Democratic hopefuls speak at Iredell convention

At the start of the Iredell County Democratic Party Convention on Saturday afternoon, Chairwoman Diane Hamby told of an encounter she had with a Republican, which, she said, illustrates this year's political climate.

"I don't know how he knew I was a Democrat. I didn't have a Democrat shirt on," Hamby said. "But he started up and I had to listen to 20 minutes of hate-filled speech. But that's what we're up against. All I could do was tell him to stop watching FOX News and stop listening to Rush Limbaugh."

The Democrats gathered in one of the courtrooms at the Iredell Hall of Justice for their annual convention.

Hamby said the basic blueprint for the party this year is a simple one, at least in word. "In case you all were wondering," Hamby said, "the plan is to elect more Democrats."

But in one of the Republican-leaning counties in North Carolina, the party has its work cut out for itself.

For example, only one Democrat, retired military veteran Theodore Geary, filed to run for one of three seats up for election this year on the Iredell Board of Commissioners.

And Geary's platform — which he discussed at the convention — is one of idealism that includes talk of "praying for economic healing."

Meanwhile, a record eight Republicans filed to run for those seats.

One of the agenda items that arose at the convention was whether or not the party should maintain its downtown Statesville headquarters on a year-round basis.

Group Treasurer Barbara Orr told the party members that the cost of utilities on the East Front Street location was the difference that resulted in the party operating in the red during the past year.

"That's the reason we paid out more than we took in," Orr said. "The cost, for the amount of time it's used, is prohibitive."

Hamby said one idea could be to only keep the location open during campaign season.

But party member Mozetta Dobbins said doing that could result in the party shrinking even more.

"We need to keep a visible presence," Dobbins said. "If we're going to be in the fight then we have to be in the fight."

Hamby empanelled a committee to study options on the operation of the headquarters office.

Another committee was created to find a party nominee for the November special election to determine who will fill the final two years of the term of former Board of Commissioners Chairman Godfrey Williams, who died last month after a battle with cancer.

That five-person committee — Dobbins, David Parker, Ralph Bentley, Sam Hall and Fariba Holmsley — will submit its nominee to the full executive board at next month's regular meeting.

Acknowledging the difficult task of finding a viable Democratic candidate, Parker said, "This is really going to be a recruitment committee."

Several candidates — or their proxies — spoke at the convention.

Both Democratic candidates for Iredell County sheriff — Jeff Cheek and Bill Stamey — said the office's current occupant, Phil Redmond, is not doing the kind of job the citizens deserve in their top law enforcement officer.

"Our sheriff needs to be more receptive, approachable and available," said Cheek.

"There is a need for change over there," said Stamey. "Most citizens don't know what's going on over there but I hope, in the next few months, they find out."

Billy Kennedy, the Democratic nominee for the 5th U.S. Congressional District seat, said he sees the backlash against Democrats now as part of a cycle.

"The Democrats make all the positive steps," he said. "Then we let the Republicans back in and they take us back some of those steps. Then we have to get in and clean their messes back up again."

Without mentioning the name of the person he will most likely be running against in November — incumbent Rep. Virginia Foxx — Kennedy said, "My opponent is not only an embarrassment to North Carolina, but to the whole nation."

For comments like that, Kennedy received the only standing ovation of the day.

As the meeting ended, Hamby sought comments from the floor and got a bit of levity concerning a candidate for the Board of Commissioners who is running this time as a Republican.

"I'd like to thank whoever it was who orchestrated Fred Coggins to switch parties," someone said to great laughter.