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Greensboro, NC –
In
a move that stunned some and rocked the house, Dr. Ada M. Fisher of
Rowan County nominated herself for her party’s National Committeewoman
in a speech that drew exasperations of admiration and several standing
ovations for its passion and energy regarding the work that must be done
to reinvigorate the state’s Republican Party. Noting that she is a
native of Durham, NC and a resident of Rowan County, Fisher listed her
education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, medical
degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Masters in Public
Health from the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public
Health and Physician Executive Certification from Harvard University as
educational milestones. She also listed a history of service to the
state on the Salisbury Rowan Board of Education, symphony board, Chamber
of commerce, and Preservation North Carolina. This 40 year Republican
(who notes she is only 20 years old) has held membership in the National
Federation of Republican Women and served on the NC GOP Executive
Committee, as a precinct chairwoman, and gofer, as well as a candidate
for the US Senate, the US Congress and now for the NC House 77th
District. She has the distinction of being one of the few people who
has walked in and visited all 100 counties of the state. For her
volunteer efforts, Fisher has received the 2008 Salisbury, NC Human
Relations Council Koontz Humanitarian Award (for her work with drop
outs), 2007 selection to the NC Community Action Agency’s Hall of Fame,
2007inductee into the University of Wisconsin “Badger Then and Now Hall
of Fame, Daughters of the American Revolution One of Ten Outstanding
Women, White House Fellows Finalist under the first President Bush and
graduation from the Institute of Political Leadership.
Fisher’s nomination speech was seconded and third, followed by her
candidate’s speech which drew much laughter for her self directed humor
as well as appreciation that Dr. Ada M. Fisher truly has a finger on the
heartbeat of America. Fisher stated that running for this position was
not an ambition of hers, but as she has watched what is happening
someone must stand up with leadership. Referring to her heart attack in
June of 2007 during which she almost died, she stated one gets clarity
of purpose and can address the question if not me, who and if not now
when? Increased recruitment, more registrants as Republican, energized
outreach and broadened diversity, and a better reflection of the
interest and input of North Carolinians on the national stage were Dr.
Fisher’s goals in her tenure as the National Committeewoman. Being
upfront with the party, Fisher noted she is broke from being sidelined
from her illness and her finances need work but her passion remains for
making the state a reflection of the good roads state it use to be, a
supporter of jobs which can’t be shipped overseas or sent south of the
border and all those other changes she has advocated for over ten years.
Upon
election to this office, Dr. Fisher expressed humbleness and gratitude
stressing our need to promote “Change which makes a positive difference
for our citizens.” Fisher is the first African American Republican to
hold this office.
An environmentalist by training
and previous medical director of Amoco Oil Company, Dr. Fisher discusses
the price of gas and the impact of our gas tax and its lack of use as
designated to fix our roads and bridges which would make us “The Good
Roads State” she remembers from childhood.
Excerpts from Dr. Fisher's nomination speech:
Nominator’s Speech:
(Time limit 5 minutes)
State party
chairwoman, convention chairperson and my fellow Republicans, I rise to
the podium to nominate Dr. Ada M. Fisher for the position of North
Carolina Republican National Committeewoman. That of course is me.
There is nothing
wrong with the other National Committeewoman nominee Mrs. Mary Frances
Forrester. Many ask what does Ada want? So let me be clear that my
actions are not for self but reflect a gap I sense and see in this
party.
I am a native of
Durham, NC and a resident of Salisbury, NC.
My undergraduate
education was received from the University of North Carolina at
Greensboro, my MD from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, my
Masters in Public Health from the Johns Hopkins University School of
Hygiene and Public Health, and Physician Executive Leadership
Certification from Harvard University.
I was a 2004 delegate
to the Republican National Convention in New York, New York and have
been a member of the National Federation of Republican Women.
In North Carolina I
have served on the Salisbury Rowan Board of Education and as I am fond
of saying, if you can serve on a Board of Education, you can do
anything. I also held board membership on the Salisbury Rowan Symphony,
Rowan County Chamber of Commerce and Preservation North Carolina which
deals with Historic Preservation. In the party I have served on the NC
GOP Executive Committee, been a precinct chair and gofer as well as a
candidate for the US Senate, US Congress, and currently am running for
the North Carolina House District 77 seat. I might add that I am one of
the few candidates who has walked in as well as visited all 100 of this
state’s counties.
