According to experts, the 2010 November national election should favor Republicans in a way that it seldom has in history. Predictions like that helped to make it easy for local Republicans to fill their ballot full of candidates and get workers excited about the coming election. Larry Wilburn was one of those candidates and one of those workers that signed up to hopefully usher in some more historic victories in Liberty County.
But Larry Wilburn’s decision to run as a Republican and to help the local Republican party is not something borne out of the expert predictions of success. Wilburn was one of the true believers many years ago who ran as a Republican and helped other Republicans in off years because he believed in Reagan conservatism. He prepared to become a Justice of the Peace years ago in hopes that he could defeat the odds and beat Judge Pruitt despite the countywide tendency to elect Democrats. Wilburn has spent years preparing to one day serve the public and be the best JP he can be. He spent years promoting and working for other conservatives in hopes of changing the political culture in Liberty County. He is more than qualified; he is prepared to do a great job.
Larry will never have to answer the question about why he keeps running for this job with an expectation to win. The incumbent Democrat opponent did the same thing when he was younger. And after years of preparing to become JP, Judge Pruitt finally one day won the position he had worked so hard to fill. This year Judge Pruitt is thought to have drawn more opponents because he is near 80 years old and the anti-Democrat Party sentiment that has swept much of the country.
But though Liberty Dispatch will not go so far as to say Larry Wilburn is owed the nomination, we will remind voters that Wilburn has helped to build this party and to keep it alive while others were doing their own thing. Wilburn has the potential to be a great JP. He has run clean and spirited campaigns and since this will be the first one that any Republican had a realistic chance of defeating Judge Pruitt, we believe it sends a positive message about working hard and sticking to your principles even when you are in the minority. Years ago Judge Pruitt’s dream was realized and now is the time we would like to see Larry Wilburn follow in his footsteps.
14 comments:
Barry Graves needs to understand how hard Larry has worked, not just for himself, but to help get Republicans in a position to start winning. I agree with the editorial, it would be ashamed for Larry not to get to run in this election.
As a Barry Graves supporter and friend I could really careless about partyu history. I think Barry would be an improvement over Pruitt. We need change.
Pruitt, Wisegerber, and Norman Brown were all born around 1930. I believe they deserve our thanks and they deserve to get to go home and spend their time with their family. If one of tehse men were my Grandfather, I would vote for their opponent.
1930?!!
Why would someone that was 80 years old want to keep a position that would on ocassion, require them to be called out in the middle of the night? These men may or may not have done a fine job for years, now retire and let some younger people have their chance.
While I can appreciate Larry's devotion to and hard work for the Republican Party here in Liberty County, I still have to look at the qualifications of each candidate and choose accordingly. Barry Graves's education, work experience and commitment to community service far outweighs Larry's qualifications. This isn't a question of "payback", it is a question of who is more qualified to serve the people of Liberty County Pct. 4 as their Justice of the Peace.
You people are blood suckers. I hope you lose everyone of your "picks". Wilburn and McNair and Morefield? You have to be off your rockers! Pruitt and Morrison and Hight will eat these people for lunch when the voters choose in November.
Mr. Akins I agree that people that have worked hard in the party and are as qualified and ready to take office as Larry Wilburn deserve special consideration. I will vote for Wilburn even though I consider Barry a friend. There are some people who have worked in the aprty that I will be hard pressed to vote for however. I may write a letter to the editor about one Republican because of what I consider near unpardonable ongoing behavior. One of the hard working ladies in the local Republican Party has been connected to a coalition over the last few years that actually helped at least two Democrats get elected. Though that is not a crime, it shows a lack of integrity for someone in leadership to be doing that kind of stuff behind the scenes. That kind of effort could have been used to help McNair win last time. this same person is unable to control her children from attacking Republicans behind the scenes with all kinds of vulgar language and an attitude about candidates past and present that deserve better. This particular candidate may seem nice and appear to be a peaceful as a lamb, but even with all of her hard work if these other things come with her winning, I will ask you to please let me expose her at a later date. Her childen's behavior and her penchant to play both sides of the political street need to stop or the conservatives and the independents she is counting on to win election need to be informed.
I disagee with the person that called LD "bloodsuckers". I voted for Judge Pruitt the last three times, but told him last time that I was voting for Larry this time. Judge Pruitt told me four years ago he would vote for Larry too more than likely. I never have cared for Rusty Hight, but love his iwfe. Only if his wife does a write-in will I vote for someone other than Mark Morefield. Morefield will take a lot of the politics out of the courthouse.
It is interesting someone wants to tie Larry Wilburn to the former Republican County Chairman. The thing I really like about Larry and his wife is that even though I think they like me, they are real people. If they disagreed with Wisegerber, I am sure they told him. I am also sure that they are the kind of people tghat got past all of that. In a small community a JP has to be able to get over disagreements and treat people like they should be treated. Larry and Denise are like that.
Is this Republican woman kin to Wisegerber? She certainly fits in with his MO.
I am a die hard Republican but someone is going to have to tell people like my neighbor why we need a new County Clerk and a new District Clerk. He is not partisan but wants to know how having a "R" by your name helps you to keep track of county business any better than the folks we have.
Looks like your boy got beat! Go Barry Graves!!! People don't live a shit who you endorse, you actually hurt their campaign! Thanks Ray.
Signed
it's me again!!!
The comment above is an example of why even your adult children should be required to be respectful when you are running for office. Be aware that Republican candidates are responsible to a degree for the comments of their family and their supporters. LD is for conservatives, but we are not necessarily "for" allowing dysfunctional families affecting the serious business that goes on in the people's courthouse. This child could cause their Mother irrepairable political damage by their actions.
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