Political parties swinging into campaign activities

Local political parties are getting in gear for Election 2008 with headquarters staffed and plans for phone banks to get out the vote expected to begin soon.

The Craven County Republican Party has opened its headquarters on Trent Road with an appearance by the party's gubernatorial candidate. The headquarters is staffed from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. weekdays.

It is expected to be open on weekends as campaigning quickens this fall, said Michael Speciale, Craven County Republican Party chairman. The Havelock GOP headquarters next to the Dairy Queen on Main Street is staffed from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays.

The Craven County Democratic Party plans to officially open its headquarters at 1910 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. at 2 p.m. Aug. 23, said Rachel Parnell, Craven County Democratic Party vice chairman. But the office is already staffed and stocked with campaign literature. It is in the shopping center fronted by Medicap Pharmacy near Grover C. Fields School.

Both party leaders said they expect candidate forums by impartial groups this campaign season to allow people to see where candidates stand on the issues.

Speciale said one scheduled event at which most candidates from both parties appear is the Oct. 4 God and Country Banquet in New Bern sponsored by the Craven-Pamlico Christian Coalition.

Local Republicans also plan to ask people where they stand beginning with telephone calls by volunteers this week, said Speciale.

"A lot of what we are doing is finding out where we stand with regard to the issues and questioning the voters about what they believe to make sure we are on track and have a grasp of what the people's issues are," he said.

The volunteers will be telephoning just Republicans initially, and then independent voters, then conservative Democrats, he said, but will be going after registered voters.

With two-thirds of Craven County's 94,000 residents registered to vote, however, that is a large portion of the adult population.

Parnell said "people can expect to hear from Democrats" also. Volunteer party workers will be operating phone banks and executing a full campaign plan.

"I think people are excited about this election," she said. "We've got lots of great candidates and a lot of people are out working with the Obama campaign."

 "There is a lot of voter registration going on and people really interested in the gubernatorial races, the Senate races and races on down the ballot," she said.

Speciale said there will probably be some straight-ticket votes in the presidential election this year but "people cannot make the excuse that they didn't know what the candidates stood for."

"All candidates on both sides have been here and will be back so people should check with the parties to see when they are coming," Speciale said.

"I hope they ask them the questions that are important to them," he said. "I'd like to see voters get out there and hit them with the hard questions. It will make a difference."

The phone number for Craven County Republican Party Headquarters is (252) 637-3536.

The Craven County Democratic Party Headquarters' phone number is (252) 636-0305.