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Lenoir County Commission Chairman Oscar Herring Switches to
the Republican Party
September 30, 2003
(KINSTON, N.C.) – Lenoir County Commission Chairman Oscar Herring, a long-time member of the county commission – and Lenoir County Board of Education before that – today embraced the Republican Party, changing party affiliation from his previous registration as a Democrat at the Lenoir County Board of Elections at 11:00 am.
Chairman Herring was elected in 1984 to the Lenoir County Board of Education and served in that position for eight years. Under his leadership, as the Chair of the Lenoir County Public Schools, the Lenoir County Public Schools and the Kinston City Schools merged into one public school system. Chairman Herring has been a member of the Board of County Commissioners since 1992. He retired after 22 years in the U.S. Air Force and 23 years at Lenoir Memorial Hospital. Chairman Herring has also served as the District II Chair and Vice Chair for the N.C. School Boards Association.
“For the past two years I have seen the county’s revenues dwindle and for the past two years there have been more holes to fill. I have straddled the fence for several years and voted with my Republican peers to contain spending. With the forecasted revenue shortfalls, I have no choice but to join with the Republican Party and their philosophy to curtail spending,” said Chairman Herring.
“I am very pleased that Lenoir County Commission Chairman Oscar Herring has chosen the courageous path, the path of his principles and convictions, and joined the Republican Party,” said Ferrell Blount, Chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party. “He is a highly regarded and experienced professional and will be an outstanding addition to our Party.”
Lenoir County Republican Party Chairman Jim Rouse said “Oscar is a tremendous individual who has supported conservative principles his entire life and has now moved to the party that actually holds those conservative principles. He is well-liked and respected in our community and we are fortunate to have him as a member of the Republican Party.”
N.C. Representative Stephen LaRoque, whose 10th State House district covers the western half of Lenoir County, said “Oscar is a principled leader who has stood up for the people of Lenoir County many times, regardless of party label and I am proud that he campaigned actively for my election last fall. We are very proud to welcome him into the Republican Party where he can be with those who want to limit the size of government and make sure we are all careful stewards of the taxpayer’s money.”
Chairman Herring also serves as Chair of the Eastpointe Finance Committee; Chief Elected Official of the Eastern Carolina Workforce Consortium; member of the Eastpointe Area Mental Health Board; member of the Eastern Carolina Workforce Development Board; member of the Local Emergency Planning Committee; member of the Eastern Carolina Council; and Eastern NC Representative on the NC Council of Community Programs Awards Committee. |
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