Politics

Top Senate candidates confirmed for Taylor dinner

By Bill Moss, Published: November 18, 2013

Three announced candidates for the Republican nominations for U.S. Senate will headline the program at the 21st annual Holiday Dinner at the Expo Center at the Crowne Plaza Resort in Asheville hosted by former congressman Charles H. Taylor.

It is likely that Gov. Pat McCrory will attend, said Trish Smothers, coordinator of the Taylor dinner and also western residence director for the governor's office. Lt. Gov. Dan Forest will emcee.
The three confirmed candidates for the holiday dinner are House Speaker Thom Tillis of Cornelius, North Carolina Baptist Convention President Mark Harris of Charlotte and Cary physician Greg Brannon. Other candidates are Bill Flynn, a radio talk show host, and Heather Grant, a nurse from Wilkesboro. The other two candidates will be invited, Smothers said.
Tillis received 58.8 percent of the vote to win a straw poll of Republican Senate candidates at the N.C. Republican Party Hall of Fame awards dinner in Cary on Saturday night, the Raleigh News&Observer reported.
Taylor, a large landowner, banker and businessman from Brevard, has hosted the annual political event for 20 years but never at a time when the Republican Party has held as much power. After the 2012 election, the GOP took the governor's mansion and lieutenant governor's office and gained super-majority control of both chambers of the General Assembly.

Tickets for the event are $50 each. Reservations are required. Tickets to a private reception with the Senate candidates are $125 apiece and include admission to the dinner. Checks should be made to "Charles Taylor Christmas Dinner" and mailed to Charles Taylor, PO Box 66, Brevard, NC 28712. For more information contact Trish Smothers at (828) 243-2187 or tasmothers@yahoo.com.
The Buncombe County Republican Women's Club will receive donations of personal items for our Homeless Veterans including shaving cream, shampoo, razors, tweezers, nail clippers, socks, handkerchiefs, knit caps, scarves, toothpaste, dental floss or cash.