TONY STINNETT, Courier Co-Editor
Thursday, October 14, 2010 3:08 am

Matt Studd congratulates Shirley Borren, left, after she was elected chairperson of the Cannon County Republican Party Tuesday.

Republicans once again have a voice in Cannon County.

A group of Republicans met to officially reorganize the party locally and elect officers at the Cannon County Senior Citizen Center Tuesday (Oct. 12).

Shirley Borren (chairperson), Marcus Bowling (co-chair), Amy Herrington (treasurer), Laura Bodary (vice treasurer) and Corey Davenport (secretary) were elected to fill the respective positions and lead the party’s charge in Cannon County.

“I feel really honored to be the Chair and I intend to do the best job I can,” Borren said. “We want to get our party going and we need to be heard. We need to back back our country and get rid of what is in Washington, as well as our state.”

Matt Studd, a member of the Republican Party, said Cannon County has went without strong representation as a unified voice for years and the most recent meeting started the process of working in a common direction, he said.

“The Republican Party in Cannon County has been out of commission for a number of years,” Studd said. “I don’t want to point fingers as to why that is but (this) meeting dealt with that matter and once again put Cannon County’s conservative voice back on the map. This puts the spokes in the wheel, so to speak, and put some minds together that will work in a common direction. Residents of this county will start seeing some of the product of that.”

Davenport said he was privileged people believe in his ability to help bring the Republican Party forward in Cannon County.

“We have been stagnant and it’s time we move forward,” Davenport said. “I hope I can contribute to that. It was important for us to form the party and establish a foothold in Cannon County. This is something that has needed to be done for a long time.”

Bowling, who will serve as co-chair, said Cannon County Republicans took a great step forward with the re-formation of their party.

“We can change the atmosphere here,” Bowling said. “If we keep doing the things we have always done, we keep getting what we always got. If we are going to make the changes needed then why not start locally right here in Cannon County? I see a great opportunity here. We have the foundation to build something wonderful.”

The Cannon County Republican Party will meet the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. Location of the meeting will be announced at a later date.