GOP delegate making mark

Larry Penkava
Staff Writer

ASHEBORO May 14, 2008 03:58 pm

— When Matthew Lambeth goes to the Republican National Convention in September, he could very well be the youngest delegate there.
At 23 years of age, the GOP activist already lays claim to being the youngest treasurer of the Randolph County Republican Party, elected when he was 21. He says his love for politics goes back to when he was still in grade school.
"I fell in love with politics at 7 years old," Lambeth said. It was during the Bill Clinton-George H.W. Bush presidential campaign of 1992 that he became fascinated by the process of electing our government leaders.
"It was not a family thing," said Lambeth, chief operating officer at Lambeth Dimensions, his family's business. "It was something I became interested in on my own."
Lambeth was elected a delegate to the National Convention - to be held Sept. 1-4 at Minneapolis-St. Paul - at the 6th District Convention on April 17 at the Randolph County Courthouse. Valerie White of Asheboro is another of the three delegates and her husband Lyn was named one of three alternates.
"It's been a dream of mine to go to something like this," Lambeth said. "It's one of the most important things a political activist can do - elect a candidate for president."
Lambeth said he isn't sure what all he'll be doing in Minnesota, but that most of the detailed work is handled by national committeemen and committeewomen. Each state, he said, has one of each.
"The primary objective at the convention is to elect a nominee," said Lambeth. "It's a fairly long, drawn-out process."
Asked what he plans to do in his spare time, Lambeth said he wasn't sure, but that his wife Miranda "wants to go to Mall of America," the largest shopping mall in the United States.
Perhaps Lambeth could seek advice from county Republican Chairman Alan Pugh, who was 26 when he attended the National Convention at Detroit in 1980.
"It was tremendously exciting," said Pugh of his time as a delegate. "It was a thrill for me."
Pugh said he attended with Harold Brubaker, long-time member of the N.C. House of Representatives.
Pugh said the City of Detroit "rolled out the red carpet," and the delegates were guests at numerous receptions and tours. "It was a really nice event."
While at the convention, Pugh said, he got to see then-Gov. Ronald Reagan, who went on to win the nomination and the presidency. He also "ran into George Bush Sr., (former Federal Reserve Chairman) Alan Greenspan, Barbara Walters and (presidential author) Theodore White.
"I'm tickled Matt was elected and that we're sending such a fine young person," said Pugh. "Not many get that opportunity in their lifetime."
Lambeth will get a taste of running for office this year, having filed for the Randolph County Board of Education. He may be the youngest candidate in local elections but he won't be the youngest involved in the campaign.
"Connor Brady is my campaign manager," he said. "He's 16 years old and very bright."

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