The Brunswick County Republicans held their 2008 annual convention Saturday at their headquarters. With more than 100 delegates, candidates and other Republicans present, they heard N.C. Representative Bill Daughtridge give the keynote speech. Daughtridge, from Rocky Mount, is the Republican candidate for treasurer of North Carolina. Because he is unopposed in the May 6th primary, he will compete in November's election to fill the treasurer's position being vacated by Democrat Richard Moore.

As the convention was being called to order by county chairman Frank Iler, a straw poll for governor was held among Brunswick County Republicans present. Of the four candidates on the Republican ballot for the May primary, 58, or 89 percent of those voting, preferred Fred Smith, N.C. senator from Johnston County. Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory received 3 votes (5 percent), Judge Robert Orr got 3 votes (5 percent), and Bill Graham of Salisbury got 1 vote (1 percent). Sen. Smith, who has close ties to Brunswick County, has visited often, and actually was present to speak to the convention later, after the poll results had been tallied, but not announced.

More than 15 candidates were present to speak for candidacies for governor, Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, County Commission, School Board, Register of Deeds, etc. Two legislative candidates are unopposed in the primary, N.C. Rep. Bonner Stiller of Brunswick County is running for another term, and N.C. Senate candidate Bettie Fennell of Pender County is challenging the incumbent, R.C. Soles, in the general election.

Candidate for Congress, Will Breazeale of White Lake, who has no primary opposition, was speaking to the convention Saturday about his campaign against incumbent Mike McIntyre. An Army National Guard major, Will has been activated for three tours of duty in Iraq, and spoke about his support for the fair tax, and a desire to replace McIntyre, who votes with Nancy Pelosi.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, who just visited Brunswck County two weeks ago, had her county coordinator, School Board Chair Shirley Babson, speaking on her behalf. Candidate for Lt. Governor Robert Pittenger had a spokesman, Marty Cooke of Shallotte and Ocean Isle Beach, speaking for him.

All the candidates got enthusiastic reactions from the crowd. The convention elected 60 delegates from Brunswick County to the N.C. GOP state convention in Greensboro, June 6-8, as well as to the 7th District convention here at the county headquarters on April 5th.