Carson Republicans to send 70 to state convention

Tom Keeton, a District 1 candidate for the Carson City School Board was elected chairman of the Carson City Republican Central Committee during the county convention Saturday at Carson High School.

Seventy delegates were elected to the state convention and nine planks were adopted, said Carol Howell, chairwoman of the GOP campaign headquarters

"There was a lot of enthusiasm and a lot was accomplished," Howell said. "People were pleased to be there and hear the candidates speak. A lot of the flavor of the campaign season is due to the primary election being only three months and three days away."

Keynote speaker of the convention was Retired Cmdr. Kirk S. Lippold, of the United States Navy. Howell said he was very well-received and called him an excellent speaker.

Lippold, of Carson City, was the Commanding Officer of the USS Cole on Oct. 12, 2000, when the ship was attacked and bombed by al-Qaida terrorists during a refueling stop in the Yemeni port of Aden, killing 17 U.S. sailors.

The platform adopted during the convention includes the following:

CONSTITUTION

We strongly support, defend and abide by the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Nevada and the principles upon which they were founded, and expect likewise of our elected representatives.

GOVERNMENT SPENDING

We strongly support a balanced budget with decreased taxes and limited spending at all levels of government.

IMMIGRATION

We welcome legal immigrants from all nations to participate in the naturalization process and to seek legal residence and employment in our state.

We support our state and local officials in enforcing existing immigration and employment laws with careful public oversight and without violating our constitutionally protected civil rights.

We oppose amnesty, government benefits, or other special treatment for people who have or will enter the United States illegally.

EDUCATION

We support the promotion of school choice and the elimination of the role of the federal government in education.

We support the accountability of parents, school administrators and teachers in the educational performance of students in public schools.

SMALL BUSINESS

We support promoting Nevada as a business-friendly state with consistent policies and regulations, eliminating the state business tax, and reducing licensing fees and regulations on business.

RIGHT TO WORK

We support the right to work in Nevada, oppose card check in any form; if card check passes in Congress, we demand that the governor and legislators join in any legal opposition to card check legislation.

ECONOMIC

We support the use of Yucca Mountain to recycle, reprocess and store nuclear waste.

ENERGY

We support educating the public to the clean energy and financial benefits of nuclear power.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

We support personal responsibility.