Jean Preston and Friends

NC Senate Candidate Jean Preston and NC House Candidate Michael Speciale

Jean Preston and NC Senate Minority Leader Phil Berger

Jean Preston

Precinct meeting

Vanceboro Precinct will hold it's Precinct meeting February 22 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall, Main St. Vanceboro.  Delegates to the CCGOP Convention will be elected.

Rep Jean Preston Announces Her Intention to Run for NC Senate

Rep Jean Preston announced her intention to run against C.W. 'Pete' Bland for the seat vacated by Scott Thomas who resigned from the seat to replace W. David McFadyen Jr, District Attorney for Craven, Pamlico and Carteret counties. The announcement was made on C-TV10 this morning on "The Daily Neuse Show with Phil Knight" at about 8:05AM. The Press Conference was covered by WNCT Channel 12, and a few other unidentified cameramen. Noticeably absent was the New Bern Sun Journal. In attendance were several Republican elected officials, including the NC Senate Minority Leader.

There were many CCGOP members there, including many carrying placards and cheering. The preparations for the event were put together in less than 24 hours notice. Everyone did a fantastic job.

Charlie Mitchell

Pct. meeting announcement

Brices Creek will hold it's Precinct meeting to elect delegates to the CCGOP convention at the Brices Creek #7 sub-station, Brices Creek Rd. at 7:00 p.m. March 1.

FMI contact pct-brices-creek@cravencountygop.org.

submitted by Doris Pfeiffer

River Bend Precinct Meeting

River Bend precinct will meet March 2nd at 7:00 p.m. at the River Bend town Hall.  Delegates to the CCGOP Convention will be elected. Craven County commissioner Renee Sisk will be the guest speaker.

submitted by Doris Pfeiffer

Congressman Jones Requests Investigation of Chaplains Removal

Washington, D.C. - In a letter yesterday to the Department of the Army Inspector General, LTG Stanley Green, Third District Representative Walter B. Jones (R-NC) requested an investigation of an incident involving an Army chaplain stationed in Iraq who was allegedly removed from his chapel for speaking to the media about the importance of the freedom to pray according to one's faith tradition.

 

"It has come to my attention that in all branches of the military it is increasingly difficult for chaplains to pray in adherence to their faith," Congressman Jones wrote.  "I have read reports, received letters, and seen documentation which verifies that suppression of religious freedom throughout our Armed Forces is a pervasive problem, affecting military chaplains from all denominations and religions.  Of particular concern is an incident involving Army Captain Chaplain Jonathon Stertzbach of the 3-6 FA HHB in Iraq.  I am writing to request that the Army Inspector General investigate whether Chaplain Stertzbach was illegally removed from his chapel."

 

Chaplain Stertzbach was asked by another unit to serve the spiritual needs of its soldiers, in addition to his own battalion, in weekly movement to an undisclosed Fire Operating Base (FOB).  During one of the missions, tragically, one of the soldiers was killed in action.  The unit's Commanding Officer asked this chaplain to perform the memorial ceremony because he had bravely served the soldiers, and gone to the risk of convoying to the FOB weekly.  Before the memorial ceremony, the chaplain submitted two prayers and a meditation for the Division Chaplain and his direct supervising chaplain for review.  The Brigade Chaplain attempted to remove the chaplain from administering the prayers of the memorial ceremony because he concluded his prayer in the name of Jesus Christ in a public forum.  The chaplain, adhering to his conscience and faith tradition, said he would not strike the words Jesus Christ. 

 

The unit's Commanding Officer intervened, explaining that Chaplain Stertzbach volunteered to serve a different unit outside of his assigned unit and placed his life in harm’s way to provide for the needs of the unit’s soldiers.  The Commanding Officer instructed that Chaplain Stertzbach would pray according to his faith tradition and the prayers he initially submitted.  The Brigade Chaplain told him to begin by qualifying his prayer with, "Please pray according to your faith tradition, as I pray according to mine" and to close with, "in thy name we pray, and in Jesus' name I pray."  Chaplain Stertzbach delivered the memorial meditation and prayers for the fallen hero, but still followed orders with the 'qualifier' remaining in place.

 

When Chaplain Stertzbach's story reached the media, he was quoted in the Washington Times stating, "You need to allow people to pray according to their faith group. Many faith groups do not pray in general and generic terms....  For Christian groups, the name of Jesus is from where all the power comes."  The incident surrounding the memorial ceremony and Chaplain Stertzbach's answers to the media resulted in his removal from chapel.

 

"I believe Chaplain Stertzbach answered questions fairly, accurately, and within his legal rights.  I am concerned that Chaplain Stertzbach was removed without justification," Jones concluded.

 

Jones' letter is part of an ongoing effort to protect the first amendment rights of all military chaplains and reflects his continued concern for chaplains who have suffered from restrictions placed on the expressions of their faith.

 

For additional information or to schedule an interview with Congressman Walter B. Jones please contact Kathleen Joyce at (202) 225-3415.

 

Republican Men's Club Meeting

Craven County Republican Men's Club will meet Saturday, Feb. 11, 8:00
am breakfast, 8:30 am meeting, at The Golden Corral. Our guest
speaker will be Ray Griffin, running for Craven County Commissioner.
We will also have the installation of officers for 2006.

Look forward to seeing you all.

Tom Mark

Grantham 1a Precinct meeting

Grantham 1a precinct will hold a meeting Feb. 28 at  7:00 p.m. at the Township #7 Firehouse on the Old Cherry Point Rd.  For more information please click onto the February GOP Calendar.

