N.Y. governor to speak at GOP event

New York Gov. George Pataki, a possible 2008 presidential candidate, will be the keynote speaker at the Spartanburg County Republican Party's Bronze Elephant Luau next month.

The event will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Aug. 6 at the Aloha Restaurant on East Blackstock Road in Spartanburg.

Pataki is the latest in a long line of Republican presidential hopefuls to visit the county. Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has been here three times, Arizona Sen. John McCain and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee both spoke here in January, and

Tennessee Sen. Bill Frist attended an event in October 2005.

County Democrats got into the act in March, when Delaware Sen. Joe Biden was the featured speaker at their convention.

"Spartanburg has earned a reputation as a place where you can get crowds out and have a friendly audience," said county GOP Chairman Rick Beltram. "As such we've gotten a lot of phone calls."

The Aug. 6 luau is open to members of the Bronze Elephant Club and their guests. Membership in the club costs $60 for individuals, $90 for couples and $120 for families. Guest tickets are on sale for $30 each. The cost includes a buffet dinner.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call the county GOP headquarters at 542-1992.

Pataki won't be the only GOP presidential hopeful to drop in on Spartanburg in August. Frist will make his second visit to the county on Aug. 25, when he will speak at a free lunch at the Beacon Drive-In.

"The good news is the month of August is filled with potential presidential candidates coming to Spartanburg," Beltram said.

Robert W. Dalton can be reached at 562-7274 or bob.dalton@shj.com.