Comments | Eastern NC Now

I've got more questions and concerns regarding the unscrupulous people in the local party. About this "Victory Committee:" Who is on it besides Carolyn Garris and Keith Kidwell? I've asked executive committee members that I know and they tell me who they think may be on the committee, but they don't know for sure. Let that sink in. Executive Committee members do not even know who is on one of their standing committees.

Also, under Powers and Duties of the county plan the County Chair and Vice-Chair shall be ex-officio members of all committees. Have the present-day 1st Vice-Chair or 2nd Vice-Chair ever attended a "Victory Committee" meeting? The current 2nd Vice-Chair has been "pronounced" off the executive committee solely on the made-up authority of Chairperson Garris and the rumor of dubious testimony to her from her Philly friend that has a long record of lying and scheming to legendary heights of dishonesty. I get the feeling that these duly elected officers are not welcome on this shadow committee or any other committee. That is just one more rule violation by these people that have no respect at all for rules.

Consider this: The "Victory Committee" was not formed by the existing Beaufort County Executive Committee. I'm led to believe it was created by present Chairperson Garris with the possible blessing of the previous executive committee before the last county convention or not. This is surely not a legal committee at this time.

Also consider this: The "Victory Committee" does not report to the Beaufort County Republican Party Executive Committee. This is not legal either.

And consider this: The "Victory Committee" acts independently of the Executive Committee and spends money independently of the Executive Committee. At this time, they are illegally acting in place of the Beaufort County Republican Party Executive Committee.

If there is a more corrupt party organization in the state of North Carolina than this one, I would be very surprised. They make past serious indiscretions of previous committees look like Sunday school. They are a disgrace.

RH: I agree, Monica Davis running for school board in district 6 looks like a Lib plant and many of us can guess by who. Her incumbent Republican opponent is solid. That is an easy choice. Vote Rader in district 6.
The NC House District 79 race is more complicated simply because thuggery and harassment is not an issue by some and is an issue by others; especially when it involves friends and family.

Commented: Tuesday, January 20th, 2026 @ 7:30 pm By: Van Zant

CV: I'm a Clint Eastwood conservative; I'm neither a modern Democrat or a Republican. Actually, I identify more with being an old school NASCAR Burt Reynolds Conservative Democrat....like many old heads were before they switched to the GOP during the Dubya years. I'm sure you'll love that one.

As far as the "issues" and "policies" you've asked about, I HAVE stated why I do not and will not support Kidwell nor anyone else who treats they're constituency, those who ALLEGEDLY vote them into office, like dog s*it; you're near sighted and stuck in the "Kidwell is the ONLY way" mentality.

The numbers that were released here on ENCNow are not hard to decipher. Neither Republicans or Democrats hold enough of a majority to safely win an election.....they rely on the Unaffiliated vote to carry them over.

Kidwell don't have those votes; it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see this. Poll the general public on Kidwell; you'll be shocked.

Commented: Tuesday, January 20th, 2026 @ 4:45 pm By: John Valley

Van Zant: Thank-you for your confidence, and I, too, despise Limited Voting as much as any Beaufort County voter who would rather have better representation by having more votes for what seats are available, but, that is just not the way it is now, and it has been this sorry way since 1992.

With Limited Voting in place, and limiting voting for all, there is a tendency to split votes in families, and that kind of action got me beat in a primary once in 2014, and nearly got Hood beat two years earlier.

I remind all when I lost that primary, as the assumed front runner, Frankie Waters was elected with Ron Buzzeo, which began a spending spree in Beaufort County, which put the Bureaucrat Class in control, which helped lift Beaufort County's GOP into a landing pad for RINOs. Remember that The Hood was alone on that board of commissioners, as the only Conservative for 4 years, until I was elected as a non incumbent for the third time. Now we have 3 Conservatives, and granted we need another, but can we afford to lose me again like in 2014?

It is a conundrum Van Zant that can backfire, so respectively Van Zant, I ask for all of your votes, all that you can muster, and yet, I still pray for a second Conservative to be elected as well. Beaufort County needs that voting Conservative block, but not without me, and all I know from all my experience.

It is not an easy task governing without guidance. At this point in this long career, I have plenty of guidance to give. Between The Hood and myself, and two more votes, we can straighten this mess out that Beaufort County has become, a cesspool for stupid, and often corrupt governing, bad governing within so many levels of smaller governing bodies, all of which I have been powerless to rein while in the political minority ... The Conservative minority.

And one more Van Zant; you are right about Carolyn.

