- CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETING
2:00PM-5:00PM- BUSINESS SESSION*

REGISTRATION WILL REOPEN AT THE CLOSE OF THE BUSINESS SESSION FOR ONE HOUR
7:30PM-9:30PM- EVENING BANQUET

SATURDAY, JUNE 13th

8:00AM- 12:00PM- TRAINING SESSIONS**
8:30AM-11:00AM- FINAL REGISTRATION
9:00 AM-11:30AM- GENERAL SESSION
12:00PM-1:45PM- LUNCHEON
2:00PM-5:00PM- BUSINESS SESSION*
7:30PM-9:30PM- EVENING BANQUET

SUNDAY, JUNE 14th

8:30AM- 9:30AM- CHAIRMAN’S PRAYER BREAKFAST
10:30AM-12:00AM- EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

*Registration for the meeting will be from 9:30AM to 10:30AM

*Business sessions will include debate on the Platform, Resolutions, Plan of Organization, as well as the election of the NCGOP Chairman and NCGOP Vice Chairman.

Hat Tip: Brent Woodcox, NCGOP Communications Director/Legal Council

Editor's Note: Your blogger has previously endorsed Tom Fetzer and David Sawyer for Chairman and Vice Chairman of the State Party.  However it all works out, she looks forward to working with the winners and everyone else involved.