HENDERSONVILLE — The Henderson County Republican Men’s Club celebrated the Nov. 5 election of former President Donald Trump to the U.S presidency — along with other GOP election successes locally as well as nationally — during its Nov. 9 breakfast meeting at American Legion Post 777 here.

Forty-eight people attended.

After the Men’s Club recited a prayer and sang the “Star Spangled Banner” to open the meeting, Men’s Club Chair Bruce Hatfield stood, gazing out at the crowd, with a look of sheer delight on his face.

Regarding Trump’s landslide election win and other related results, he declared the following:

“Well, the republic has been saved!”

In the election, the Republicans “took back the White House, the Senate and — probably — the House (of Representatives).” Hatfield noted with glee. (Since the meeting, the Daily Planet has been confirmed that the GOP will control the House by a slender margin.) 

Locally, Hatfield asserted, “We (the Republicans) won all judicial positions…. We won the two (Henderson) county commission seats that were open....”

After a pause, Hatfield said on a less-cheerful note, “I won’t stew over what happened in the governor’s race….” (In the battle for the governorship, Democrat Attorney General Josh Stein — with 54.9 percent of the vote — stomped Republican Mark Robinson, who netted just 40.1 percent of the vote. Reportedly, Robinson had to juggle a scandal-plagued campaign that triggered, in the final six weeks, a sudden lack of financial support from his fellow Republicans.)

Next, a number of local victorious GOP candidates thanked everyone for their support, with state Rep. Jake Johnson, R-Saluda, noting that “what hurt us in a lot of our (House) seats — (gubernatorial candidate Josh) Stein pulled a lot of money out of his account at the last minute. And (then) he poured a lot of money into a lot of districts... We (the GOP) ended up losing the (House) super-majority,” which, previously, had made it veto-proof against Gov. Roy Cooper.

“I probably haven’t talked to (Gov.) Roy Cooper more than a few times in my eight years (in the House), but (Governor-elect) Josh Stein — I talk to him all of the time,” so he has a much closer relationship to him, which could be helpful.

“We have to make sure he (Stein) doesn’t make any crazy appointments... I am encouraged so far… I think there will be a better relationship between the executive and legislative branch,” with Stein as governor, Johnson concluded.

Later, District 5 Commissioner-elect Jay Egolf asked,  “Does anyone know when the convention for our Henderson County Republican Party will be?”

Several attendees replied in unison, “In March!” (However, the Daily Planet later — in researching on the internet — could not find details regarding the upcoming HCRP convention, such as its specific time, date and location.)

Hatfield noted to Egolf that the HCRP convention will feature the election of the vice chair and executive committee.

During open discussion, an unidentified man said, “We (local Republicans) need a trainer and observer” at the polls. “I was an observer on the first day and it was five (Democrats) against one (Republican),” the man said, adding that “the one” was him.

Agreeing, Hatfield said, “We need to start working now on the next election two years from now.”

Later, Hatfield asked the following of the attendees in a reference to the havoc wreaked in the ara on Sept. 27 by Tropical Storm Helene:

 “One thing I’d like to know is where were you when the lights went out?”

Prior to anyone answering, Hatfield added, “One of the things about a disaster is (that) the first day or two, you get front-page attention. After that, not so much….”

As attendees shared their often-harrowing experiences, Egolf highly praised the much-criticized FEMA — “based on his (personal) experience.” 

Several members, including Hatfield, recommended buying Elon Musks’s Starlink to ensure internet service in a storm. To that end, Johnson praised Musk — for his genius, in general, and his favoring of “small government,” specifically.

The club then voted by acclamation to re-elect — for yet another term — the officers of the club, including Hatfield, as chair, Bill Fishburn, vice chair; Ed Carlyle, treasurer; and Bruce Hildebrand, secretary.

Hatfield also reported that the club has 55 regular (male) members and 29 associate (female) members.