Jackson County Republicans have been busy during the winter season finalizing plans for their 2014 annual county convention, the NCGOP Convention and arranging for offices in Cashiers and Sylva. The annual convention and precinct meetings will be held on Friday, March 21 at the Jackson County Senior Center Heritage Room in Sylva. The 2014 Republican headquarters offices, slated to open on or around April 1, are located in Cashiers, at Laurel Terrace on Highway 64 East, and in Sylva at 58 Sunrise Park. These locations were also used as Republican offices in 2012. 

Registration for the county’s fourteen precinct meetings begins at 5 p.m. Participants will elect precinct officers and select delegates and alternates to attend and speak for Jackson County at the county, district and state conventions. To be eligible, delegates and alternates must live in Jackson County and be registered Republicans as of January 31, 2014. 

The convention features two speakers. Michelle Hicks, principal chief of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, is expected to report on what will be offered at the state NCGOP Convention to be held in June in Cherokee. Nick Tennyson, chief deputy of the North Carolina Department of Transportation and former mayor of Durham, will also be speaking.  

Also at the convention, Republican candidate attendees will be available to meet, greet and answer questions. Among the candidates expected to attend are Jackson County commissioners Jack Debnam (unaffiliated), Doug Cody and Charles Elders. State Senator Jim Davis, U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows and District Judge Donna Forga, all in reelection races, will also attend. Primary race candidates slated to attend are Dodie Allen, Mike Clampitt and Aaron Littlefield for election to District 119 of the state House of Representatives and three candidates for Jackson County sheriff,  Jimmy Hudgins, Curtis Lambert and Mary Rock.

Jackson County Republican Party Chair Ralph Slaughter of Cashiers, who will be heading the convention committee, has announced that “Republicans, conservatives, constitutionalists, unaffiliateds, Libertarians and Tea Party members interested in attending the Convention are welcome” 

Reservations may be made by calling 828.743.6491, or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Further information may be found on the organization’s website, www.jacksoncountygop.com.