The Cullman Times | Cullman residents serving as delegates, alternates at GOP convention

Cullman residents serving as delegates, alternates at GOP convention
By David Palmer | The Cullman Times | August 28, 2012

Three Cullman County residents are among delegates at the Republican National Convention this week in Tampa.

Ken Brown, chairman of the Cullman Republican Party, serves as the lone delegate from the local area. Brown’s wife, Diane, and Dave Ozment, also Cullman residents, are serving as alternates at the convention.

Housed at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Tampa, Fla., the delegates will join others from Alabama in hearing speeches this morning from Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former Bush administration leader Karl Rove. Wednesday morning’s breakfast speech for the Alabama delegation will be from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is one of the convention’s keynote speakers.

“The convention is not just about Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan; it’s a time when Republicans can make a show of force and stand up before the country for what they believe,” Brown said. “It’s also a great time to hear from the up and coming young stars in the party.”

The convention got off to a strained start because of impending weather conditions from Tropical Storm Issac, but by Monday afternoon Brown said the weather had cooled as the storm ambled off the west.

“Everything is looking good now. We’ll actually get a chance to go to the convention later on Tuesday and get the feel of having so many Republicans together,” Brown said. “But we’re excited about the speakers that’ve been provided for the Alabama delegation. We’re a small state and we’ve had some great speakers and several more to come.”

Brown’s Monday morning post noted that two-term New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu spoke to the Alabama group, launching into the current presidential administration’s record.

“The Obama Administration takes for granted that Americans agree with the basic principle of federal government expansion. Republicans do not believe that is the case. We should all be concerned that this president has never run anything in his entire life. Therefore, he has abdicated his powers to Congress and has failed to lead. Everyone knows we have a huge jobs problem in the United States and Obama has been missing in action on this issue. He has an appointed jobs council and he has not met with them in over seven months. I am convinced this White House couldn’t run a lemonade stand,” Brown quoted Sununu as saying Monday morning. “When Governor Romney took over as the Republican governor of Massachusetts, next door to my state, he faced opposition from a state legislature that was 85 percent Democrat. During his time as governor, he converted a $3 billion deficit into a $2 billion surplus. I know him to be both analytical and the kind of guy willing to make the hard decisions. His success working with Democrats, speaks for itself. We hear a lot about the president’s likability. If you have a plumbing problem and there is water running all over your floor, are you calling the likable, friendly but incompetent plumber or the one who knows how to fix things? I am here to tell you, Mitt Romney knows how to fix the U.S. economy. This election is about a better future for our kids and grandkids.”

Lt. Governor Kay Ivey is the leader of the Alabama Delegation to the convention and is presiding over all delegation sessions

Alabama state Sen. Jabo Waggoner was presented a lifetime Republican Party service award Monday morning at the meeting of the Alabama delegation. Senator Cam Ward presented a bust of Ronald Reagan to Senator Jabo Waggoner.

Waggoner said, “Most folks get an award like this when they are being put out to pasture; however, these days, 75 is the new 60, and while I appreciate this honor, I’m not yet ready for the pasture.”


* Ken Brown contributed to this report from the Alabama Republican delegation in Tampa.

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