The Roanoke County Republican Committee has formed a recruitment committee for the upcoming 2011 elections for the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors. “They have met with several of them so far and they have vetted well,” said Mike Bailey, Chair of the Roanoke County Republican Committee.
Most interest is coming from the Cave Spring district where Charlotte Moore holds the seat. Two Republican candidates have expressed interest there. George Assaid and Bojangles’ franchise owner Stan Seymour were two names raised as possibilities by separate sources.
Moore was elected as a Democrat but converted to an Independent. She serves with two other Independents that were elected as Republicans. Ed Elswick, Vice-Chair is one Republican convert but his term is not up for another two years.
Chairman “Butch” Church who represents the Catawba district is the other reformed Republican up for reelection this year. Church wasn’t conservative enough to suit Republicans and he has said he doesn’t like “being told how to vote.”
Bailey thinks most people in Church’s district are tired of him. There are interested candidates in his district too but not as many as in Cave Spring he explained.
The potential candidates are private business owners and employees who know business. “All have experience dealing with the government,” said Bailey.
The recruitment committee will announce the vetted candidates toward the end of June and by mid-July the Republican Committee will decide on the election process to pick candidate for both districts.
The only declared candidate is Carter Turner. He ran against then Delegate Morgan Griffith as a Democrat. Turner is running for the Catawba district as an Independent … possibly a wise choice if he can shake off the memory of the “D.”
For Moore and Church it remains to be seen how the switch to “Independent” helps or hurts their chances. Church won once as an Independent but for Moore it will be a test.
Are Catawba residents tired of Church as Bailey claims? Did Moore burn bridges with Democrats? If they are doing a good job for their constituents will party matter? Victories for both would be a sign that local offices / officials can shake off the party label.
