The Beaufort County Republican Executive Committee voted, 10 to 8, at a special meeting this afternoon, against appointing a new candidate to replace former Republican candidate for Beaufort County commissioner Cindy Baldwin, who voluntarily withdrew from the race on Aug. 3.

    The special meeting was closed to media, and I was only permitted to attend as my father, Republican county commissioner candidate Stan Deatherage's, campaign manager. I will respect the wishes of Beaufort County Republican Party Chairman Larry Britt to not report on what the specific Executive Committee members said or how they voted, but I will define the sides.

    Among the eight who voted in favor of replacing Baldwin with a third candidate, there were three arguments. The first two arguments, though different in substance, were both idealistic: appointing a third ultra-conservative candidate who could win and possibly take out incumbent Republican commissioner candidate Al Klemm, who is perceived by some as being more moderate; or allowing Tony Keech, who took fourth in the Republican county commissioner primary, to run in the general election, if he so chose, for the sake of "individual rights." The third argument in favor of appointing a replacement for Baldwin was a political one: that having three, rather than two, Republican county commissioner candidates on the ticket would drive more conservatives to the polls and help Republican candidates for state and federal elections get elected.

    Of the 10 who voted against appointing a replacement for Baldwin, the reasons given were political: that electing three Republicans to the three seats available is an impossible scenario, and the third Republican candidate would dilute the number of votes per Republican candidate, which could prevent even one Republican candidate from being elected.

    Deatherage spoke against appointing a third candidate on the basis that the move would be unprecedented, as well as unwise.

    "We would have five either present or past Republicans in the race (including now-Independent Bertie Arnhols and now-Democrat Sonya Shamseldin)...We've never run more than two Republican candidates in the general election," he said.

    Deatherage's wisdom prevailed when the vote was taken. Britt said he would be sending Beaufort County Board of Elections Director Kelly Hopkins an e-mail notifying her of the Executive Committee's decision. At that point, he said, Hopkins can begin printing the ballots for the November 2 general election, with incumbent Republican commissioner candidates Stan Deatherage and Al Klemm; incumbent Democratic candidate Ed Booth, Democratic hopefuls Sonya Shamseldin and Jerry Evans; and Independent hopeful Bertie Arnhols.

    If Deatherage is elected to his fifth term, he will be the most-elected Republican county commissioner that Beaufort County has ever had.

    Britt released this statement after the vote:

    The Beaufort County Republican Party Executive Committee met today to discuss the withdrawal of Cindy Baldwin from the County Commissioners race for 2010. The Beaufort County Board of Elections has informed the Executive Committee that we have the opportunity to fill this vacancy if we so desire.

    The number one purpose of the Republican Executive Committee is to promote the best interest of the Republican Party in Beaufort County. It is not to promote or protect any one person or any one person's agenda. Our meeting today was to discuss what we, as the leaders of the Beaufort County Republican Party, believe is the best course we should take.

    After much discussion the Executive Committee has decided to withhold nominating anyone to replace Cindy Baldwin on the November general election ballot. This is not a reflection on any of the possible nominees available to us but a realization of the unique nature of the Beaufort County Commissioners race. Our main goal every two years is to retain majority control of the Board of Commissioners and second, of course, is to try and enlarge our advantage. We must always be aware that sometimes, trying for our second goal could cost us our main objective.

    Even though we look forward to a highly successful 2010 election, we do not underestimate our Democrat opponents. The Republican Party of Beaufort County is more unified this election than we have been for many years and we will continue to promote the Conservative Republican ideals of less government involvement in our lives, less money out of our pockets in taxes, more individual freedom and more personal responsibility.

Larry Britt, Chairman Beaufort County Republican Party