Prior to the 2007 Moore County Republican Party Convention the George Little/John Owen faction of the party tried to nullify precinct elections in Pinedene Precinct (George Little's precinct) and appoint their own Precinct Chairman. John Owen appointed several more people to the Credentials Committee in an apparent attempt to gain a majority position to accomplish this because the majority of existing members refused to support his effort. Through his new majority in the Credentials Committee the entire slate of delegates from Pinedene were challenged (disqualified). George Little, John Owen, and their supporters thought they had successfully stripped Pinedene of its delegates to the convention and could easily win the election of their candidates but they apparently forgot they are part of a larger organization.

     The members of Pinedene precinct affected by these shenanigans took the controversy to The North Carolina Republican Party leadership who immediately put the issue under arbitration as required by Article VIII.C of the State Plan of Organization. After reviewing the facts the arbiters ruled in favor of the Pinedene precinct members. Under this ruling the Pinedene precinct slate of delegates was seated at the convention by the credentials committee. Some within the Little/Owen faction published editorials in newspapers claiming that the State GOP leadership was “butting in”. This baseless claim was made either in complete ignorance of or just plain ignoring the requirements mandated under Article VIII.C of the State Plan Of Organization which dictated the NCGOP leadership’s actions.

     This was not the last trick the George Little/John Owen faction had prepared for the convention. Immediately after the report of the Rules Committee was read on the floor someone made a motion to amend the rule for voting and change it from secret ballots to a standing vote by precinct. A second was quickly offered and the motion was voted upon. It was narrowly passed. This method of voting is very similar to what Labor Unions want Congress to give them to increase their chances of winning elections to organize new chapters in non-union workplaces. It is desired by such unscrupulous groups because it allows them to intimidate and coerce voters to vote in their favor. In this convention it also left no direct record of the actual votes cast and makes it impossible to verify the count or that no proxy voting occurred. This author and several others witnessed one precinct chairperson browbeating a delegate and telling the delegate to stand up and vote (with the Little/Owen faction). The delegate who was sitting at the time was clearly made uncomfortable by the intimidation and reluctantly did as instructed. Secret ballots are vital in order to protect voters from this sort of illegal voter intimidation.

     The George Little/John Owen faction still had one last trick to pull in the hope of completing their dirty deed even more quickly. The first nomination for Chairman of the Executive Committee had hardly finished echoing in the convention hall when an out-of-order motion was made to close nominations and vote by acclamation for John Owen, the only nominee thus far. The motion was made over audible objections and accepted by Mr. Little, the Chairman of the convention, over even more objections. Mr. Little ignored all objections until he had secured a second to the out-of-order motion which he had asked for over objections. After having received the second Mr. little proceeded to rule the matter closed to further discussion. Representative Joe Boylan stood to be heard and was again told by Mr. Little that the matter was closed to discussion. Mr. Boylan made a very persuasive argument against the motion and Mr. Little's subsequent rulings. Representative Boylan won that point for the good republicans of Moore County to thunderous applause and cheers from the floor of the convention.Mr. Little relented and agreed to rule the motion out-of-order and to again open the floor for nominations.

     A nomination was immediately offered and seconded for Ged Taylor who everyone, and especially George Little and John Owen, knew had been openly campaigning for the position prior to the convention. The floor was then closed to nominations in good order.

     The election was held and finally everyone knew how many votes the Little/Owen faction was able to count for their cause under the newly amended voting rules. The reported total was 118 for John Owen and 95 for Ged Taylor. John Owen was elected to his second term as Chairman of the Moore County Republican Party Executive Committee.

     The floor was opened to nominations for Vice-Chairman and three people were nominated for the position: Lane Toomey, Ged Taylor, and Ellis Hardison. The floor was then closed to nominations in good order. The candidates were each given an opportunity to speak for two minutes. Ellis Hardison used his time to tell the delegates how he had been rejected when he asked to be nominated for the position for a second term. Among their reasons were his age, his eyesight was poor, and he needed someone to drive for him. Ellis said, “I had promised you that I would abide by the rules and I would represent you in an honest manner and I have done that”, and, “I don’t think you should be giving people a litmus test because of their age or because they’ve had a little problem with their eyes because when I look around here they’s a lot of people like me got a little gray hair.” Ellis did not say who had rejected his request but the voting showed that the Little/Owen faction did not vote for Ellis who had been John Owens Vice-Chairman. No one known to this author has made any complaints about Ellis Hardison at any time during his only term as Vice-Chairman. Apparently the Little/Owen faction, intent upon consolidating their power, decided an honest Vice-Chairman who had proven he would abide by the rules would not be conducive to their effort.

     The current Secretary, Dolores J. (Do) Shaver, and Treasurer, Lydia Boesch, were reelected without opposition. An opponent to Lydia Boesch was nominated but he withdrew making a motion that she be elected by acclamation.

     The George Little/John Owen faction nominated an entirely new slate in a single motion to serve as the five Members At-Large of the Executive Committee. The Little/Owen nominees were Lisa Caddell, Gail Prevatte, Jim McGillan, Charles Holbrook, and Bill Thurman. Additional nominations were made from the floor for the following persons to serve as Members At-Large of the Executive Committee: Virginia Saunders; Ralph Redmond; Jamie Boles; Ed Kennedy; Bill Garner; Art Rimbert, Jr.; and, Ellis Hardison. All of the Little/Owen Nominees were all elected.

     The Plan of Organization Committee read its report which included amendments to the County Plan which would bring it more in line with the latest revised State Plan as well as define the election process at the precinct level. A motion was made to adopt the amended County Plan of Organization and another motion was made to amend the amendment as it pertains to precinct elections. After discussion on the floor there was a motion and second to accept the amendment to the amendment and to adopt the County Plan of Organization as amended. The motion carried and the amended County Plan of Organization was adopted. The meeting was adjourned.

     The adopted amended amendment to the precinct election process specifies the nomination and voting order for voting to elect Delegates and Alternates. It provides that when there are more qualified precinct members desiring nomination to be a Delegate than the allowed number of Delegates for the precinct the nomination and voting order will be determined by the drawing of lots. Otherwise, it will be done in the order of the precinct sign-in sheet. «