Comments for Fifth Columns, Democrat and Republican | Eastern NC Now

Van Zant: Thank-you for your wisdom and your support.

I won't project a long winded dissertation on what it take to be a competent and good county commissioner, but I will state emphatically, "it ain't rocket science;" however, with one caveat: To be a competent and good county commissioner one must possess the dual essential components of the knowledge of many life experiences, and the integral honesty of good character.

After one is secure in that essential premise, it becomes remarkably simple.

Commented: Sunday, September 13th, 2026 @ 12:14 pm By: Stan Deatherage

SD: I was just stating some s*** I've heard while out and about, I didn't state that it was my personal opinion. I've grown up a lot since 2020 and don't drink anybody's Kool Aid....as I trust very few people and question everything.

Data Centers, of any kind, are no good for local economy and infrastructure...period.

Commented: Saturday, September 12th, 2026 @ 3:02 pm By: John Valley

This article gives an accurate account of the situation in both of the major political parties. Anyone paying any attention at all knows this is true. Conservatives must vote more carefully than ever in this cycle. The Democrats are an unthinkable option. The Republicans cannot be taken at face value. And I agree. We can't afford to vote for anything that is not proven in this environment. People and parties are willing to say anything, but in most cases, cannot be trusted.

You are also right about the Commission race. Red flags are everywhere. Deatherage is the only proven conservative left in the race. Conservatives must vote for him and just hope for the best with the other two slots.

Commented: Sunday, September 13th, 2026 @ 8:11 am By: Van Zant

Yes, lets look at the origins of these "Republicans" who function as Democrats once in office.

Frankie Waters was a political unknown when he first filed for office, apparently out of his own personal ambition. Only later was it learned that he had been a Democrat all his life until a few months before filing as an instant "Republican" or that he and his wife were still making Democrat political contributions even after he was running as a "Republican." The big issue that election year was fighting against the expensive and unnecessary big new jail that was proposed. Waters told the Stop the Jail Committee that he was against the jail and got their endorsement, helping him win conservative votes. Later it turned out he was not being truthful about his position on the jail.

Longtime Democrat Randy Walker ran for county commissioner as a Democrat and lost, but decided to try to rebrand himself as a "Republican" and try again. In his primary, he spouted all the right words about taxes and spending. He managed to convince Hood;s Conservative Club to buy his yard signs for him. He hired Ashley Woolard as his consultant for social media and had Woolard run a "no new taxes" social media ad campaign in the primary. As soon as the primary was over, he directed Woolard to take down the "no new taxes" online campaign. It had got him past the primary. He did not want to talk about taxes any more. Walker also stiffed Woolard on Woolard's fee AND the money Woolard had advanced to Facebook to "boost" Walker's ad campaign.

I have the very same concerns about having a major political contributor to liberal Democrat Marc Basnight as our "Republican" NC House nominee.

Waters and Walker pulled the wool over the eyes of a lot of people to get elected. It is a cautionary tale about supporting people who suddenly come out of the woodwork for political office.

Commented: Saturday, September 12th, 2026 @ 10:10 am By: John Steed

I'm hearing in the community that two Beaufort County Commissioners are in favor of Data Centers: Deatherage and Walker.

This better not be true.

If it is true, that faction of Republicans will be Audi 5000-ed by the public for several years to come. If you want to screw yourself, support a Data Center and agree with paying $4.00 for gas.

Commented: Saturday, September 12th, 2026 @ 7:17 am By: John Valley

The campaign signs of Ed Booth and John Edwards use the same color scheme, a blue background with white letters, even a similar shade of blue. Isn't blue considered a Democrat color?

Just sayin'

Commented: Friday, September 11th, 2026 @ 5:20 pm By: Bubba

Taxes and spending are far away the most important issue in our county commission race. We need to end the spendthrift tax-and-spend coalition now running our county commission. As we look at candidates, we need to look at 3 things: 1) how strong are their state positions on spending and taxes, 2) what is their past record on taxes and spending, and 3) do they have a consistent position on taxes and spending other than in public office?

As to their campaign positions, both Stan Deatherage and Ashley Woolard have taken strong positions against excessive spending and high taxes. John Edwards says some of the right things but will not make a solid commitment. Ed Booth will not make a commitment on taxes at all.

On actual records in office, Stan Deatherage has voted against every tax increase offered and for every tax cut offered. Ed Booth is the opposite, and has voted against every tax cut offered and for every tax increase offered. The other two have not been in office to have a record.

Outside of public office, Stan Deatherage, Ashley Woolard, and Ed Booth have been involved in community of political activity for years. All of them have been consistent in their positions on tax and spending issues in that context - Deatheage and Woolard for less spending and lower taxes, and Booth for more spending and higher taxes.

Edarerds just popped up at filing time. Nobody had ever heard of him as a public figure before. This was much like Frankie waters and Randy Walker, who talked a good game to a point but quickly turned into tax and spend politicians. He seems to be more of the same.

When it comes to who we can trust on taxes and spending, I would rank them in this order:
1) Stan Deatherage - strong commitment, strong record, consistent position over time
2) Ashley Woolard - strong commitement, consistent position over time, but no record inoffice
3) John Eadwards - weak commitment, no longtime position, no record in office
4) Ed Booth - no commitment, record and longtime position on the wrong side

The bad thing is, that we need to get two of these elected to get a pro-taxpayer majority on the commission, but with limited voting, we only have one vote.

Commented: Thursday, September 10th, 2026 @ 5:35 pm By: Concerned Taxpayer