HENDERSONVILLE — There was at least one loyalist to Brett Callaway, chair of the Hendersonville Republican Party, sitting with — but apart from — the relatively large turnout at the Jan. 25 meeting of the Henderson County Republican Men’s Club at the American Legion here. 

Observing the meeting, but offering no comments during various discussions, was Cher Silvius, who serves on the HCRP’s executive board, which advises Callaway.

Men’s Club members last May voted unanimously to for the resignation of Callaway because he had had the precinct chairs removed from voting on the executive committee, for having been improperly elected and for adopting a new plan of organization by Callaway and the few remaining committee members.” 

On the HCRP’s website, Silvius is listed as “active in HCRWC, Take Back Hendersonville Task Force, POD 5 coordinator, Horse Shoe precinct chair.”

Following the meeting, a Daily Planet reporter told Silvius that he had heard during the meeting that some of the Men’s Club members suspected that she was attending as a “spy” — and asked if there was any validity to that concern.

In response, Silvius laughed, but she did admit that she was attending as an observer. 

Speaking in general about what she saw and heard at the Men’s Club meeting, she said there was a tendency to be divisive. 

As for herself, Silvius asserted, “I’m part of the party. I believe that our chair (Brett Callaway) wants unity.”

Regarding several questions from the Daily Planet about what transpired at the just-completed HCRMC meeting, particularly the announcement by Greg Beam that he plans to vye for the chair of the HCRP, she said it would be better to ask Callaway that question. (A telephone interview with Callaway by the Daily Planet appears above this story on this page.)

So is Callaway planning to seek re-election as the party’s chair? the Daily Planet asked. 

“That’s for him (Callaway) to say,” Silvius replied. 

After a pause, she smiled and noted — joyfully — that her main emphasis is being a conservative, a Republican and a strong supporter of President Donald J. Trump and Vice Presidence J.D. Vance.

To that end, she asserted assuredly, “I’m here for Trump, for Vance and for the conservative movement!” 

As for Beam’s proposed new Plan of Organization for the HCRP, Sivlius said, “I think he’s for staying in accordance with the (state) plan.”

So did the Men’s Club meeting on Jan. 25 go as she expected — or were there some surprises? the Daily Planet queried.

“There were no surprises from the meeting,” Servius replied.

However, when pressed further for a meeting critique, Sylvius said that, contrary to assertions made at the Men’s Club meeting, the Hendersonville-based WNC Young Republicans “are very active.”