Though I tend not to
talk about my awards you might be interested in knowing that in 2008 I
received the Salisbury, NC Human Relations Council Koontz Humanitarian
Award for my work with drop-outs, was selected for the 2007 North
Carolina Community Action Agency Hall of Fame, was inducted in 2007 into
the University of Wisconsin at Madison’s “Badger Then and Now Hall of
Fame,” was voted as One of Ten Outstanding Young Women of America by the
Daughters of the American Revolution, was nominated as a White House
Fellows Finalist under the first President Bush and graduated from the
Institute of Political Leadership.
I have been a
Republican for over 40 years even though I am only 20 years old.
When I have spoken before about the
demographics of this party, people have said I am playing the race
card. What I am playing is the real card. If we want to win, we have
got to be more inclusive particularly of African Americans and
Hispanics. For ten years I have advocated a need for change which
required that Illegal Immigration be dealt with, English made the
national language, etc. and people looked askance at me but now have
come to adopt what I have said
I
am motivated to consider this position because both McCain and Obama are
now onto something in speaking of change. This party to be effective
must adopt the posture not of change for change’s sake, but “Change
which makes a positive difference for our citizens.”
Nominees Statement for the Position:
(Time limit 5 minutes)
State party
chairwoman, convention chairman and my fellow Republicans I have
nominated myself for the position of NC Republican National
Committeewoman not out of consideration of self but concern for this
party.
In 1947
in Roswell, NM the aliens reportedly landed. Several months later I was
born.
Presidential nominee
John McCain prides himself on his independence and being a straight
shooter. Party Chairwoman Linda Daves has said today she is not always
politically correct. I too am not always politically correct, but I am
known for my independence and telling you what is on my mind. I am also
known as a straight shooter.
In June of 2007 I had
a heart attack with two blocked arteries in which I now have stents.
When you think you are going to die, you have to ask yourself what have
you done with your life for leadership asks as has been stated here
today, If not me, who? If not now, when?
I have
not been on the campaign trail in my race for the NC House District 77
seat for a week because I have been on a mission to help a terminally
ill friend get water in his house and redo some parts of it to a more
livable state. In the process I have exhausted my resources and found
myself in the Family Dollar store to buy some things I needed. I had
run out of money and went to get the coin cup from my car. As I was
counting the change people were getting impatient and I told them “Just
hold up for if you all had any money you’d have gone to WalMart.” They
all cracked up.
But my friends I am
telling you, we are not seeing what is going on in America. That line
in the Family Dollar store was around the block. It is nice to give a
tax cut but if there are no jobs, tax cuts won’t solve the problem. We
need to understand that people need jobs which can’t be sent overseas or
south of the border. North Carolina use to be “The Good Roads State”
when I was a kid and can be such again; but we need infrastructure
repair and those trades and vocational jobs here that Mayor McCory
alluded to. Even these jobs won’t replace our need for a manufacturing
base for a nation which doesn’t make anything itself, has a limited
future.
In my walks through
all 100 counties I saw in Spruce Pines a Felspar mine from which the
quartz for computers was taken. I didn’t realize they also made the
rouge for most women’s faces. In Jones County there was a mop factory
but their major industry was one cotton gin. In Swan Quarters there was
one pharmacist who was over eighty. And in three counties there was no
full time physician, so how could people there have affordable or
accessible health care or even attract an industry?
People have said we
need an energy policy which includes nuclear energy. As one who will
tell it as it is, let me be clear that before we build or approve of any
nuclear power plants we had better define what we are going to do with
their waste and how we are to secure them. I worked for the Department
of Energy with a security clearance and know the challenges which we
must meet.
This party needs to
increase its recruitment of Republicans as candidates and to support
them; increase the registration of new Republicans and get back to our
roots; increase our outreach and diversity not just in terms of color
but economics; and reflect the interest and input of North Carolina on
the national stage. I can help do this.
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