Watauga County Democrats gathered at Watauga High School Saturday, April 14, for their annual convention. Party Chair Diane Tilson welcomed the 146 party members, Second Vice Chair Marjory Holder gave the invocation, Laurinda Nicholson led the group in singing the National Anthem and John Fortenberry, president of ASU’s College Democrats, led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Tilson recognized the honored guests, including Watauga County, Sheriff L.D. Hagaman, Clerk of Superior Court Glenn Hodges, Boone Mayor Loretta Clawson and Representative Cullie Tarleton.

Party Secretary J.W. Williamson took the roll of precincts; 16 of 17 precincts were present.

Town, county and state representatives reported at the convention. Tarleton told the group that Watauga County Democrats have a lot to be proud of. “We had a great election last year with huge successes. We now have all five seats on the county commission, Watauga County Sheriff, Watauga County Clerk of Court, the 45th State Senate and 93rd State House. What a year,” Tarleton said.  Continuing, Tarleton pointed out that the Democrats’ success is “a clear sign that the citizens of North Carolina support our agenda.” Tarleton warned his fellow Democrats that their job was not done. “I don’t want to bust your bubble,” he said, “but I do want to remind you of an old expression, ‘What got you there, won’t keep you there.’” Tarleton explained that the Democrats success in the last election came from grassroots work by “hard working volunteers” who “worked smarter and harder than the Republicans.”

Tarleton continued, “We cleaned their clock last year, and [the Republicans] are determined to pay us back and once again dominate. So if what got us there won’t keep us there, then we ratchet it up several notches, because there was one important race we didn’t win.” Tarleton explained that the goal for the next election is to unseat Representative Virginia Foxx. “’08 must be the year we bring her home permanently,” he said.

Alexander County Clerk of Superior Court Seth Chapman was the keynote speaker for the convention and introduced as a “Hellfire and brimstone politician,” by First Vice chair Charlie Wallin. “Watauga County is back in good hands,” he said, “in good hands because Democrats can govern more effectively than the loyal opposition.” Chapman took aim at the recent Watauga County Republican convention, rebutting each of the resolutions passed by the county GOP. “They are opposed to all tax increases,” he said. “We know that Republicans don’t like taxes because all of them are rich and they don’t think they ought to pay any. They want the middleman and the poor man like me to pay all the taxes. They want to ballyhoo about the sales tax. Well let me tell you, no matter who you are you’re going to have to pay sales tax and what fairer one could there be than that one?” The bill Chapman referenced is N.C. House Bill 455, introduced by Tarleton that would give Watauga County the option to enact a local one-half cent sales tax, in addition to current sales taxes, with the proceeds earmarked for public school capital outlay. Chapman continued, “The Republicans are not concerned about the sales tax, because they are going to send their kids to some private school, so it don’t matter what the public schools are getting.”  Chapman additionally charged that Republicans are tying to get public school funds put toward private schools because “that’s what they want; that’s what Republicans are about, in case you don’t know,” he said.

Chapman challenged the Republican resolution that opposes political corruption. “Republicans talking about cleaning up governmental corruption is about like Lucifer becoming the holy angel of light again. I just don’t think it’s going to happen,” he said. Mentioning several incidents of alleged Republican corruption over the past several months, ranging from theft of Hurricane Katrina funds to the issues surrounding the recent firing of U.S. attorneys, Chapman outlined what he believed was proof of Republican and administration corruption. “Every day when you pick up a newspaper or turn on the television, there is something else they are hiding, something else gone wrong and nobody takes blame; nobody takes credit,” he said. “This is the only time I remember in the history of our nation that for eight years we have run, by God, without a president!” Continuing, Chapman said, “They want to talk about corruption and they out CIA agents with a different political view with Carl Rove and Lord Vader Cheney up to their necks involved. The Justice Department snooping into our private citizens’ private phone conversations, Republican Congressional members indicted for corruption, and they were worried about Bill Clinton,” he said and added,  “I assume they were trying to point a finger at the Democrats, but look at all those who pointed back.”

Chapman agreed with the Republican resolution to support the military. “I too, on a personal level, pray daily for our troops and we thank God for them,” he said. Addressing Republican Convention Chair Jim Hastings, Chapman said, “Tell this to your president and his administration. If you’re going to give ‘heartfelt thanks’ and do resolutions locally for the Republican Party, then tell your administration to honor your resolution and get America a real plan for victory, and a real plan for protection of our troops, and a real plan for a workable strategy to let the Iraqis solve their own problems!” Chapman charged the Republican Party to include in their resolution support for retuning Iraq veterans who are “wounded, maimed and crippled for life, instead of housing them in a rat- and roach-infested, molded, dilapidated building at Walter Reed!” 

Chapman expressed his personal offense to comments made by Congresswoman Foxx during her keynote speech at the Republican convention, particularly her assertion that the Democrats do not “want to win the war on terror.”

“Wrong again as usual, Representative Foxx,” Chapman said. “We must win this war, win it where it matters. Fight the real terrorists. Use the full power and might of our military to destroy those that are planning our demise. The debacle in Iraq is the wrong place. Two Democratic administrations led us through two of the bloodiest wars the world has ever known, and we had a plan, we had a victory strategy, we had an exit plan. Where is yours?” Chapman told the crowd that all of America, together with God’s help, would win the war on terror, not political parties.

Chapman concluded with a challenge to Foxx’s reference to God and values saying, “The day of Republican smoke screening and hiding under the outward, righteous, fair, cynical robe is over! America has seen and witnessed your party’s lip service values, and we are tired of it. We will tolerate it no more. The Republican Party has no more claims on values and principals and especially God than those jihadists do. Your party’s reign of terror on values is O-V-E-R.”  

The group received Chapman’s addresses with applause, cheers and laughter.

Following Chapman’s address, Marsha Walpole presided over the election of officers for 2007. Chair Diane Tilson was reelected for a two-year term. Additional members elected or reelected to office were Charlie Wallin, Marjory Holder, Anna Sagel, Susan Phillips, Celia Roten, Dennis Grady, Loretta Clawson and Jerry Williamson. Roy Bracey, Marsha Walpole and Ingrid Kraus were elected as new executive officers for the 2007-08 biennium.

Convention business concluded with the debate and passage of 25 resolutions on issues ranging from the impeachment of President Bush and campaign finance reform to high-quality, well-funded, diverse schools for children.