By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Saturday, October 8, the Republican Women of Shelby County held their anniversary celebration in Indian Springs. Frances Taylor, the President of the Alabama Federation of Republican Women, addressed the group.
President Taylor said that it was an honor to be Speaking to the Shelby Country group and said, “I want to thank you for all that you are doing.”
Taylor said that Republican women across the state put forth millions and millions of volunteer efforts to advance Republican candidates and causes. “Joan Reynolds is here. She is spearheading the effort to go into Florida and Ohio.” “You makes a huge difference.”
Taylor said, “We in the AFRW have had a busy year have had a good year.”
Taylor did say that maintaining unity, everybody pulling in the same direction, has been difficult in this election year. “It has been a challenge particularly the last 24 hour news cycle. Taylor compared the recently released crude comments by Donald Trump to the Nixon tapes.
Taylor said that you don’t want to look back and say that you didn’t do whatever you can do to prevent a Hillary Clinton presidency. I know that not everybody is happy, but we have got to go in the same direction.
President Taylor praised her praised her predecessor Elois Zeanah, who passed away. Taylor said, “I think about Elois daily.” “The things she has done will live on for decades and centuries.” “She was a wonderful woman.”
Taylor said that Zeanah recognized the problems of Common core and immigration ahead of almost everyone else. “I am Fortunate to work in an industry that requires a security clearance because it keeps the H1B people from taking our jobs.”
Taylor said that Penny Nance, the President of Conservative Women of America was in Birmingham recently. I am very proud of her. She is speaking about her Christian faith. It is very challenging to speak up
Taylor said that she is planning legislative days in Montgomery next year and the AFRW convention will probably happen in Birmingham. We will be looking at a couple of issues without legislators
President Taylor said one of those issues could be the ever increasing taxes. “At what point does it end??” We will be working closely to keep taxes down. I know that the prisons are a huge issue as is Medicaid.
Taylor said that her Congressman in North Alabama is Mo Brooks. “I have a good repoire with him. One of the things that concerned me is what happened to the internet. “How did that slip away.” Brooks said our leadership is not doing anything about it.
Taylor said that they are watching the gambling issue. A lot of strange stuff can go on with the gambling bill that died in the Special Session.
State Representative Matt Fridy (R-Montevallo) said that the lottery bill we got a bill out of the Senate was horrible. It would have opened door the to expanded gambling across the state. It became apparent that this was Milton McGregor’s lottery bill.
Rep. Fridy said that they amended the bill to define a lottery as a paper ticket only game. Democrats in the Senate then killed the bill.
Fridy said that it is going to be difficult to pass a lottery bill now. “I am hopefully it is dead…I am confident that we can kill it if it comes back.”
Rep. Fridy said that it is, “Frustrating to see the leadership pushing a Democrat Agenda and a lottery is a Democratic agenda.”
The Republican Women of Shelby County President Dawn Ray presented a check to Jim Zeanah for the scholarship fund that has been created to honor his wife, Elois Zeanah.
President Ray said, “Lois was a very generous person with her time and resources and I will remember her fondly.”
Jim Zeanah said that Elois believed in the unrecognized power of women. Over and over again she organized women’s groups: mostly in California; but also after moving to Alabama.
Zeanah said that Elois would be delighted by the scholarship. It is awarded on the basis of an essay. Jim Zeanah said that the endowment for the scholarship is large enough to produce a $1000 a year scholaraship. I hope that by my death it will be $10,000 a year.
Joan Reynolds said that she was organizing groups to go to Florida to work for Donald Trump. Reynolds said that they are sending bus loads of volunteers to go to: Jacksonville, Tampa, Pensacola, Fort Myers, Sarasota, and Panama City. Reynolds said that Marty Connors was organizing volunteers to assist in Ohio; but those groups have already left.
Young Republican Chair Jackie Curtis is organizing door to door efforts in Jefferson County.
Reynolds said, “We have to be sure that every solitary breathing Republican gets out and votes.”
The Capital City Republican Women (CCRW ) are organizing a mine and cheese social on Thursday, October 13 from 5:30 to 7:30pm. at the GOP/Trump Headquarters on Perry Street in Montgomery. Tickets are $10.
