HENDERSONVILLE — Data architect Greg Beam was the only individual to announce his decision to run for the chair of the Henderson County Republican Party during a breakfast meeting of the Henderson County Republican Men’s Club on Jan. 25 at American Legion Post 77 here. 

Beam spoke only sparingly about himself during his address and, instead, mainly reviewed in detail  — and extrolled the virtues of — a proposed Plan of Organization to replace the one now used by the HCRP, which is Western North Carolina’s largest and most prominent Republican organization.

Sixty-six paid club members attended the meeting, which club President Bruce Hatfieldlater noted enthusiastically that “that’s the biggest number we’ve had in a while!”

Beam’s address was by invitation, as Hatfield had noted in a meeting promotion that, “If you are running for (local) GOP chair, or know someone who is considering running for (local) GOP chair, you are invited to speak” at the early-morning meeting.

Hatfield’s promotion also had stated, “The (local) GOP Convention will be held at the end of March, (so) the members of the Men’s Club want to know how you will lead the Henderson County GOP over the next four years....” 

(The HCRP convention will begin around 1:30 p.m. March 29 at Point Lookout Vineyards in Edneyville.)

Earlier, Hatfield opened the meeting by noting, with an air of jubilation, “After four long, miserable years, we have a president!” His words triggered cheers from the crowd. 

With his voice rising, he added, “After 9 o’clock last night (Jan. 24), we have a secretary of defense (Pete Hegseth) — finally!” In response, a number of the meeting attendees erupted into enthused applause.

As for those Republican senators who voted aganst Hegseth, Hatfield said, “Maybe it’s time we find someone to run against those people... because they certainly aren’t Republicans.” Specifically, Hatfield singled out for criticism Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski and Maine Senator Susan Collins, calling them dependably disloyal to the GOP.

After a pause, he added that North Carolina Republicans need to find and support a candidate to run against — and defeat — newly elected Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat. 

“Whoever takes over the (Henderson County) GOP will find the same resistance... The (local) GOP should be open to all registered Republicans, including the Men’s Club and the Women’s Club” — and other conservative groups...

“We need to find a good candidate” for chairman. “We also need to recruit that 18 to 29 age group. We need to get that group involved” in local Republican efforts.

Regarding the upcoming local Republican convention, Hatfield said that “registration has to be online.” 

As for his concern about the convention being held at swank Point Lookout Vineyards, Hatfield asserted, “I’m not sure what the price will be” for the party to rent it. With a frown, he added, “We could have had the VFW for free....”

At that point, Hatfield lamented that many Henderson boards have members with conflicts of interest and “we need to get people (appointed to them who are) without a conflict of interest.”

Speaking about the havoc wreaked on the area by Tropical Storm Helene, Hatfield said he has traveled widely lately and that “Spruce Pine, Bat Cave, Chimney Rock” and several other communities “are gone.”

He added that “it’s going to take a long time” for those and other communities to recover, if ever.

Further, Hatfield asserted, “I did listen to (Asheville television station) WLOS (News 13) last night… They were talking (on the news programming) about (that it could take about) six months before money gets down to the people (storm victims) who need it. I think after yesterday (Trump’s visit to the Asheville area on Jan. 24), that that’s going to happen a lot faster...

“I think it’s time we hold the Democrats’ feet to the fire,” Hatfield stated. Based on recent revelations, he added, “It looks like some Democrats will be spending some time in jail....”

Hatfield also noted that Bill Robinson, “a conservative journalist” who writes for Newsmax, among several other “right-leaning” news outlets, “is going to be our speaker next meeting” — at 9 a.m. Feb. 8 at American Legion Post 77 in Hendersonville.

Meanwhile, in his address to the Men’s Club, Beam, an HCGOP chair candidate, began by noting, I’d like to talk about a new Plan of Organization” for the local party.

Rhetorically, he asked “So why do we need a new Plan of Organization? Let’s go back to last spring,” when HCGOP Chair Brett Callaway and other top party leaders decided to exclude precinct chairs from the executive committee, noting that “they can’t represent their precinct because they’re not on the executive committee,” 

What’s more, Callaway and other leaders also changed the local party’s Plan of Organization at that time, Beam stated.

In contrast, he pointed out, “About 80 percent of counties in North Carolina have precinct chairs on their (local GOP) executive committees. So that’s the standard in North Carolina...

“The executive committee can approve changes in the Plan of Organization, but, as it stands right now on the website, that has to be ratified at the upcoming (HCRP) convention. If not, then we’d fall back on the prior one (Plan of Organization).”

