THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 10, 1996 TAG: 9604100365
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY LANE DeGREGORY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: KILL DEVIL HILLS LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
A retired newspaper correspondent who spent most of his career in the nation's capital replaced Danny Gray on Tuesday night as chairman of the Dare County Republican Party.
George Embrey, 63, immediately promised to help local Republicans get elected to Outer Banks offices.
He was unanimously elected during a meeting of about 25 members of the GOP's executive committee.
Embrey moved in July to South Nags Head, where he had purchased property in 1975. For 46 years, Embrey covered government and politics for newspapers - serving the last 30 years of his stint in Washington, D.C. He retired July 1 as Washington bureau chief for the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch.
Gray resigned Tuesday after leading the party in Dare County for more than five years. He remains a member of the county's Republican executive committee.
``For some time, because of personal and health reasons, I have been considering this action,'' Gray wrote fellow Republicans in a two-page letter that party vice chair Wick Wickman read in the Kill Devil Hills Town Hall. ``I had not done so, because there was no one who appeared ready to take over the position. That has changed. Today, we have an individual who has a record of accomplishment and prestige who is willing.''
An Avon resident and Outer Banks native, Gray said he intends to focus his efforts on lobbying for Oregon Inlet jetties. He thanked party members for their volunteerism and support. And he noted that the number of registered Republicans has doubled in Dare County since he became chairman.
``You may recall I pledged to you that we would have candidates for the county commission,'' Gray wrote. ``In fact, we even have primary contests.''
Accepting his first political office, Embrey said his initial goal is to install a man and woman in each precinct of the county and develop a ``nuts and bolts approach'' to politics that will get Republicans in office. He pledged to provide issue research and development for party members ``so when our candidates get up to speak, they speak with authority and knowledge.'' And he vowed to work on fund-raising countywide.``I think the people of Dare County want a change,'' said Embrey, peering over half-glasses into the audience. ``Our job is to let the people know we've got the candidates - and we've got the strong party organization to back them up. We need volunteers at every level of the grass roots so that people know who to call and understand what the issues are.''
Republican issues, according to Embrey, include jobs, economic growth, limited government, a strong national defense and an open government. ``We're challenging the Democrats, who can turn a courthouse and even the White House into a profit-making, family business,'' he said.
Embrey formerly served as elected treasurer of the National Press Club.
Wickman said when he first met Embrey, he knew he was the man to lead his party as its next chairman. ``He'll really give the whole Republican party a new face - and bring more people in,'' said Wickman. ``Some natives, naturally, will resent not having one of their own in office. But change is gonna happen.''
Embrey agreed. ``I'm here because I love this place. But that doesn't mean I have to turn the other way when someone's turning the county government into a family business,'' he said. ``I don't think getting Republicans to register is the problem - it's letting them know we have good, strong candidates and we want their input on issues.
``My job, as chairman, is not to decide a particular party position on each issue. My job is to give our Republican candidates the support to get elected. I've told candidates I want them to run until they get elected. Ronald Reagan ran three times before he got the Republican nomination - and won. Once you have party people in local offices, then you have a base of candidates who've been around the track and are ready to move on to the next level.''
In other Republican business Tuesday, party secretary Donna Elms announced that after all bills had been paid, the Dare County GOP has $2,349 in the treasury. Embrey said Dare County Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 2-to-1. And Republican candidate for North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Earl Rountree, of Sunbury, spoke briefly about his platform. by CNB