Congressman Howard Coble is the only candidate who so far has confirmed his appearance at the Moore County Republican Convention Saturday.

Coble, who is seeking his 14th term representing the 6th District, is scheduled to speak, as is Tim Lea, chairman of the Moore County Board of Commission-ers. Lea is not up for re-election this year.

Joe Garrison, county GOP secretary, said all Republican candidates for office have been invited to attend the convention, but Coble is the only one to respond so far. For the first time in a number of years Coble has opposition within his own party as well as from Democrats.

However, Garrison said that any elected candidates who show up for the convention will be allowed to speak. The same applies to elected officials.

The convention will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday in Owens Auditorium on the campus of Sandhills Community College.

Delegates are advised to arrive well in advance of 2 p.m. in order to be certified by the Credentials Committee. Garrison said the credentials desk will close at 2 p.m.

SOS - Joe McDonald, president of Save Our Sandhills, said there was an inaccuracy in the Pilot Light item about the proposed Purchase of Develop-ment Rights program in Sunday's edition.

"A conservation easement that might be placed on a property through a Purchase of Development Rights program is just like any other conservation easement," he said. "Specified restrictions are put in place and the owner and all future owners are required to abide by them. They run with the deed in perpetuity. The owner can sell the property, bequeath it to heirs, keep it himself, or dispose of it in any other legal manner that he or she sees fit.

"Normally there will not be a scenario wherein the ownership of the property will be transferred to a land trust or any other entity that might be holding the easement. If the owner wanted that to happen at some point, he or she could so specify in the language of the easement, but it is not correct to suggest that this is something that will otherwise necessarily happen."

SOS has adopted a resolution seeking support for the PDR program.

SEVEN LAKES - The Seven Lakes Democratic Precinct meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 18, at the Seven Lakes Firehouse, according to precinct chairman Bill Schmidt.

Business to be transacted will include election of delegates to the Democratic county convention to be held in April.

BOLES - State Rep. Jamie Boles has been appointed to the House Standing Judiciary 1 Committee.

House Speaker Joe Hackney made the appointment after adjournment of the 2009 session and following the resignations of former Reps. Ty Harrell, of Wake County, and Margaret Dickson, of Cumberland County. Hackney tapped Reps. Chris Heagarty and Diane Parfitt to fill those vacancies, then made a series of changes in standing committees, including the Boles appointment.

Boles' district includes most of Moore County. A small portion is in Hackney's district.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at (910) 693-2479 or by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.