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By JOHN NORTH
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The only reason he was elected to lead the party— in an 80-50 landslide victory last April — was to “get conservative Republicans elected in Asheville and Buncombe County,” Doug Brown, the new chairman of the Buncombe County Republican Party, said during a party luncheon Sept. 19 at Brazilia Steakhouse in downtown Asheville.
About 50 people — mainly local business-owners — attended the luncheon to hear Brown’s plan for a conservative comeback in Asheville and Buncombe.
Introducing Brown was Bob Ray, an Asheville native and third-generation businessman and, as he noted, “until a few years ago, an active Democrat.
“Some of us were in the Jaycees years ago — and we were taught to speak extemporaneously....As a conservative and Republican, we are facing a true juggernaut with the Democrats. With Doug Brown, who is dynamic and energetic, he provides a new paradigm that is strategic, tactical and clever.
“We want the people we’re able to win with — to place on state and local committees. We need your help to seek people for candidates’ positions. We are looking for people with a strong background in public service.
“We know, as Republicans, we’ve been painted as ‘racists’ by various media outlets. We need to change that to where we are considered ‘the party of the reasonable.’”
In concluding, Ray said, “Play time is, indeed, over. It’s time for the adults to come back into the room. Help us make it so.”
Brown began his address by noting, “This urgency is giving us an opportunity to go forward. We feel like we have until 2026 to move the football forward. I want you to know what I am. We are going to do things strategically, tactically and cleverly.
“The stakes are too big right now for us to sit back and see how things work out.
“In front of you, on your table, we have the BCGOP’s core values and purpose — which is pretty much our ‘North Star,’” Brown said. “We need to repaint our party as one rooted in common sense and native values, but our mission is those hills we have to get over ... It’s not going to be easy....”
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