HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. — A memorial to free speech advociate Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on Sept. 10, was presented during the monthly breakfast meeting of the Henderson County Republican Men's Club on Sept. 13 at American Legion Post 77 here.

Also, the program featured a progress report on county government by commissioners Jay Egolf and Sheila Franklin, both of whom are Republicans. (All five of Henderson’s commissioners — elected officials who administer the county government — are Republicans.)

Around 50 people attended the meeting that included 30 minutes for breakfast and about an hour for the program..

Bill Fishburne filled in as emcee for long-time HCRMC Chairman Bruce Hatfield, who Fishburne described as being “under the weather” and unable to attend.

Fishburne then recognized Mary Ray, office manager of the Henderson County GOP, who presented to the club a Charlie Kirk memorial displayt hat she put together. Fishburne placed it in front of the lectern for all to see, as he thanked Ray for her exceptional talent — and effort.

Ray told the crowd how much the ideas of Kirk have meant to her, personally; and to American society, in general. 

She noted that she “would like to get our young people involved.. I was hoping we’d have a memorial service (for Kirk) here” in Henderson County....”

(To that end, Ray texted the Hendersonville Daily Planet on Sept. 14 to alert the newspaper that a Candlelight Prayer Vigil for Charlie Kirk has been scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Historic Courthouse on Main Street in downtown Hendersonville.)  

During the meeting, Ray also spoke in more detail about just what Kirk meant to her — and the impact he had on American society, including his advocacy organization Turning Point USA, which emphasized civility in debate; and her sympathy for Kirk’s wife Erika, and their two young children.

(In a live-streamed speech on Sept. 12, Erika Kirk said that the movement her husband founded would not end with his death.)

Next, HCGOP Secretary Rebecca Moon was called on by Fishburne to talk about the Lincoln-Reagan-Trump Fundraiser Dinner, which wil be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 18 (preceded at 5 p.m. with a VIP reception) at Kenmure Country Club in Flat Rock.

Moon emphasized, “It’s a hard thing to follow on (the) Charlie Kirk” memorial presentation and discussion. However, she said, “This (LRT dinner) is our major fundraising event” for the HCGOP. 

Then, in a club update, Fishburn then noted that it has 57 regular (male) members, along with 25 associate (female) members, for a total membership of 82. 

“We’d like to drive that number up to 100 members,” Fishburne said, enthusiastically. “If you see someone walking their dog down the street, tell them, ‘C’mon, man — come to our meetings!” and join the club.

At that point, Fishburne lavished praise on N.C. District 11 Chairwoman Merry Guy, a Henderson County resident who, he said, “turned out 82 percent of local Henderson County Republicans... And that is local campaigning and politicking at the very best!” (Fishburne’s statement prompted enthused applause for Guy from the crowd.)

Guy, with a broad smile, then added that Henderson County “was limited to 100 voters... It wasn’t just the vote. It also was the show of support.” 

After a pause, Guy asserted, “Nothing has shown the contrast between the Republicans and Democrats” than the toxic social media comments “after the death of Charlie Kirk.”

Further, Guy asserted, “We (the Republicans) are the party of life and law and order... The Democrats are the party of death and violence.”

Fishburne then introduced Henderson County commissioners Jay Egolf  and Sheila Franklin, as they each gave an update on county activities and plans — and later fielded a number of questions.

Speaking first was Egolf, who said he was pleased with the final budget approved by the commissioners and that, “the bottom line is, we had no tax increase.”

Egolf also contended that Henderson County “has the lowest effective tax rate of any North Carolina county” of the 18 counties “with a population of over 100,000 population....

“That’s pretty good!” Egolf declared with a smile, as the crowd applauded, enthusiastically.

With a note of modesty, Egolf then said, “I’m not saying it’s just the two of us up here” making it happen with the lowest effective tax rate among the state’s counties.

Actually, he stressed, “Sheila and I are just carrying the torch. This is the result of good management of the county for years.”

Regarding Tropical Storm Helene that decimated the area on Sept. 27, 2024, Egolf said, “We’re awaiting” millions of dollars “from FEMA and the federal government, which is a big deal....

“Helene was just devastating,” he said, noting that he was pleased to see the resilience displayed by Henderson County residents in response to Helene. Regarding the recovery,“We’re proud to be part of it,” Egolf said.

Following Egolf’s address, Franklin began by noting that “there will be an appreciation dinner for county employees” and that on “September 27 at noon, county employees will be asked to take a moment to remember” Charlie Kirk’s assassination — and the legacy he left.

She then reviewed a number of advances by the county, including an upcoming groundbreaking ceremony for the recently expanded detention center, efforts on tree replacement, work on the Edneyville sewer system and the addition of the Henderson County Ag Center, which houses the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service, the 4-H and other agencies.

Franklin expressed much concern over “the housing issue in the area… They’re trying to accommodate the housing need, but we’ve heard that doctors, law enforcement” and others “couldn’t afford to live here... That’s very sad when a doctor can’t afford to live here.”

She added, “Housing is a problem because without it, we can’t get the workforce here.”

During a question-and-answer session following the addresses by the two commissioners, Franklin responded to a question about massive amounts of money needed to cover county problems by saying, “We are so bent not to raise taxes, if we can help it... Our county is so fiscally sound and responsible … It makes you feel good” and that she plans to keep it that way.

Egolf added, “ They’ve been planning on this for years — many, many years.. We are very conservative. We think long and hard about what’s going to happen down the road. We are able to handle it.”

Nodding, Franklin asserted, “One example is the school system — and it scares me about the ongoing needs. We’re ‘bragged upon’ for our fiscal responsibility… We reiterated to Chuck Edwards’ staff, Jake Johnson…. I said, ‘We’re ... in the hole. We still need that money reimbursed.”

As for various still-awaited payments in the aftermath of Helene, an unidentified man asked, “Who is doing the reimbursement?”

Franklin replied, “FEMA and the federal government.”

In response to another question, Egolf said, “You see all of these townhomes popping up in the county —with the city pushing ‘annexation by sewer.’ Their neighbors are stuck because they can’t vote in the city” elections,

“I want to see what they do when their voters are mad about them increasing the density. Whatever the city does within city limits, we don’t pay for the infrastructure.”

Franklin added, “It’s better if there’s going to be growth,” to build more housing.

She said officials “think we’re 10,000 units short. I dont agree with that. There are lots of units being built. 

“I think what’s most affecting everything is interest rate… Now, the intrest rates are so bad, what you could get a $400,000 house for, now you can get a $250,000 house for — and we don’t have any” $250,000 houses for sale in Henderson County. 

As a commissioner, Franklin noted that she is on the Transportation Advisory Committee, the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Farmland Preservation Task Force, the Library Board, the Historic Preservation Committee and the Workforce Development Committee.

Egolf said he is a member of the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Board of Health and a number of others.

Speaking as a commissioner, Egolf said, “We try to show up at all of the ribbon-cuttings... The Haywood Road development....”

With a laugh, he added, “At the football game last night, one of my friends said with a laugh, “‘Jay, you’re everywhere!’ I said, ‘I’ve kind of gotta be!’”