Local GOP leaders salute Vance pick for VP nominee

Burke County Republican leaders are unanimous in their praise of Donald Trump’s vice presidential nominee, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance.

“Unlike either Trump or Biden, he brings youth and vitality to the ticket,” said County Commissioner Phil Smith of Vance, who will not turn 40 for another couple of weeks. Trump is 78 years old; Joe Biden is 81.

“Vance,” Smith continued, “overcame a hard-scrabble childhood to carve out a remarkable success story. He is well-educated, he is articulate, and his story will speak to a lot of people.”

Vance grew up in rural Ohio in an area decimated by the loss of industrial jobs and by the opioid epidemic. He depicted his difficult childhood in a nationally praised, best-selling memoir titled “Hillbilly Elegy.”

Vance was raised primarily by his maternal grandparents, who had migrated to Ohio from West Virginia as many jobs in the coal mining industry dried up.

“He came out of Appalachia and he came out of the Rust Belt,” said Smith. “I think he will appeal to working class folks because he knows exactly the problems they are facing.”

Burke County Republican Party Chairman Tim Buff said Vance was “probably the most qualified” of the contenders on Trump’s short list for the vice presidency.

“He’s young, he’s energetic, and he believes in the America First agenda,” Buff said of Vance. “He definitely rounds out the ticket. He has a strong appeal to young people and to working people.”

Asked if Vance’s relative inexperience in government (he was first elected to the Senate in 2022) is a problem, Buff replied, “Absolutely not. He’s not a career politician, and it’s career politicians who have gotten America into the mess it’s in today.”

Buff added that Vance will likely be a leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028, “if he does an outstanding job, which I think he will.”

Sen. Warren Daniel, who represents Burke County in the N.C. Senate, said, “Sen. Vance was a great pick for President Trump, and I look forward to seeing a resounding victory up and down the ballot in November.”

Noting Vance’s background, Daniel added, “Sen. Vance will be a strong advocate for communities like ours in Western North Carolina, and I’m grateful to see someone from the Appalachian Mountains region on the Republican ticket this year.”

Brian Barrier, a Republican candidate for county commissioner in the November election, said he is especially appreciative that Vance is a combat veteran of the Marine Corps.

“As a veteran myself,” Barrier said, “I’m glad that President Trump saw fit to invite a veteran to share the ticket. He’s also only 39. That’s a positive. He will definitely appeal to voters in the Rust Belt states.”

Barrier said Vance’s rise from a poor childhood will also speak well to voters.

“Because of his background and his experiences growing up, he can identify with the struggles of regular folks,” Barrier said. “This is a man with good common sense. He has a great understanding of what is important to ordinary Americans.”

Finally, Mike Stroud, also a Republican candidate for county commissioner, said he had expected Trump to choose a woman as his running mate, but added that he is very pleased with Vance.

“The fact is, there are a number of very fine people he might have chosen,” said Stroud. “The Republican Party has a good team of people.”

Asked about Vance’s youth compared to Trump and Biden, Stroud said, “There’s got to be a changing of the guard at some point. A passing of the baton, if you will. I think Vance will appeal to young people and to working people.”

The Paper attempted to reach Rep. Hugh Blackwell and County Commission Chairman Jeff Brittain for comment on Vance’s selection but were unable to do so.