The North Carolina Republican Party held its 2009 Hall of Fame Awards Banquet Saturday at the Hilton North Raleigh.
To a packed house, featured speaker Steven Forbes extolled the virtues of capitalism and free markets, noting the need for a flat tax, competitive health insurance markets and guarded regulations which allowed people to borrow who can repay their debts. He said that prior to the stimulus package, banks had slightly under $300 billion on hand, and since the bailouts, that has risen to more than $10 trillion ó which is not being loaned to help grow the economy.
The party’s goal of One Team, One Goal, Victory! was highlighted.
Rowan County Republicans received recognition for their outstanding service to the state and nation.
Two Rowan women were inducted into the state GOP’s Hall of Fame:
– Donna Peeler, representing the 6th District, has been active in the party since a presidential whistlestop through the county, served in various capacities for the N.C. Federation of Republican Women, and currently is the Rowan County Republican Party vice chairperson.
– Jonette Powell from the 12th District has served the party for more than 30 years, been a mover and shaker behind the Salisbury Rowan Republican Women, and is currently the Republicans’ county representative to the Board of Elections. She was also cited by her award presenter, N.C. Republican National Committeewoman Dr. Ada Fisher, as one of the nicest people she knew.
Rowan County Republicans were nominated in other categories. N.C. Rep. Fred Steen was among the nominees for the Charles Raper Jonas Award, which went to former Gov. James Holshouser.
The late Norene Foster was nominated for the John P. East Award recognizing outstanding volunteers, which was posthumously awarded to Debbie Beatty, a previous party executive secretary.