Vote to reorganize Board of Elections causes controversy

Vote to reorganize Board of Elections causes controversy
February 02,2006
BY SUE BOOK
SUN JOURNAL STAFF

Political fire sparked from the normally cool Craven County Board of Elections Wednesday. With the meeting barely called to order, Democrats Robert "Bob" MacDonald and new member Esther Hardin voted to reorganize the board, with MacDonald the new chairman.

The move surprised sole Republican and Chairman William "Bill" Miner, who questioned its legality throughout MacDonald's repeated curt insistence that action proceed.

"It is spelled out in the statutes when it is supposed to happen," said Miner, armed with a nearly five-inch thick copy of state election laws. He asked both members if they had met or talked by phone previously about the matter, which both denied.

Miner was elected on Aug. 8 to chair the three-member board with a Democratic majority. He said he had reviewed statues in anticipation of reorganization with Hardin being sworn in Wednesday.

She replaced former Chairwoman Gloria Stanley, a Democrat who resigned in December because of ill health after serving nine years.

"I certainly hope this board can continue to operate in a non-partisan manner as it did when (Stanley) was a member," said Miner.

At the meeting's end, MacDonald said he would conduct election board business in a non-partisan manner and thinks the board, as now constituted, will work well together.

While Miner said he had not seen one, the agenda for the meeting did include reorganization.

Craven elections director Tiffiney Miller said she included it on the agenda because a memorandum from N.C. State Board of Elections Director Gary Bartlett informing her of Hardin’s official appointment mentioned reorganization.

Sue Book can be reached at 635-5666 or sbook@freedomenc.com.

CRAVEN COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS ACTIVITY REPORT - February 1, 2006

CRAVEN COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS ACTIVITY REPORT February 1, 2006

The following report contains the recent activities of the Craven County Board of Elections Office.   This report is done to help keep all interested parties up to date on the activities of this office.

Mrs. Gloria Stanley, Democrat Member of the Board of Elections resigned in December of 2005 because of health reasons.   Mrs. Stanley has been a wonderful Board Member and we would like to take this opportunity to say “Thank You” for the services provided to the voters of Craven County.

Mrs. Esther Hardin has been appointed to the Craven County Board of Elections.   She will be sworn in on February 1st at 10:00 a.m. by Mrs. Jan Cahoon, Clerk of Superior Court.   Mrs. Hardin will fill the unexpired term of Mrs. Gloria Stanley.   Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Hardin to the Board of Elections.   She has taken on an awesome responsibility but one that provides a great service to the citizens of Craven County.

Voting Equipment information was sent to the State Board of Elections on January 18th.   The deadline set by the State was January 20th.   The office has received information that the State will provide additional grant funds to help with the purchase and set up of the equipment.   To help facilitate user acceptance testing (UAT) and provide quality assurance, State Board staff will assist ES&S as soon as confirmed orders are submitted and machines are received at the central warehouse in Raleigh.   County boards of elections are encouraged to be present for the UAT to monitor or assist as deemed appropriate.

The Director of Elections will set up voting equipment demonstrations as soon as possible.   The goal is to provide demonstrations to local municipalities as well as rural areas of the county before Election Day.

2006 Election information was sent to all Voter Registration locations in Craven County.   This will help ensure that the locations have enough voter registration applications on hand along with the schedule for the 2006 Election Year. Anyone that is interested in obtaining registration forms or the 2006 schedule may do so by contacting this office.

The office has received many requests for voter registration files.   Most of these are sent electronically.   This office uses the State Election Information Management System (SEIMS) and many different formats and programs are available using the Board of Election Reporting tools.  Various statistical reports are also available upon request.   To be placed on our monthly mailing list, please contact this office.

Candidate Filing is scheduled to open on February 13th at noon and the deadline to file is February 28th at noon.   The following offices file with this Office:  NC State Senator (if a registered voter in Craven County) the filing fee is $207; NC State House of Representatives District 3 and 79 (if a registered voter in Craven County) the filing fee is $207; Clerk of Superior Court the filing fee is $731; Craven County Sheriff the filing fee is $743; Craven County Commissioner the filing fee is $93; Craven County Board of Education (Districts 2, 4 & 6) the filing fee is $66.  All Filing Fees must be paid by personnel check only, we can not accept cash or a business check.

The last day to change party affiliation for candidates who wish to file on the last day of the 2006 filing period (G.S. 163-106(b)) was November 15th, 2005.

The office has had a few candidates complete their organizational reports including their bank account information used for campaign purposes.  By law this must be done before any funds can be spent or received.  Most candidates will not have to make any financial reports other than the organizational unless they exceed the threshold of $3,000 (spending or received), after that they are required to file campaign disclosure reports.

The State Board Training Seminar will be conducted March 14th & 15th at the Friday Center in Chapel Hill.   The law requires that the Director and Board Members attend this training.

Voter Registration Activity December 2005 New Voter Registrations 250 Changes of Information 113 Voters Removed 136 Verification Mailings sent 681 Confirmation Mailings sent 48

Voter Registration Activity January 2006 New Voter Registrations 275 Changes of Information 171 Voters Removed 135 Verification Mailings sent 583 Confirmation Mailings sent 8

Office staff has been reviewing State Retention schedule and destroying items that have been kept the minimum time required by law.   This office is required to keep many items that take up a lot of space to satisfy the retention schedule.   This will increase with the retention of paper ballots voted and un-voted required for the new voting equipment.  Storage space for these documents will certainly be a concern.