Viewers in Buncombe and Madison Counties can tune into Cable Channel 20 to watch the following programs:

Tuesday
7:30pm - 9:30pm “Citizen Speaks” Don Yelton
9:30pm - 10:30 “Time for Real Change” Pat McCrory

Wednesday
6:00pm -6:30pm “Interview with Bob Hunter” Richard Bernier
7:00pm-8pm ” Meters on Private Wells” Kathy Rhodarmer

Thursday
10:00 - 11:00am “JL Foundation “Global Warming” Kathy Rhodarmer
8:00pm- 8:30pm “Interview with Bob Hunter” Richard Bernier
8:30pm-9:00pm “Freedom Works/Heath Shuler Bill Lack

Friday
11:00 - 12pm “Meters on Private Wells” Kathy Rhodarmer
12:30 - 1:00pm “Freedoom Works/Heath Shuler” Bill Lack
3:30pm - 4:00pm “Interview with Bob Hunter” Richard Bernier
7:30pm - 8:00pm “Time for Real Change” Pat McCrory
9:00pm - 10:00pm “Pat McCrory in Madison County” Richard Bernier
11:30pm - 12:30am “Time for Real Change” Pat McCrory

Saturday
1:30pm - 2:30pm “Meters on Private Wells” Kathy Rhodarmer
2:30pm - 3:30pm “Time for Real Change” Pat McCrory
4:00pm-5:00pm “Pat McCrory in Madison County” Richard Bernier

For anyone who didn’t make it to the Chairman’s Annual BBQ on July 26 at Lake Louise, you really missed out on a terrific event. As promised, the focus of the event was on food, fun and fellowship. We did take a few minutes to hear from our candidates.

2 of our candidates for County Commission, Don Yelton and Ron McKee, were in attendance and spoke about their campaigns. RL Clark, candidate for NC Senate as well as our 2 NC House candidates, Tim Moffitt and Paul Purdue, spoke to the crowd as well. Dr. Carl Mumpower, candidate for the 11th Congressional District, spoke briefly in one of his most compelling speeches to date. You can watch the video of Dr. Mumpower (below) as he honors our BCGOP Chairman for his role in inspiring the “Principles First” campaign.

In a surprise visit, Senator Elizabeth Dole, who is running for re-election, stopped by our BBQ to speak to the crowd and pose for pictures. Photos from the BBQ are now posted on our photo gallery! Thanks as always to Max Cooper for taking such great pictures for us!

The following One Stop Early Voting Sites have been confirmed as of July 28, 2008.  You may vote at any of these locations from October 16 through November 1.

1. Asheville Senior Opportunity Center, 36 Grove St.
2. Avery’s Creek Community Center, 889 S. E. Glenn Bridge Rd., Arden
3. Buncombe County Training Center, 199 College St.
4. Bee Tree Substation Fire Department, 510 Bee Tree Rd., Swannanoa
5. Biltmore Square Mall, 800 Brevard Rd.
6. Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Rd.
7. Innsbruck Mall, 85 Tunnel Rd.
8. Leicester Library, 1561 Alexander Rd.
9. North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave.
10. Oak Forest Presbyterian Church, 880 Sand Hill Rd.
11. South Buncombe Library, 260 Overlook Rd.
12. Weaverville Town Hall, 30 South Main St.
13. West Asheville Library, 941 Haywood Rd.

Dr. Ada M. Fisher, North Carolina’s first black National Committeewoman, has accepted an invitation by the Buncombe GOP to speak in Asheville on Saturday, August 23, the weekend of Goombay Festival, at the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church at 47 Eagle Street. Continental breakfast will be served at 8:30 a.m. with the main event running from 9 a.m. until noon. The theme of this event will be “Black Republicans: Reclaiming Our Place.”

Dr. Fisher’s impassioned nominating speech at the state GOP convention in June won her several standing ovations and even more laughs from the audience. Dr. Timothy Johnson, Chairman of the Buncombe County Republican Party, immediately began discussions to bring her to Buncombe County.

“Dr. Fisher truly represents the future of the Republican Party. She is a key leader in North Carolina, bringing energy, diversity, passion, and principle to the Republican Party,” says Johnson. “We are honored that she is willing to take time out of her very busy schedule to visit us in the West.”

Dr. Ada M. Fisher is a licensed teacher for secondary education in mathematics and science, previously elected school board member, physician, and is the Republican candidate for the NC House 77th District.

For more information on Dr. Ada Fisher, please visit: http://getadoctorinthehouse.com

With Joe Dunn officially withdrawing his name from the race for one of four County Commission seats this election, the Buncombe County Republican Party’s Executive Committee has begun the process for choosing a new candidate. The organization is accepting nominations and will make a final decision on August 18th.

“All Republicans with a sincere interest in serving the people of Buncombe County according to the Republican Principles are encouraged to submit their names for consideration,” says Dr. Timothy Johnson, Chairman of the Buncombe GOP.

The new candidate will be running alongside three other Republican candidates for County Commission, John Carroll, Don Yelton, and Ron McKee, as well as incumbent candidate for Commission Chairman, Nathan Ramsey.

Those interested in being considered can contact the Buncombe County Republican Party at (828)253-5800 or vicechairman@buncombegop.org.

View the Republican Principles

View our 2008 Political Agenda

Joe Dunn, former City Council member and candidate for County Commissioner, announced recently that he was dropping out of the race in order to focus on the needs of his family.

