MEDINA — Orleans County Republicans have opened a Republican headquarters in the Medina Theater on Main Street.
The idea was that of Bob Sanderson of Medina, who said it is a revival of historic events which used to take place at election times, when political parties rented a store to promote their political party and used it as a gathering place for socializing.
Sanderson is assisted by 15 volunteers, including Kris Nudd and her mother-in-law Jan Nudd, John and Ellie Kage, Nancy Clary, Larry Calabro and Bill Blount.
“This is the first time we’ve done anything like this,” Sanderson said. “We’ve already registered three first-time voters. We all have a vote, but we can do so much more than that,” he said, explaining why he got the idea to open a Republican Resource Center. “We should show pride in our election system.”
In the short time they’ve been open, Sanderson said they already sold 60 yard signs.
In addition to signs, they have hats, buttons, decals, pens, flags, apparel and, of course, lots of information on their candidate and why he is the best choice for president.
Clary said she is behind Trump because the opponents are spreading misleading facts.
John Kage said he supports Trump because he knows what the former president brings to the table, based on his record.
Kris Nudd said under the current administration homeland and world terrorism are at an all-time high.
“We need someone strong, like Trump,” she said. “We lived in Germany for three years and we were scared to come back here. It’s terrifying to think about four more years of this administration.”
Her husband Jim served in the military and worked for the government for 40 years before retiring as a command chief sergeant in the Air Force and returning to Medina in January.
Clary said its obvious what the best choice is to run our country.
“Our first leaders were not politicians – they were businessmen,” she said. “That is who was meant to run our country.”
Sanderson said they are planning a pizza party from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday for all volunteers. People are invited to stop and meet Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney and district attorney elect Susan Howard.
A party is also planned at the Republican Resource Center on election night.