Candidate Profile: NCGOP Vice Chair Contender Miriam Chu

RALEIGH – While three men jostle for the chair position of the beleaguered NCGOP, two women are vying for the vice chair position at the state party convention in Concord next month. One of them is Miriam Chu, and we caught up with the former Tea Party chair and Republican activist to learn why she’s running and what she hopes to do to better the state of the N.C. Republican Party.

First in Freedom Daily (FFD): Please tell us ‘Your Story,’ i.e. where your from; how you came up; where your career took you; what events shaped your life?

Miriam Chu (MC): I’ve lived in North Carolina for the past 35 years. My primary career was working in the brick industry over 20 years, beginning on the production floor and advancing to Technical Services Manager of a subsidiary of the world’s largest brick manufacturer.

My forte was conflict resolution.  Being able to unravel the often opposing goals of customers, workers, and Upper Management, and finding common ground allowed me to save my company millions of dollars. I can bring this skill to the NCGOP.

I’m an artist and have also worked as a welder and carpenter. Before retiring, I had also run my own specialty contracting business.

I have been involved with North Carolina politics for the past decade, serving as Chair of Moore Tea Citizens, Vice President of Moore Republican Women’s Club, an 8th District at large member, FreedomWorks National Activist Advisory Council Member and a Moore County precinct chair.

 FFD: What inspired you to run for vice chair? Why are you running?

MC: In 2018, we lost all our statewide judicial races, our super majorities in the legislature, and with the departure of Chief Justice Martin we are left with a 6 to 1 liberal leaning Supreme Court.

Across the country, we have seen the Democrat Party deteriorate into openly socialist advocates for infanticide, higher taxes and intrusive government control. I felt our Party had lost sight of its primary mission, pushing back against government overreach. We must fight back by uniting our party and getting more Republicans elected.

I felt someone with my skill set, background and statewide network could step up and make a positive change for all Republicans.

FFD: What sets you apart from the other candidate(s) that you want voters to know about you/your campaign?

MC: I have a background in management, problem solving and team building, which our party needs.  Most importantly, unlike my opponents, I am able to work full time. I am retired and have the full support of my husband and family.  This is not a second job for me.

FFD: As a vice chair, what areas of the NCGOP’s charge would you focus on, or which areas would Republicans find the most benefit from you applying yourself toward?

MC: Grassroots involvement and precinct development;  This is where the most effective means for getting out the vote and voter education begins.  This has been neglected in the past by the state party. We cannot just say, “You’re now a precinct chair, read this PDF file.”  We need to establish a mentoring program to allow these volunteers to be most effective.

FFD: The NCGOP has been limping along in recent years, seemingly resting on the laurels of its success in 2010, and losing the confidence of grassroots Republicans is it became top heavy and ultimately scandal-plagued. How do you plan to mend that, and earn the confidence back from rank and file Republican voters, as vice chair?

MC: Better communication between leadership and the grassroots is needed.  Ideas need to flow both ways. In my travels across the state during this campaign, one of the most common complaints is that grassroot’s ideas and needs are not respected in Raleigh.  All members must feel engaged and that their contributions are important. Having a Vice Chair as a liaison, spokesperson and advocate should make a significant change. We are all Republicans, we can work together.

FFD: What would you describe as your core animating values? Why?

MC: The survival of our great country rests on the strength of the Constitution.  All our constitutional rights are under attack—freedom of speech, the 2nd Amendment, individual rights, protection against unreasonable search and seizure, limited government power over the individual.  The Republican Party is our only hope to preserve our liberties that the Democrats want to destroy.

FFD: What do you view as the party’s biggest challenge? Opportunities?

MC: The party needs to refocus its primary mission on electing Republicans.  This is how we will be able to protect our Constitutional rights. We are all Republicans with common goals, but we have factions within the party with different ideas of how to reach our common goals.

Revising the power structure, particularly by engaging the Executive Committee, will create more opportunities for leadership development and energize the base.

We don’t need, “I’m from Raleigh and I’m here to tell you how to run your county.”  We need, “I’m from Raleigh; tell me what you need in order to get Republicans elected” and that’s the attitude that I will bring to job of Vice Chair.

With new, fresh leadership this is a great opportunity to make the NCGOP Great Again.

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The NCGOP convention is June 6-9 in Concord, NC.