The Buncombe County Republican Party is disappointed to lose such a principled candidate, but we fully support and respect his decision to do what is best for himself and his family.

Joe Dunn has been most passionate about improving education and reducing government waste and spending wherever possible. We intend to keep these issues in the forefront of public discussion.

Three excellent Republican candidates for County Commissioner, John Carroll, Don Yelton, and Ron McKee, remain in the race, along with Republican incumbent for Chairman, Nathan Ramsey. Our focus will remain on getting these candidates elected in order to bring fiscal responsibility, open government, and economic prosperity to Buncombe County.

We have also begun a search for a replacement candidate for County Commission. If you would like to be considered, please email vicechairman@buncombegop.org.

[Photo by Max Cooper]

The Buncombe County Republican Party today announced its political agenda for the 2008 election cycle. The list of five major issues and solutions related to those issues, is based on regular meetings with local Republican candidates, as well as ongoing dialogue with Buncombe County residents and workers of all political affiliations. The agenda addresses listening to the people, creating local jobs, promoting responsible development, creating affordable housing, and reducing government spending and taxation.

Local party officials stated this agenda is not only in line with the Republican Party Principles of reducing the size and scope of government and bringing the government closer to the local people, but also in line with what a majority of local residents see as “common sense” approaches to solving our most urgent community issues.

Dr. Timothy Johnson, Chairman of the Buncombe County Republican Party expressed no surprise, stating, “Most people agree with our party principles once they read them. They are tired of the government taxing too much to accommodate overspending, meddling in our personal and business affairs without first asking the people what they want, and implementing new laws without enforcing old laws.”

The Buncombe County Republican Party’s 2008 Agenda focuses on local issues that directly impact those who live and work in Buncombe County. “Real change, or better yet, positive change begins at the local level - not the federal level,” says Johnson. “The Democrats have been the dominant party in our local politics for the past 125 years. Our county is in a crisis situation and we need new leadership to address the most pressing concerns facing our community.”

View our 2008 Agenda

BCGOP Chairman, Dr. Timothy Johnson, has been invited to participate in the Annual Black Republican Forum on August 6th, in New york City. The Black Republican Forum, jointly sponsored by the National Black Republican Association and the Women’s National Republican Club, is an interactive event with speakers, panelists and attendees from across America. It is an opportunity to discuss and act on issues important to the black community and all Americans.

Annual Black Republican Forum
Co-Sponsored by National Black Republican Association & American Forum Series At The Women’s National Republican Club
August 6, 2008
New York, NY

Forum topics will include:

• Race and The Presidential Election
• The Black Church and State
• The True History of Civil Rights
• Campaigning For Office
• Urban Issues in the 21st Century
• Media Bias: Perception vs. Reality
• Illegal Immigration and Black America

Dr. Johnson is a member of the National Leadership Team of the National Black Republican Association. In addition to his speaking role, he will also be providing some training opportunities for Forum attendees.

Registration and information online at www.blackrepublicanforum.org
Phone 212.372.3535
Email info@blackrepublicanforum.org

During a breakfast hosted by the Buncombe County Republican Party on Saturday, Mayor Pat McCrory, candidate for Governor of North Carolina, enthusiastically expressed his willingness and interest in debating his opponent, Lt. Governor Bev Perdue, in a public, televised forum in Western North Carolina. He further conveyed his disappointment that Perdue has refused any debate in the west or any debate that will be televised statewide.

“Voters have a right to interview their candidates for Governor and hear our answers side by side so that they can compare how we stand on the issues,” McCrory stated. “My opponent refuses to debate me in Western North Carolina and that’s an insult to all the good people who live and work here.”

Dr. Timothy Johnson, Chairman of the Buncombe County Republican Party, confirmed on Saturday that URTV, which broadcasts in both Buncombe and Madison County, is willing and ready to broadcast such an event as soon as both candidates agree to participate.

“Mayor Pat McCrory has made Western North Carolina a high priority in this election. We appreciate his many visits to our area and his acknowledgement of issues that are particular to the west.” Johnson said. “If his opponent won’t take Western North Carolina seriously during her campaign, she certainly won’t do so if elected.”

For more information on Mayor Pat McCrory’s campaign for Governor, please visit: www.patmccrory.com

Dr. Carl Mumpower, candidate for Congress in the 11th District, recently announced that he is putting his campaign on hold in order to unite the Republican Party behind the Republican principles. Buncombe County is proud to be the first of the 15 counties in the 11th District to throw its support behind this “Principles First” campaign.

Since his election as Party Chairman in March, Dr. Timothy Johnson has made the Republican Principles a priority, by featuring them prominently on the party’s website and by reading them aloud at the beginning of every Executive Committee meeting.

“If we want to elect principled Republicans to represent us, then we need to know and remember what our principles are,” says Johnson. “If our elected officials are not principled, it is because we have allowed them to be so.”

In addition to a rededication to the core Republican principles, Dr. Mumpower asked that each county “develop a sincere process for challenging local, state, and national Republican elected officials on votes that sidestep or otherwise betray our core guiding principles”. To that end, the Buncombe County Republican Party will begin that process by sending a copy of our principles to each Republican who serves our county and asking them to also read and rededicate themselves to these principles.

“Even the best men and women in public office can benefit from a friendly reminder of what our party stands for,” Johnson stated. “Anyone who may have an agenda other than the core Republican principles upon which this country was founded, will now be on notice that the people are paying attention.”

Click here to read the Republican Principles.

[Photo by Max Cooper]