The first African-American ever nominated to serve as the state GOP's vice chairman recently told Scotland County Republicans that the party needs to diversify.

Timothy F. Johnson, urged to a crowd of approximately 60 individuals at the Scotland County Republican Headquarters, to "branch out" more to recruit minorities and the young.

Johnson began by relating a history of the Republican Party in the state.

"The Republican Party officially began in 1854 as the Anti-Slavery Party," he said. "It was started in Raleigh in the year 1867 with 101 whites and 46 Blacks, and it is the Republican Party that initiated all civil rights legislation since 1866. The Republican Party opened up all black colleges and universities, Republican Party members started the NAACP, and they nominated a black man for president in 1868. Blacks could not even attend the Democratic Convention until 1936."

Republican Sandy Carter was impressed with Johnson's message.

"He was very knowledgeable, and he informed us of things I hadn't heard before, such as how the Democratic Party received credit for things they didn't do that involved helping minorities. He also urged us to get our message across to young people about the party through efforts that involved technology such as Facebook, and increased campaigning by email, tools that Obama used so well to win the last presidential election."

Scotland County School Board member Terence Williams attended the meeting to learn more, in his words, about the issues that might be raised.

"This is not about Republican or Democrat, but as an elected official I am concerned about how the issues that effect us all might be addressed," he said. "I found Mr. Johnson to be very informative, and listened as he told the group that they needed to get the young involved by urging them to grow in their mindset. He discussed the core values of the Republican Party, and he challenged them as a party to step forward to widen their appeal."

Johnson also commended the local Party for having the highest number of African American attend a GOP event.

Elected June 13, 2009 to the vice chairman position, Johnson is a native of Cleveland, Ohio.

He completed 21 years of military service with the U. S. Army, serving as an enlisted soldier and a commissioned officer, attaining the rank of major on active, reserve and National Guard duties. His military honors include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (3rd Award), the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd Award), and many more. Re-elected as the chairman of the Buncombe County Republican Party, Johnson was a delegate to the 2008 Republican National Convention, is a founding member of The Frederick Douglass Foundation, and is a member of the 2009 Black Republican Forum Advisory Committee.

During his speech, Johnson listed the Republican Party’s basic principles as follows:



• I believe that the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each

person’s dignity, freedom, ability and responsibility must be honored.

• I believe in equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all, regardless of

race, creed, sex, age or disability.

• I believe in free enterprise and that encouraging individual initiative will continue

to bring this nation opportunity, economic growth and prosperity.

• I believe government must practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to

keep more of the money they earn.

• I believe the proper role of government is to provide for the people only those

critical functions that cannot be performed by individuals or private organizations and

that the best government is that which governs least.

• I believe the most effective, responsible and responsive government is government

closest to the people.

• I believe America must retain the principles that have made us strong while

developing new and innovative ideas to meet the challenges of changing times.

• I believe in American values and that we should preserve our national strength and

pride while working to extend peace, freedom and human rights throughout the world.

• Finally, I believe the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these

ideals into positive and successful principles of government.