Republicans off to the races in NC-14
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pants country club Republicans would have no place in that Congress. As some Republicans were busy needling each other, McKim became the first to name-check an eventual Democratic opponent, opining that it would be Buncombe County Commissioner Jasmine Beach-Ferrara. Perhaps the most significant question — at least, to the organizers of the forum — was oriented around specific policies that would set young people up for success. Honeycutt joked that as the father of three children in college, his checking account was “going the wrong way.” Edwards thinks that building a wall on the nation’s southern border and balancing the federal budget would be a good start. Sluder pushed broadband as a catalyst to economic development, but it was Burril who offered a surprisingly progressive solution. “The federal government does not need to be making money on student loans,” he said, demanding an end to penalties, interest and garnishments and prompting the exploration of debt forgiveness through internships. The Smoky Mountain Young Republicans, hosts of the forum, have plans for more. Watch the NC-14 congressional forum in its entirety by visiting the Smoky Mountain Young Republicans Facebook page.
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Last week’s GOP congressional forum wasn’t hosted by the state party, some national media outlet or even a local county party — it was the work of a talented group of young people operating as the Smoky Mountain Young Republicans. “We were just going to have a small town hall and it kind of grew into what it is now,” said Elias McKim, chairman of the SMYR. Reagan Bunch — named after America’s 40th president — is a Clay County native and SMYR vice chair who attends UNCWilmington. Bunch moderated the debate, presenting questions developed by the SMYR as well as those sourced from the audience. “I think this was a really good starting place to build a foundation on where they stand,” she said. The group’s secretary, Michael Lyons, said that he’s been involved since 2012 and that the SMYR currently counts about 30 or 40 members in a geographical jurisdiction that includes Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Macon counties. The SMYR plans to host at least one more primary or runoff forum, and is currently seeking to fill several leadership positions. For more information, to get involved, or to make a donation supporting the Smoky Mountain Young Republicans, visit smokymtnyoungrepublicans.com.
February 9-15, 2022 Smoky Mountain News
BY CORY VAILLANCOURT complaining that much of the bill wasn’t POLITICS E DITOR related to infrastructure. O’Connell and he first Republican forum in the NC-14 Nevarez were the first to call for the elimicongressional race may have been light nation of large omnibus bills like the on specific policy proposals, but the Infrastructure Act, while Woodhouse eight declared candidates in the race to shamed the 15 Republicans who voted for replace Rep. Madison Cawthorn wasted no it. time introducing themselves to the GOP A softball question lobbed at candidates faithful in advance of the all-important May about whether Congress could or should 17 Primary Election. Eight Republicans shared the stage Rod at a forum in Franklin on Feb. 5. Honeycutt, Cory Vaillancourt photo Wendy Nevarez and Bruce O’Connell all declared their candidacies long before Cawthorn’s surprise Nov. 11 announcement that he’d seek election to a newly-drawn district instead of the old NC11 district that elected him in 2020. pass a nationwide constitutional carry law Since Cawthorn’s announcement, drew mostly predictable answers, but also retired financial services manager and drew the first shots of the campaign. Asheville Airport Authority Chairman “Any time a question starts with, Matthew Burril, three-term Hendersonville ‘Should the federal government …’ my Sen. Chuck Edwards, Highlands real estate answer is traditionally going to be no,” said developer Ken McKim, former NC-11 GOP Woodhouse, in support of the right of Chair Michele Woodhouse and Buncombe states to determine their own gun laws. County social worker Kristie Sluder have all Edwards, who along with Woodhouse is joined the field. perceived as one of the frontrunners in the Now, each of them are attempting to race, fired back. position themselves so as to appeal to the “I heard a statement up here a while ago various ideological and professional conthat I really have to disagree with,” he said. stituencies that make up Western North “I heard it’s the state’s right to control gun Carolina’s GOP electorate. laws. I adamantly oppose that statement. It Honeycutt, a retired Army colonel, gave is no right of any entity to control gun laws. the audience the choice between “ties and Our Second Amendment is guaranteed in suits or dog tags and boots.” Nevarez, the Constitution of the United States. Our through her answers on guns and abortion, right to bear arms shall not be infringed. fancies herself the most progressive. It’s quite clear.” O’Connell, operator of the Pisgah Inn, toutA similar “states rights” question was ed his history of standing up to the federal also pitched to candidates about abortion: government. Burril demonstrated a proif the landmark 1971 Roe v. Wade ruling is business, finance-oriented profile. Edwards overturned, should the federal government leaned heavily on his experience in the pass an anti-abortion law? Most candidates General Assembly. McKim thinks he’s the danced around the question, but Honeycutt most conservative — it says so on his cam— who’s served in combat zones across the paign signs. Woodhouse, who’s received a globe during his long career — said that few contributions from Cawthorn, sounds a there’s no asterisk on the Sixth lot like him, and Sluder brought a social Commandment. McKim proposed a constiservices perspective. tutional amendment, and Nevarez, the outOver the course of three hours, nearly lier, said that passing federal legislation 150 people in the Smoky Mountain Center would open a Pandora’s box. for the Performing Arts in Franklin heard Later, in another shot at Edwards, candidates agree on two main points — the O’Connell praised him but asked why he’d U.S. Department of Education must be disgamble the influence he carries in the N.C. solved, and the events of Jan. 6, 2021, were Senate to run in a race that, if he lost, not an insurrection and were not attributawould put the powerful Republican out of ble to Cawthorn and then-President Donald government for at least two years. Trump. Woodhouse also got in on the act with a Candidates also universally decried HR dig seemingly directed at Edwards when 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and she said that Republicans would take back Jobs Act that became law last November, the House and Senate in 2022 but pleated-
Smoky Mountain Young Republicans seek members
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