Friday, May 26, 2006
25 May Press Release: Sammy D. Webb is now a Republican
Attorney Sammy D. Webb switches to Republican Party - May 25, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Local attorney Sammy D. Webb joined the Republican Party last night and announced that he would not be pursuing his independent candidacy for Halifax County Commissioner this November, but would instead support the reelection of Commissioner Gene Minton.
It happened at a general membership meeting of the Halifax County Republican Party, which had been called in part to compare and contrast the Party's political plan with Mr. Webb's campaign platform, with a view to assisting in his campaign. Mr. Webb had decided to withdraw from the County Commissioners' race before arriving at the meeting, but it was during an exercise calling on each of the Republican activists present to name one reason they were Republicans that Mr. Webb asked for a voter registration form so he could switch parties. Mr. Webb, a former president of the Halifax County NAACP, explained that he has considered himself a conservative for some time, and found the Democratic Party's leftward drift on social issues disturbing: "I strongly support the Republican Party's stand against same-sex marriage." Mr. Webb wants to thank those who had circulated petitions to get him on the County Commissioners' ballot this year; he has enough signatures but will not continue to run as an independent.
Halifax County Republican Party Chairwoman Pamela Ward welcomed Mr. Webb to the Party and hoped that the days when the big-government Democratic Party is the automatic choice of Blacks like herself in Halifax County are numbered. "We Republicans need to focus on voter education", she said, "people need to be aware of what their party stands for." Vice-chairman Kent Ross chimed in, "Even conservative North Carolina is now by some measures the fourth most heavily-taxed state in the nation, with the sixth-highest gas taxes, by far the highest in the Southeast. Sammy D. Webb is just the first of many who will realize that it is the Republican Party which represents their values, and we believe that Mr. Webb will be a strong candidate for any local office in 2008."
Mr. Dave Harker, Republican candidate for NC House of Representatives in District 49, had also come to address the meeting and pronounced himself pleased to see that the Halifax County Republican Party is effectively reaching out to all disaffected social conservatives. Mr. Harker intends to run his campaign close to the grass roots and needs good volunteer workers. He said, "I went to a candidates' forum in Franklin County and the only accomplishment my opponent, Lucy Allen, had to point to was having brought Carolina Crossroads to Roanoke Rapids. Now, with gas at $3 a gallon I don't think jobs in Roanoke Rapids are going to benefit workers in Franklin County, and who knows how late in the process she planted her flag on that project? We need to keep conservative voters informed about the positives in Republican policies on health care, education, and taxes."
Halifax County Commissioner Gene Minton was unable to attend the meeting, but sent a statement touting his reelection platform. "I hope that the Republican Party can continue to have a platform of tax reform, tax cuts, smaller and better government, and allowing people to take charge of their lives and those of their families (along with the responsibility)... I will continue to work on the Board to lead (yes lead) our county towards fiscal responsibility and good governance."
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Local attorney Sammy D. Webb joined the Republican Party last night and announced that he would not be pursuing his independent candidacy for Halifax County Commissioner this November, but would instead support the reelection of Commissioner Gene Minton.
It happened at a general membership meeting of the Halifax County Republican Party, which had been called in part to compare and contrast the Party's political plan with Mr. Webb's campaign platform, with a view to assisting in his campaign. Mr. Webb had decided to withdraw from the County Commissioners' race before arriving at the meeting, but it was during an exercise calling on each of the Republican activists present to name one reason they were Republicans that Mr. Webb asked for a voter registration form so he could switch parties. Mr. Webb, a former president of the Halifax County NAACP, explained that he has considered himself a conservative for some time, and found the Democratic Party's leftward drift on social issues disturbing: "I strongly support the Republican Party's stand against same-sex marriage." Mr. Webb wants to thank those who had circulated petitions to get him on the County Commissioners' ballot this year; he has enough signatures but will not continue to run as an independent.
Halifax County Republican Party Chairwoman Pamela Ward welcomed Mr. Webb to the Party and hoped that the days when the big-government Democratic Party is the automatic choice of Blacks like herself in Halifax County are numbered. "We Republicans need to focus on voter education", she said, "people need to be aware of what their party stands for." Vice-chairman Kent Ross chimed in, "Even conservative North Carolina is now by some measures the fourth most heavily-taxed state in the nation, with the sixth-highest gas taxes, by far the highest in the Southeast. Sammy D. Webb is just the first of many who will realize that it is the Republican Party which represents their values, and we believe that Mr. Webb will be a strong candidate for any local office in 2008."
Mr. Dave Harker, Republican candidate for NC House of Representatives in District 49, had also come to address the meeting and pronounced himself pleased to see that the Halifax County Republican Party is effectively reaching out to all disaffected social conservatives. Mr. Harker intends to run his campaign close to the grass roots and needs good volunteer workers. He said, "I went to a candidates' forum in Franklin County and the only accomplishment my opponent, Lucy Allen, had to point to was having brought Carolina Crossroads to Roanoke Rapids. Now, with gas at $3 a gallon I don't think jobs in Roanoke Rapids are going to benefit workers in Franklin County, and who knows how late in the process she planted her flag on that project? We need to keep conservative voters informed about the positives in Republican policies on health care, education, and taxes."
Halifax County Commissioner Gene Minton was unable to attend the meeting, but sent a statement touting his reelection platform. "I hope that the Republican Party can continue to have a platform of tax reform, tax cuts, smaller and better government, and allowing people to take charge of their lives and those of their families (along with the responsibility)... I will continue to work on the Board to lead (yes lead) our county towards fiscal responsibility and good governance."
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