Daughtridge rallies Nash Republicans
By Zach Ahmad
Rocky Mount Telegram
Friday, March 16, 2007
NASHVILLE - When N.C. Rep. Bill Daughtridge took the podium to address the Nash County Republican Party at its convention Thursday night, he had plenty to say about his party's goals, prospects and ideals.
But before he got into any of that, Daughtridge - who is trying to become the first Republican state treasurer since 1876 - wanted to draw attention to a certain Democrat.
Holding up a newspaper plastered with the face of former N.C. House Speaker Jim Black, who recently pleaded guilty to bribery charges, Daughtridge spoke about the N.C. General Assembly's several new ethics laws, and the concern he's seen from some of his Democratic colleagues.
That, he said, is something Republicans have no reason to fret about.
"If you're ethical and doing the right thing, you don't have anything to worry about," Daughtridge said. "The Republican legislators are not worried about the new ethics laws."
He didn't stop there. Daughtridge went on to criticize what he saw as major oversights in Gov. Mike Easley's budget, lack of initiative on education reform and a overreliance on temporary taxes.
He wrapped it up by calling on Republicans to take this opportunity to bolster interest in the party and take state and local politics into their own hands.
"We can have the power to change some of the cynicism about government and (restore) some of the idealism of what it should," Daughtridge said. "We as a Republican Party can make this happen."
Daughtridge's message struck a familiar tone among North Carolina Republicans as they begin preparing for the 2008 election season. With Democrats in the General Assembly under scrutiny, some in the party are hoping this is their chance to improve their party's standing on the state level.
Gubernatorial candidate Bob Orr made a similar call to arms when he spoke to Edgecombe County Republicans more than a week ago, stressing that the time for the GOP in North Carolina is now.
"I think the opportunity is here for our party to step up to the plate, to be the party of reform and to give the voters of North Carolina a choice," Orr said at the time.
Nash County Republican Party Chairman Kevin Lewis said the party is excited about the prospect of having Daughtridge as the state treasurer, and he sees the next election cycle as a way to correct some of the party's shortcomings in the previous election.
"After the 2006 elections, I really think our prospects are looking up," Lewis said. "I detect sort of a tide change that should benefit Republicans in 2008."
