RALEIGH, N.C. — Newly-Elected Wake County GOP Chair Claude Pope Jr. tonight promised Republican Delegates at the party’s 2009 county convention that under his leadership, the GOP would “recruit and endorse and support and elect common sense candidates” who support community based schools, and who oppose the constant reassignment of students solely for the purpose of achieving so-called “economic diversity.”

“The real North Carolina Education Lottery is busing our school children from one end of Wake County to the other to meet the liberals’ social agenda.  It’s time to stop gambling with the future of our children and restore community based schools,” Pope said in his acceptance speech.  School Board elections are scheduled for this coming October.

Pope said the Republican Party would concentrate on four themes under his leadership:  Fiscal Conservatism, Personal Responsibility, Focus on Families and Neighborhoods and Government Accountability.

The annual County Republican Convention, held at Daniels Middle School in Raleigh, had twice as many attendees as the 2008 convention, and elected new officers for the 2009-11 term.  The delegates also heard speeches from several candidates for the office of state party chairman, and from Ron Margiotta, the only current Wake County School Board member opposed to the reassignment plan. Mr. Margiotta’s opposition to the reassignment plan has the full support of the Wake County GOP.

Pope, a Wake County native and Raleigh businessman, addressed the convention after thanking outgoing Wake GOP Chair, David Robinson for his 4 years of leadership.  Delegates gave Robinson a standing ovation for his job performance.

Additional convention business included the election of delegates and alternates to Congressional District and State Conventions, which will be held later in the year.