Ok everybody. . . 20 minutes to go before the meeting. . . . hang tight!

We’re waiting on one more Central Committee member and then we will be ready to roll!

To re-iterate, if anyone has questions or comments during the meeting please submit them to me and I will raise them in the meeting.

The meeting is underway right now–we are reviewing the minutes from last meeting.  Notable attendees tonight include:

Robert Hodge, Republican Cecil County Commissioner

Chris Zeauskas, candidate for Cecil County Commissioner (District 2)

Derrick Lowe, candidate for Cecil County Clerk of the Court

Jim Mullin, Republican Cecil County Commissioner

A citizen in attendance raised the Cap-n-Tax bill and how it is going to be a disaster for the country and the economy

Our Central Committee members are giving individual reports right now.  It was reported that 5 buses, 50 people each, went to the 9-12 rally from Delaware and Cecil County.

The 21st century Republican Club has nothing new to present tonight.

The Republican Club of Cecil County is currently working to develop Republican strategy in the county for winning elections in 2010.  They are also sending members down to a state Republican training session coming up.

Carrie Taylor, Women’s Republican Club member, mentioned that the local Party should put together a nice pre-holiday event, perhaps a luncheon of some sort to bring all the Party leaders together.

Audrey Scott should be coming on shortly.

State Delegate Dick Sossi just came into the meeting.

The Central Committee is discussing the state convention currently, the issue of LCD voting.  In my view we need representation that is inclusive and if there are Republican leaders in this state who are excluded or feel excluded from the process–then we have a deficient process.  The sentiment is that we hope the convention does not get bogged down in small issues, but but that it should focus on our agenda moving forward.  We must win elections in 2010 and the focus must be on strategy.  We need a Strategic Plan for State Action.

Audrey Scott is on the live feed right now.  She is talking about her ability to raise money, her success in raising money for the Bowie Health Center, and on her dedication to the conservative Republican principles that have led to the success for our Party in the past.

She says, “One of the reasons Obama won is because he had an advantage in social networking.  In 2010 our Party will be ready!”

I am asking Audrey about LCD voting.  She is saying, “There was a meeting last night where they came up with a compromise.  At the meeting all the players walked out in agreement.  They were able to find a plan that was equitable.  It does not have to be one or another [one faction's side or the other's].  We can accomplish both without offending one faction.  The counties that elect Republicans deserve a fair say.  I do not have a copy of the compromise at this time, but I think we need to get copies of the compromise to people throughout the state of Maryland.”

Audrey Scott stated that she is against allowing those other than Republicans to vote in Republican primaries saying, “They could skew the results to the advantage of the Democrat Party.”

Dick Sossi asks, “Did you send a nomination petition to the Cecil County Central Committee?”  Audrey says, “The nomination petition was included in the packet that was sent to the Chairman.”

I asked Audrey how she was going to unify our state while also upholding Republican principles given the fact that it is divisive issues among Republicans that cause problems.  Audrey said, “I have been in very diverse situations, very unique situations.  I was the only elected Republican in Prince George’s County.  I was elected by my colleagues to be Vice Chairman.  As Mayor of Bowie–at that time I was the only women elected in Bowie among six male Councilman.  AAA bond rating during my tenure as Mayor.  We need to identify where we agree and disagree agreeably.  I have been a fundraiser all my life, still a fundraiser for the Republican Party.  I have funded my own campaigns, 7 campaigns, ended all without any debt.  I have already set up a financing committee to start to put together a strategy for victory.  We need to be much, much broader on our fundraising sources–we need a more diverse group of “game-changing” donors.

I asked Audrey what she would do first as Chairman.  She said she would “immediately hold a meeting with the State Republican Executive Committee and then have a meeting with Michael Steele on funding, technology, in depth expertise.  I understand there are a wealth of resources at the RNC that we have not taken advantage of.  We will decide as a committee what we will use from the RNC and what we won’t.”

Robert Hodge is advising that Cecil County not sign any petitions for nominations at this time given the fact that we need  information on all candidates, that we need to talk with everyone and not necessarily tie ourselves to one candidate or another.