Republicans to regroup this weekend in Ocean Shores

Hundreds of state Republicans are heading to the ocean this weekend to re-energize and regroup, if not reorganize and rebuild the party after last November’s defeats.

It’s the fourth year for the Roanoke Conference and conference President Eric Garcia insists the party doesn’t need an overhaul.

“I think there’s areas where we can do work and I think there’s areas where we’re doing great and I think we will just continue to rebuild and work and reach out to new voters and young people,” said Garcia.

Young Republicans are a focus of the Roanoke Conference.

“We’ve gone out to the college campuses, we have a lot of different college young Republicans coming from around the state and we want to plug them in, to get them to meet people in the current structure and have them have roles to play in the coming years,” Garcia explained.

Some GOP leaders have suggested the party needs to redefine its issues or rebuild its image.

“I think that rebuild might be too strong of a term but ultimately it is part of the process of moving forward,” conceded Garcia.

The losses in November are in the rear view mirror.

“We are looking to just bring people together, sort of put things behind us and sort of focus on the future,” said Garcia. “We’re not too interested in concerning ourselves with what has gone on in the past but rather how we can be relevant in coming years.”

At least 400 attendees are expected in Ocean Shores with floor debate and breakout sessions planned on the environment, immigration and transportation. And, a 2016 presidential straw poll.