Cheyenne County Republicans hold biennial convention

The Cheyenne County Republican Party held its biennial convention Monday evening, electing new county officers as well as delegates for the upcoming state convention.

"This is where it starts," Convention Chair Peggy Popps said. "Right here in our counties."

The county convention was held at the Points West Bank located at 420 Glover Rd. in Sidney, with 17 area Republicans attending. Popps said with the state being heavily Republican, many registered party members tend to get complacent about such events.

"We always wish that we had more attendance," she said.

The last convention was held in June 2014.

This year, the convention's featured guest speaker was U.S. Congressman Adrian Smith.

In his speech, Smith tackled several topics, from the possibility of a contested election to simplifying the tax code to the Supreme Court vacancy.

"We've got a lot more work to do," Smith said.

Delegates for the State Republican Convention were selected Monday night as well. Peggy Popps, Pat Dorwart and Bernard Fehringer will be this year's Cheyenne County delegates, and Sharon Fehringer, Sean Doyle and Victoria Loghry were selected as alternates.

Popps said she served as a delegate at the state and national conventions the last time they were held.

"It's quite an honor," she said.

An election for new officers for the 2016-18 biennial term was also held during the convention. Popps, who said she has served as chair for at least 15 years, stepped down for this term.

"I'm busy with running for the legislature, so I thought it was time for some new blood," Popps said. "I really would like to get some fresh blood in there, with new ideas so we can do bigger and better things."

Bernard Fehringer will be this term's chair, while Popps will assume the co-chair position. Sharon Fehringer will continue as the secretary, and the new treasurer is Rachel Forster.

Popps said she's excited to see a new face in the officers with Forster.

"That's really good," she said. "And then next time, we'll get some new people here because she's involved, and we'll grow our convention."

Before adjourning, time was given to candidates in the upcoming county and state primary election to talk and answer questions from the attendees.

"It's good to have open dialogue and let people state their minds," Popps said. "They asked good questions."

District 47 legislative candidates Popps, Wendall Gaston and Steve Erdman answered questions concerning ways to reduce property taxes. Candidate Karl Elmshaeuser was in Washington, D.C., Monday evening and was unavailable to attend the convention.

District 1 Commissioner Stephen Olson also spoke during the convention as he prepares for the May primary election where he will have two challengers for his seat, Randy Miller and Michael J. Palmer, both of Sidney.

"It could be an interesting election," Olson said.

The primary election will take place on May 10. Cheyenne County has nine voting precincts, with five for Sidney housed in the exhibit building at the county fairgrounds, and one each in Gurley, Dalton, Lodgepole and Potter.

The Nebraska State Republican Convention will be held in Omaha on May 14.

The general election is on Nov. 8.