After their dominant performance in the Nov. 2 elections, York County Republican Party leaders want to thank the volunteers who helped make it possible.
State Rep. Ralph Norman recruited colleagues in the local Republican delegation to pay for an appreciation dinner Dec. 9 at the Magnolia Room at Laurel Creek.
“We’re sparing no expense to thank these people,” Norman said. “We always ask so much of them. It’s our turn to give back.”
The menu is grilled and fried chicken, barbecue, vegetables and desserts, Norman said. Volunteers are invited at no charge.
A crowd of 300 to 400 is expected, said York County GOP Chairman Glenn McCall.
“This was a great time to do it because we had so many new folks who have never been involved in the political process,” he said.
Republicans swept nearly every race in the election, highlighted by Mick Mulvaney’s victory over 14-term Democratic Rep. John Spratt.
The party controls five of seven seats on the County Council, with Bump Roddey and Chad Williams as the only Democrats. Among the state House delegation, John King is the only Democrat from York County.
Norman to run for speaker
Next week, Norman will challenge Charleston Republican Bobby Harrell for House Speaker. A vote is set for Wednesday at the state House.
Norman said events such as the dinner – and his bid for speaker – fit into a larger mission to strengthen the movement toward limited government. He acknowledges the race against Harrell is difficult, but says his point has already been made.
“We’re going to hold these elected officials accountable,” Norman said. “If they don’t vote conservative, we’re going to get a candidate to run against them.
“I’m tired of lip service. We want accountability.”
The effort to get voter turnout for the Nov. 2 elections was the most intense in recent memory, York County Republicans said.
In the last four days before the election, volunteers made 90,000 phone calls to prospective voters, McCall said. Members of a tea party group from Greenville car-pooled to Rock Hill to help.
Volunteers outnumbered the 33 phone lines available in the local GOP office, McCall said.
McCall may seek S.C. chairmanship
McCall said he will decide in the next few weeks whether to run for chairman of the S.C. Republican Party.
After Floyd announced she will not seek a second two-year term, McCall said he got a flurry of phone calls from Republican activists across the state.
The election will be held at the state GOP convention this spring. As many as eight candidates could compete, according to former chairman Katon Dawson.
McCall currently serves on the 100-member Republican National Committee.
“It’s something I definitely would enjoy doing,” McCall said. “We’re going to be in a critical area over the next few years as we work to unify factions toward that one goal – winning in 2012.
“We all want the same thing. It’s how we get there – that’s the exciting part to me.”
Want to go?
The dinner is Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the Magnolia Room at Laurel Creek, 4017 Laurel Creek Drive in Rock Hill.
For reservations, contact Diane Carr at 803-631-1049 or dianecarr1@bellsouth.net.
Courtesy: Herald Online