ROCKINGHAM- Ben Moss, an incumbent county commissioner, recently addressed the Richmond County Republican Party during their 2018 Convention at the Richmond County Judicial Center.
During the annual convention meeting held this past Saturday, the candidates had the opportunity to speak to those in attendance. Ben Moss was the first speaker and is running for re-election as a Richmond County Commissioner. Moss started by sharing his desires for the conservative party to run on clean politics. Moss said, “I just hope our candidates can choose the high road…I don’t like negative politics, I like people to state facts, run on their own merit and let the people decide.”
Moss noted that he doesn’t have a primary this year, but has a vision that one day the local republicans will need a primary election due to the numbers running. There are five Democrats running in the May primary and all but one will advance to the November election where they will face Republicans Moss, James Entwistle, and potentially Michael Campbell. Campbell is currently working to get 1202 valid signatures by qualified voters in order to have his name placed on the ballot for the election.
As Moss continued, and reminisced about the first time he filed for office, he noted that the lady who assisted him asked him if he was sure he wanted to file as a Republican. According to Moss, he said, “Yes ma’am, that’s what I am”. She then asked again, “Are you sure?” She was basically telling him getting elected as a Republican in Richmond County is a difficult task.
Moss found that out for himself as he lost in his first attempt and then lost again in his second attempt. At that point he was ready to hang it up but then when the time came Moss decided to give it one more try. On his third try, he won a seat on the county commission. By his own admission, he was the lowest vote-getter. After completing a four year term, he joked to the crowd that he decided “I’ll run for re-election; I’m used to losing”. This time, however, Moss won easily and was almost the highest vote getter. Moss said he felt this was a sign that he had done something right during his first four years.
Another interesting fact Moss brought out during his speech was that following his first successful election a local historian tracked him down. He told me “Do you realize you are the first Republican to get elected in this county in 127 years”? Moss is hopeful to see more Republicans get elected in the future and is encouraged by the young Republicans he sees getting involved. Moss also noted that we need Republicans in all levels of government.
As for his record, Moss said, “I’ve tried to do my best to make right decisions for everybody in the community, regardless of social status, color or sex…my main goal is to do my best for everyone in our community.” Moss continued, “There are people out there who are more educated than I am, there are people with more personality, others who may speak more eloquently, but me, I’m a more genuine speaker. I try not to throw all the glitz and glamour to it. I just try to get my points across…That’s just the way I am.”
Editor's Note: The Richmond Observer will be publishing feature articles on each candidate’s speeches from Saturday’s Richmond County Republican Convention as well as continuing to bring you updates on the 2018 election campaigns.
