LAURINBURG —A speaker at this year’s county GOP convention said the party faithful need to incorporate more Christian values into their messaging if Republicans are to be successful in future elections.

Mark Harris, a candidate for the 9th House District that includes Scotland County, said churches across North Carolina need to start “Culture Impact Committees,” that would integrate Christian values into political beliefs, such as abortion, infringements on Christian practices and Christianity in the military.

Harris, who is also a Baptist minister, spoke Monday at the Scotland County Republican Party Convention held in Laurinburg. About 40 people attended the 90-minute event that included speeches and elections for officers and regional and state delegates.

“There is a need for committees in churches to do four things— inform the congregation, equip the congregation, to actually alert the congregation and fourthly when necessary to mobilize the congregation,” said Harris, who ran unsuccessfully against incumbent Robert Pittenger for U.S. Congress.

Harris said Republican President Donald Trump and many of the conservatives in Congress won with the help of Evangelical voters.

“The most impressive figure to everyone across the board is the figure 81 percent, said Harris, the senior pastor of Charlotte First Baptist Church. “Eighty-one percent of Evangelical Christians stepped up to the plate and voted for Donald Trump for president.”

John Steward, North Carolina 9th Congressional District Republican Party chairman also spoke at the local convention. Steward talked about the success of the GOP in North Carolina over the last seven years.

In 2010, for the first time in 144 years, Republicans won control of both the North Carolina House and North Carolina Senate.

Steward said Democrats also controlled the office of lieutenant governor, governor, seven or eight of the U.S. congressman and a U.S. Senate seat “not to mention the majority of the counties.”

“And the one thing to remember … is we won control under the Democrats maps,” Steward said. “They like to say me gerrymandered. When we have fair ground, we will win.”

“Where we are as a party right now in this state is we are doing pretty good.”

In 2010, the Democrats left Republicans with a $2.7 billion deficit and North Carolina owed the federal government $3 billion for unemployment insurance, according to Stewart. Since then, Republicans have turned that deficit into a surplus he said, which is why North Carolina was able to afford its own aid during Hurricane Matthew and the wildfires in the Appalachians in the fall of 2016.

Before Republicans took over the majority of political power in the state, North Carolina ranked 44 out of 50, according to Steward.

“Now we are number three, according to Forbes,” Steward said.

During the business portion of the convention, county Republicans selected the 2017-2018 officers and delegates to the North Carolina 9th District Republican Party Convention on April 29.

Mark Schenck will remain as the party’s chairman; Jim Johnston as vice chair, Beverly Mills as treasurer and Linda Simmons will continue as secretary.

County Republicans selected Mark Schenck, Jim Johnston, Diana Johnston, Bonnie Schenck, Kathy Lamb, John and Sue Imbaratto, Hal Culberson, Jacob Pate, Linda Lewis, Ralph and Sandra Carter, Sylvia Witmore, Joe Plitt and Lina Simmons as its delegates for the 9th District convention planned for April 29.

It will be held at Wingate College’s LaVerne Banquet Hall on 220 North Camden Road, Wingate at 2 p.m. Registration for the event will be from 1 to 2 p.m. For information and ticket, visit ncgop9.com.

The 2017 North Carolina GOP Convention will be held June 2-4 at the Wilmington Convention Center at 515 Nutt Street, Wilmington.

Two Scotland County locals also to the opportunity during the convention to explain their platforms for why they are running for local office.

Brian Gainey of Laurinburg, who ran unsuccessfully for a school board seat in 2016 has decided to run for Laurinburg City Council.

Gainey said if he were on city council he would have fought to let voters decided whether to build a new City Hall. “We need to grow first and then maybe we can spend some money.” He also explained that Laurinburg is a college town and shouldn’t be striving to be a retirement community.

Jacob Pate of Gibson told the convention that he plans to run for the Scotland County school board in 2018.

Pate said he believes his “Republican rhetoric” will help the next generation of students. One of the issues he focused on was abortion saying “we won’t have a next generation if we allow abortion to continue.”

Also during the convention, Richmond Community College student Bailey Tuttle talked about the possibility of starting a college Republicans group at St. Andrews University. Tuttle has already helped organize a college group at RCC.

Steward
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_steward.jpgSteward

Harris
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_harrrrris.jpgHarris

Nolan Gilmour | Laurinburg Exchange Jacob Pate of Gibson, who plans to run for Scotland County school board in 2018, waits his turn to speak to Scotland County Republicans during the 2017 convention.
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_pate.jpgNolan Gilmour | Laurinburg Exchange Jacob Pate of Gibson, who plans to run for Scotland County school board in 2018, waits his turn to speak to Scotland County Republicans during the 2017 convention.
Speaker says Christian values are vital to party

By Nolan Gilmour

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Reach Nolan Gilmour at 910-506-3171