Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Here’s the press release:
Charles Taylor Annual Christmas Dinner Expected to Draw Record Crowd
ASHEVILLE – Former U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor announced today he is hosting his annual Christmas dinner at 7 p.m. on Saturday Dec. 13 at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville. This is the 17th year for the annual Taylor Christmas dinner, which has grown into the largest sit down political dinner in North Carolina.
“We want to honor those who ran for and won various state wide offices in the 2008 elections,” said Taylor. “We also want to pay tribute to those candidates who made the sacrifice to run and did not win.”
Republican Presidential Candidate and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee will speak to the crowd live via satellite from New York City, where he is hosting his popular new Saturday night television show on Fox News. Huckabee has also signed a contract with ABC News to host two daily radio commentaries. Huckabee has become a leading spokesman with the news media for the conservative movement and the Republican Party.
U.S. Senator Richard Burr, NC Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler, NC Commissioner of Labor Cherie Berry and NC Republican Chairwoman Linda Davies will also attend. The dinner will also honor Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory for his strong campaign for the North Carolina Governors seat, as well as McCrory’s primary opponent state Senator Fred Smith. All these dignitaries will join Taylor to host a reception beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Wilson Suite. The dinner will begin at 7 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom located in the Vanderbilt wing of the Grove Park Inn. The cost to attend the dinner is $50 per person. The cost to attend the reception and the dinner is $125 per person.
“We are having a tremendous response from people who want to get together to celebrate the hard work and successes of the recent election. I expect to have a tremendous crowd in attendance this year,” said Taylor.
To order tickets for the annual Charles Taylor Christmas Dinner, or for more information, call Trish Smothers at 828-258-2204 or 828-243-2187.
Curiously, the name of Carl Mumpower does not appear on the list of honoree losers. Was it his repudiation of the Republican party? Was it his suspension of his campaign until the local GOP committees swore allegiance to his lofty goals? Could it just be that Chainsaw Charley and Carl "I Want The" Power never could stand each other? It might be worth it to go and ask questions………