By By TED STRONG
Staff Writer
The Beaufort County Democratic Party needs to energize itself, said Alice Mills Sadler, who was elected the party’s new chairwoman at its county convention Saturday in the Beaufort County Courthouse.
She returned repeatedly to a motif used by guest speaker retired Clerk of Court Tom Payne who said politics are like a car — D (or Democrats) to drive forward, R (or Republicans) for reverse — as she told the party faithful that she wants to improve campaigning in Beaufort County. A top priority will be creating party structure in unorganized precincts, she said.
During his speech, Payne complimented the convention on what he called a record-breaking crowd and urged the party to avoid a divisive primary. The nominating committee festooned a courtroom with bunting and signs for each of the precincts in attendance, and a brunch and socialization period preceded the convention itself.
Payne said that campaigns now require both logistic support from the party and fundraising by the candidate. The effect, he said, is increased strain on candidates running for office.
Outgoing county chairman Surry Everett read letters of support from several people, including Gov. Beverly Perdue and Rep. Arthur Williams.
A resolution honoring David Caldwell “Red” Everett Sr. was read. Everett, who died in August, was a veteran of Pearl Harbor, lifelong Democrat and two-term county party chairman.
Cutline for corresponding photo: The Crossroads Bluegrass Gospel Band plays a song written by Clerk of Court Marty Paramore at the county Democratic Party convention at the Beaufort County Courthouse on Saturday morning. (WDN Photo/Ted Strong)