Republicans discuss progress

Members of the Columbia County Republican Party received a pep talk Saturday from Marty Klein, the communications director for the state's Republican Party.

"We can't get too complacent," Klein said about the party's progress with taking control of both chambers last November. "We've met a lot of goals, but we can't stop now."

At the group's monthly breakfast meeting at Piccadilly Cafeteria, Klein urged the more than 50 members present to raise the bar in hopes of meeting that goal just one week before the county's Republican convention . Before that can be accomplished, Klein said, Republicans have to be instrumental in making sure officials elected for offices such as lieutenant governor, secretary of state, constitutional offices, sheriff and county commission reflect party values and views. He said that the party has to reach out to others and help it grow.

"We have to continue to improve or we will be left behind," Klein said.

Lee Muns, the Columbia County party chairman, agreed.

"It's time that we stand firm, move forward and reach out one person at a time," he said.

Klein said changes such as amending the way the party handles voter registration must be implemented in order to see effective results.

"We haven't done as good of a job as Democrats," he said, stressing that it is imperative Republicans become diligent in seeing that people who have moved from other states get registered. "We've got to have a strong push to get people to vote."

Because of the low voter turnout, Klein said, he wants party members to get people to vote absentee in 2006. By voting by mail, he said, votes are guaranteed and problems such as the rain, errands and busy schedules will be avoided.