PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON & FIRST LADY PAT NIXON PLANT A TREE ON THE WHITE HOUSE  LAWN

Feb. 17. By Dave Vieser. The Cornelius Police will help provide security for the Republican National Convention this summer, but it doesn’t look like we’re getting free trees.

The organizers of the convention—a massive event set for Aug. 24-27 at the Spectrum Center in Uptown—are planting 2,020 trees in and around Charlotte in honor of the convention.

Matthews and Hickory Grove, SC, are getting trees, not to mention Oakdale Elementary and Mallard Creek High School in Charlotte.

But not Cornelius. This, even though North Meck is the home of some rather influential GOP officials, including US Sen. Thom Tillis and Huntersville Mayor John Aneralla.

The GOP’s Jill Kay said the plantings “will take place across the community to thank the Queen city for its hospitality and support leading up to and during the 2020 Republican National Convention.”

We asked Kay why Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville are up a tree around trees, so to speak, but didn’t get a response.

The idea for trees as a leave-behind gift came during multiple brain-storming sessions with local stakeholders, including elected leaders from both sides of the aisle and corporate partners.

The program is supported by LendingTree, the big online lending marketplace that connects borrowers with multiple lenders.

The Town will be reimbursed for the hours worked and cost of travel for any police officer we send to Charlotte to assist with the RNC,.

Presidential nominating conventions are held every four years by both parties during the summer before the presidential election. Charlotte hosted the Democratic convention back in 2012.

Charlotte will join a handful of US cities that have held nominating conventions for both parties. By the way, the 1960 Republican National Convention was held in Chicago. Richard Nixon was nominated, along with running mate Henry Cabot Lodge.

SOURCE: PRESIDENCY.UCSB.EDU