Continuing, Beam asserted, “There were problems with the prior Plan of Organization. I looked at it (about five years ago) and I didn’t think it was organized that well, so I reorganized it. The old plan has problems — and I have some ownership in it,” as he participated in drawing it up.

Moving forward, he said, “We did take a look at it (Union County GOP’s Past Chairman Dan Berry’s version). Then you get into, what constitutes ‘good?’ Actually, the shorter, the better.

“The state Plan of Organization governs over everything. You can’t have anything in your county plan that contradicts the state plan. That’s why Dan Berry was criticizing it.

“The state plan is pretty well-organized… It’s not that difficult to understand.

“So you don’t want to contradict it and you don’t want to overlap it...

“There is quite a bit in the Henderson County (GOP) Plan of Organization that is negative,” particlarly, Beam said, in “dealing with disloyalty.”

Rhetorically, Beam asked, “So how much of this (current Plan of Organization) is applicable to Henderson County?”

He then returned to what Beam said he and his colleagues liked about the Union County plan…. it has about 10 items about financial controls... transparency and accountability in finances.

“I did want to make sure people are aware about this Plan of Organization. I hope all of you will go to your precinct meetings, so you can (qualify to) vote at the county convention. This Plan of Organization is two pages, single-spaced...

“The first part of it is the composition of the executive committee. I did hear from someone saying we should include the other (local) men’s club (the Western North Carolina Men’s Group, also a federated club) — and we could do that.

“Next, duties of officers… controls over what the chair can spend. There are a lot restrictions on what the chair can do.

“It goes over — quite a bit about— the financial controls. Three unexcused absence by a precint chair at executive committee meetings could result in expulsion.

“It’s limited only to ‘federated’ clubs, so there is some vetting process in that.

“There are two issues here. I think, arguably, the most important issue is approving a new Plan of Organization. If we approve it, it will reconstitute the executive committee, so it will matter less who the chair of the executive committee is.. I will say the review process is important.”

Kathy Maney, a former precinct chair, asked Beam “if the county chair will have the right to exclude any member of the press” under his proposed new Plan of Organization.

“The chair would have the sole discretion to throw out any member of the press, if they’re disruptive,” Beam replied.

An unidentified man interjected, “I think the chair should have the right to keep things in-house....”

Men’s Club member Mark Delk noted, “You can solve some of the problem by holding an executive session.”

Agreeing with Delk, Beam said, “Yes, that’s a good way to handle it.” 

An unidentified man asked Beam: “Could you speak about why you’re running?”

In response, Beam said he was motivated to run for the chairmanship because the local party needs “to get a change to the Plan of Organization.

“I’ve been involved in party activities for last 30 years.

“My background is IT (information technology). I was self-employed as an IT contractor for 20 years. I worked for large companies for many years.”

Further, Beam noted, “I worked on Chuck Edwards’ campaign for a couple of elections.” (Edwards, who lives in Flat Rock, is now a U.S. congressman.)

Continuing, Beam said, “We’ve lived in the area for about eight years. We lived in the Minneapolis area for about 20 years before that.

“What I’d like to do with the county party is get a new Plan of Organization approved... There’s been a lot of top-down leadership... There’s things we must do, things we like to do... we need to get younger people involved. That’s always an interest of mine in these things. 

“I think the ‘meet-and-greets’ are helpful, especially for the elected officials. Also, we could help get the young people interested in getting elected to get started. We need to get back to the Lincoln-Reagan Dinners.”

Hatfield interjected, “I have a question about the (HCGOP’s) treasurer’s position, locally.”

Beam replied, “It’s extremely hard being a treasurer. If anyone knows anyone” who would like to serve in that capacity... to let him know. “I think the treasurer should have complete custody of the funds — and determine the procedures.”

An unidentified woman asked “if the current GOP chair (Brett Callaway) will run again?”

“I don’t know,” Beam replied. “It’s still 2-1/2 months away. I think the most important thing is, if anyone else says they want to be the chair, it should be asked if they favor the (proposed) new Plan of Organization.”

(In an interview with the Daily Planet appearing on Page A2, Callaway said he will not be running for re-election as the HCGOP’s chairman.)

An unidentified man asked, “Do we still have the Young Republicans group?”

Beam replied, “The people in that age group are a tough group to keep organized. At different points in time, we’ve had a very active group. At the moment, I’m not aware of an active Henderson County Young Republicans group.

A man asked: “Do you anticipate any pushback from the convention?”

Beam answered, “That’s a very good question! Typically, the Plan of Organization is the last thing handled at a convention. Typically, the first thing is the election….  We’re working on strategies, if that isn’t the case.”