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Welcome to the Davie County Republican Party's website. 

We welcome all those interested in learning more about the Davie County Republican Party (DCRP) to take time to look around our website. 

Our goals:

• to promote a responsible and attentive government, as well as conservative values in Davie County and beyond. 
• to provide accurate and useful information for the Davie County voters. 
• to provide a forum for prospective Republican candidates.
• to assist in the recruitment of viable, qualified candidates.
• to provide an avenue for grassroots participation in the political process.
• to provide funding and support for Republican candidates in the General Election.

We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at one of our events. Don't forget to contact us to sign up to receive regular Party emails and special events information.  

Sincerely,                                                  

Slayton Harpe, Chairman

Davie County Republican Party

Dole supports lifting ban on offshore drilling

By Mike Baker
The News & Observer
June 26, 2008

RALEIGH - Sen. Elizabeth Dole said North Carolina should have the option of allowing oil exploration off the state's coast, backing away from her long-held support of a federal moratorium on Atlantic drilling.

In a statement Wednesday to The Associated Press, Dole said she supports lifting a 27-year-old moratorium that has prohibited exploration off the North Carolina coast.

>"Now, more than ever, responsible and practical steps are needed to increase our energy independence and strengthen economic and national security," Dole said.

>The Republican, facing re-election for the first time, said the option should be available to states so long as the exploration is safe, clean and not visible from land. She plans to sign on to a GOP measure allowing states to open areas at least 50 miles off their shorelines to exploration that could bring in extra revenue for the states.

For years, Dole had supported the ban on oil exploration, saying it was necessary to protect tourism and marine habitat.

"There is no question that now, more than ever, we must work to end our dependence on foreign oil," Dole said in a 2005 floor speech. "But we cannot do so by ignoring the wishes and economic needs of the majority of the people of North Carolina, and many other coastal states, who oppose this exploration."

But as gas prices have passed $4 a gallon, Dole has increasingly softened her stance on offshore exploration. She said at a forum with Democratic rival Kay Hagan last weekend that she still opposed the idea but would consider a measure if it came across her desk.

Hagan, like fellow Democrats in Congress, opposes the offshore drilling plan.

Republicans, including presidential candidate John McCain, have said offshore drilling could help the nation ease its dependence on foreign oil and provide short-term relief to gas prices. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has opposed the idea.