TARBORO - The Republican presence in Edgecombe County is far from overwhelming.

James Proctor, the county's Republican Party chairman, will be the first to tell you.

A small crowd of local party members assembled Tuesday at the county courthouse during the Edgecombe County GOP Convention and affirmed plans to change that.

"There aren't a lot of Republicans in Edgecombe County," Proctor said at the start of the meeting. "That won't keep us from working hard to earn votes, though."

Ginny Smith, the wife of gubernatorial candidate N.C. Sen. Fred Smith, was in attendance along with local candidates Garland Shepheard and Corcoran Tyson. A representative from Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory's gubernatorial campaign also made an appearance.

Each spoke briefly to the small crowd of supporters.

"Fred (Smith) is running for governor because North Carolina needs a conservative leader who represents North Carolina values, a leader with a positive vision, proven experience and the tenacity and courage to make the tough decisions that will need to be made to produce results," Ginny Smith said, addressing the group. "Fred Smith is going to do that."

Shepheard, a Tarboro man running against N.C. Rep. Joe Tolson, D-Edgecombe, spoke about what has happened in Raleigh during the last several years. His disdain for "business as usual," is what inspired him to run, he said.

"For 40 years, I've been voting for better roads, better education, better heath care and lower taxes," Shepheard said. "Now, if y'all can name any of those four that we've got, I'd like to hear it."

Shepheard, partially retired owner of Team Ford Auto Sales in Tarboro, said his experience in business management is what makes him qualified to serve the people.

Corcoran Tyson, who will challenge Viola Harris for the District 2 county commissioner seat, spoke about his visions for growth in Edgecombe County.

The county board of commissioners has no Republican members.

Several in attendance said they came to hear Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory speak about his campaign for governor. Unfortunately, Proctor said, McCrory was a no show.

He canceled about 24 hours before he was set to speak, Proctor said.

Al Lytton, a representative from McCrory's campaign, spoke on his behalf.

"Last minute mayoral duties came up," Lytton said. "Being an elected official, he firmly believes he is a servant of the people, and he's elected to do a job so he's doing that job; tonight, which I think will also work well when we have a governor that actually shows up and does what they are elected to do, as well."

Although Edgecombe County is allowed to elect 24 delegates to the District 1 Republican Party Convention, less than 10 county residents signed up to do so Tuesday during the county convention.

The District 1 GOP convention will be held April 12 in Tarboro.

This article is available online here.