Leanne Cloudman

Staff Reporter

Lcloudman@yadkinripple.com

TheYadkin County Republican Party met on Tuesday evening at the courthouse in Yadkinville for their annual convention. Delegates were chosen for each precinct and new officers were elected.

Ben Harding, former chairman; Jennifer Casstevens, former vice chairwoman; and Linda Williams, former treasurer, elected not to run for office again.

Harding thanked the outgoing officers and explained that he could not run again because his wife had retired. This statement amused most of the people in the room who knew the decision was also Harding’s.

The new officers are Angela Parks, treasurer; Donna Crissman, secretary; Carol Prevette, vice chairwoman; Kevin Austin, chairman.

The outgoing officers received a plaque honoring their many hours of service and the audience their appreciation through rousing appreciative applause.

Austin addressed the group as the new chairman and suggested that the next few years may be interesting.

“We may have slipped a bit, but WXII has named Yadkin the most Republican county in North Carolina, and I am pleased to be a part of that,” he said.

Harding challenged the group to become more involved, donate to the party and fight the activity currently occuring in Washington.

“This is the heart of the Yadkin Republican party,” he said. “Tell Ms. Foxx to keep voting no.”

Brad Langston, a representative from the office of Rep. Virginia Foxx, addressed the crowd on her behalf. He assured them that Foxx values Yadkin County and all the support she receives from Yadkin people.

Austin spoke about the candidate for state chair, Chad Long, and encouraged members to vote for him, extolling his qualifications to lead the North Carolina Republican Party through the next few years.

Members were directed to review the new web site and check it often for updates.

The site is available at :

www.yadkincountygop.org.

New

Precinct

Chairs

Boonville - Josh Collins,

Deep Creek - Brady Wooten,

East Bend - Athalee Dinkins, Jerry Cornatzer-Forbush

N. Buck Shoals - Claudia Gutherie

N. Fall Creek - Lynn Crater

N. Knobs - Ray Shore

N. Liberty - Lee Zachary

S. Buck Shoals - Gaye Shore

S. fall Creek - Allen Caudle

S. Knobs - Ronnie Ball

S. Liberty - Richard Foster.