HAYWOOD CONCERNED CITIZENS TOWN HALL BRIEFING

Yesterday evening, Thursday, April 8th, at the Haywood County Republican Party Headquarters, a group of concerned citizens from Haywood County, who actively advocate for accountability from local, county, and state government entities and leaders, gathered.

This Town Hall meeting was intended to be a renewal of the gathering of concerned citizens from Haywood County, who had previously come together as a group to address issues and problems within the county. A concept that had been very popular among Haywood County Republican residents. The group had previously held their Town Hall meetings at the Butter Biscuit and, for a short period, at the Waynesville Recreation Center.

During the period when this group of patriotic and concerned citizens, who volunteer their time and energy on behalf of and for the benefit of Haywood County Republican residents, was able to hold Town Hall meetings at those locations, this group hosted some of the most informative and interesting guest speakers.

Speakers who volunteered their evening to speak to attendees on a wide range of topics which included: County and City infrastructure concerns; updates on local catastrophe assistance and restructuring, law enforcement concerns, in particular the drug and needles problems, homelessness and pandering issues, local education concerns, medical and mental health service quality and availability concerns, and in particular the often lack of political commitment or willingness to effect favorable resolutions to these and many other problems.

Yesterday evening's guest speaker was Janet Presson, R.N., M.Ed., a good friend and advocate of and for the residents of Haywood County.

Janet spoke about the current chaos within our Public Health system, the lack of a safe and well-researched vaccination program, and vaccinations that, in her opinion, are leading to significant health issues for American citizens, particularly our children. Of most concern, in her opinion, was the seemingly total lack of investigative curiosity regarding these serious shortcomings within our Public Health system, by our two local news media.

Janet’s presentation was very well received, and attendees had many questions regarding her topic. It was evident that those in attendance would welcome a future presentation by Janet to further share her observations, research, and subsequent opinions regarding the state of our healthcare delivery system. She did point out that the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services, with his commitment to bringing transparency and accountability to the healthcare system, was a very positive step forward.

Unfortunately for Republican voters in Haywood County, the Chair of the Haywood County Republican Party revoked his permission for this group of patriotic Christian conservative Republicans to hold their town hall meetings at the Haywood County GOP Headquarters. The individual who had been granted permission to coordinate these meetings, utilizing her exceptional ability to identify and attract talented, knowledgeable, and experienced speakers, was advised after the first and now last of what was to be a series of speakers, of this retraction.

For unknown reasons the Chair of the Haywood County Republican Party advised the coordinator of these Town Hall meetings that she no longer had permission to hold her group’s very popular and informative Town Hall meetings at the Haywood County Republican Party Headquarters, once again leaving this group of involved and engaged Republican citizens, whose only ambition is to educate and inform the citizens of Haywood County, without a place to conduct their Town Hall meetings safely. A significant loss to Republican residents of Haywood County and the Republican Party.

This questionable and concerning decision by the Chair of the Haywood County Republican Party is particularly concerning, given the rapidly approaching municipal elections throughout Haywood County. Along with this group’s willingness to speak out in advocacy for Haywood County residents, members of this group are very instrumental in identifying and encouraging strong Christian Conservatives to run for public office and to become involved and engaged within the Republican Party.

A function that is the responsibility of and should be the top priority of the Haywood County Republican Party and could be met by joining forces with this group to oust the Democrat incumbents within our city's government and replace them with common-sense conservative Republicans to return control of our city's governance to “We the People.”

It is genuinely hoped that the Chair of the Haywood County Republican Party will take the time to reflect on his decision to retract his permission to this group of concerned citizens. It is hoped that he will come to understand the truly significant positive impact that these individuals can have on the Haywood County Republican Party, their ability to promote the county Republican Party, and most importantly the county Republican Party’s access to a group of attendees to recruit volunteers and Precinct Chairs which the county GOP is critically in need of.

It would be a tragedy to squander a golden opportunity for the Haywood County Republican Party to promote itself, increase visibility, foster constituent engagement, and interact with elected officials within the county party, as well as ensure the county party's survival as a relevant political force in Haywood County.