By Josh Bergeron

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — When Rowan County’s two major political parties hold conventions this year, only one has plans to change its chairperson.

Current county Democratic Party Chairman Geoffrey Hoy said he will seek another term. Hoy said he is unaware of any other contenders.

Local Republicans have reportedly picked business owner Don Vick to head a slate of candidates to be introduced at their county convention.

In odd-numbered years, local parties hold conventions to elect new officers. This year, Democrats will hold their convention April 8. Republicans will hold their convention March 4.

Hoy, a retired pastor, became chairman after Kannapolis resident Veleria Levy stepped down in 2014 for personal reasons. Hoy was elected to his first full term in 2015.

“If I don’t run again, they’d probably shoot me,” Hoy joked. “Yes, I do plan to run for re-election at the county convention.”

Hoy said he’s optimistic about the future of the Rowan County Democratic Party.

“I do see very encouraging signs,” he said. “I see a renewed sense of activism and a willingness to participate.”

Typically, Rowan County Democrats maintain a headquarters only during elections. However, they kept an office on West Innes Street open after the 2016 elections. Local Democrats also have organized multiple breakfast meetings since the election. At one of those, the party planned for 60 people to attend and roughly 100 showed up.

If elected, Hoy will serve another two years as chairman. Challenges over the next two years will include more than trying to get people to register as Democrats, he said.

“We will be sharing a message of concern for people and for issues which really cross current party lines,” he said.

Meanwhile, Vick is the consensus pick to be chairman on a slate of candidates that will be introduced at the local GOP convention, a number of local Republicans told the Salisbury Post.

Vick runs the Candy Shoppe in downtown Salisbury with his wife, Nancy. He has served on the party’s executive committee and been a campaign volunteer.

Asked Tuesday whether he will seek the chairman position, Vick said it would be inappropriate at this time for him to comment about the matter. He directed questions to Stephen Kidd, the current party chairman.  Kidd is out of the country and was unable to comment Tuesday.

It’s possible that an alternative slate of candidates could be introduced at either. That occurred in 2015 at the Republican convention. At the time, Kidd led a slate of candidates picked by a nominating committee. Businessman Tom Speaks led an alternative slate of candidates introduced at the convention.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.