Commented: Tuesday, January 20th, 2026 @ 12:01 am By: Stan Deatherage

In North Carolina this primary season, conservative legislators are under attack from two groups. Phil Berger, through his point man Jimmy Dixon, is after the six top leaders of the conservative House Freedom Caucus (actually now just five since one of the Berger / Dixon candidates announced but failed to file). Berger and Dixon want to make the House safe for special interest cramdowns like Shrimpgate, the Green New Deal, the repeal of bathroom privacy laws, etc.

Then there is a statewide group of liberal public school teachers who have switched registration to Republican to try to grab GOP seats by stealth in a primary. I think the nearest one of those primaries is in Onslow county.

It would be really helpful to the conservative cause statewide if Kidwell was free to go help some of the others under leftwing and RINO attack. But, of course, with the challenge from Armstrong, he cannot. So Armstrong's challenge hurts conservatives far beyond the 79th district. In the past, Kidwell has been free to go out and help conservatives beat back challenges in other parts of the state.

John Valley, I do not believe that you have identified the political issues or policies that you support. Are you conservative or establishment?.

Commented: Monday, January 19th, 2026 @ 9:01 pm By: Conservative Voter

This news may be encouraging to some; however, it may also be too little far too late.

There are few proven journalists among us; too few who are smart enough to what is real and what is fantasy.

Commented: Monday, January 19th, 2026 @ 6:59 pm By: Stan Deatherage

Stan: Yes, there have been some unscrupulous characters in the local party. But as you correctly pointed out there was in the past always a large element of the Beaufort County GOP that could be depended on to be straight up, and they had some power and influence in the party. At times they had a lot of power in the party. Presently there are still good people in the GOP, but they are under such ruthless, devious and sometimes violent attacks from the unscrupulous elements that they do not have power like in the past. The credible people are beaten down because they are under constant attack by thugs that want this as their private club and as a base for their corrupt ventures.

I think the 2019 (Yellow Sheet) county convention was a dividing line. We found out then how much some of these people truly hate us. Time has proven the haters bring nothing good to our community. Because of the harm they have done, the party badly needs reform. At the very least, bring it back under the plan of organization and basic decency. That's really not too much to expect.

In the meantime, the community and Republican candidates have to put up with this crap party.

Commented: Monday, January 19th, 2026 @ 6:04 pm By: Van Zant

The Trump economy is picking up steam. I see it. Within some time soon, you will see it too.

Commented: Monday, January 19th, 2026 @ 4:58 pm By: Stan Deatherage

Van Zant: If you had told me 22 years ago that we would have had all these RINOs in our political midst at this level of good governing intrusion, I would not have believed it.

Back then, in the party, we still had the RINOs, like then chairman "Hopeless" Van Dorp, who as chairman worked to have me lose in a special election to then Democrat Party Chairman Etles Henries (the Democrat candidate) to relace Conservative Commissioner Carol Cochran, who had hand picked me to as her successor. Hood still likes to remark that in this election, it was the "first time a Republican had won an election in Beaufort County where Stan defeated both the Democrat party chairman and the Republican party chairman in the same election.

And then there was super RINO Jay McRoy standing in my political and governing way, who always liked to remark, in political settings, how he knew how to "work the numbers." My oh my, how "the fruit does not fall far from the tree."

Still, back then, there was a large element of the Beaufort County GOP that I could depend on; not now., and they did not tolerate the long list of RINO pseudo political wannabes that were beginning to emerge as an established class, who would elect their RINO champions, not matter how sorry and non Conservative they all turned out to be.

At least for now that "Forest Woman" is no longer squatting in the RINO encrusted local party's HQ disparaging me at every point possible. That was the 2022 election for the primary and the general election. I wonder: Is that not yet another instance of RINO "Party Disloyalty" as specified by the Party's Plan of Organization?

Since I returned to the board in 2018 ... Again ... The Beaufort County GOP has been no use to me at all - just the opposite - especially during election. Even now as I seek my 8th term as a county commissioner, elected three times as a non incumbent, I sometimes wonder: What RINO plans they have for my demise?

This will be an interesting primary and general election, and 'I will not go quietly into that good night.' That I promise Van Zant.

Commented: Monday, January 19th, 2026 @ 8:47 am By: Stan Deatherage

Washingtonian's "hope and change" pitch for Armstrong tries to present him as "new" to politics, but Armstrong is NOT. Not too long ago, Armstrong was a registered Democrat in Hyde County, and he did engage in politics there, DEMOCERAT politics. Armstrong was a Marc Basnight Democrat, and wrote big 4 figure checks to Basnight.

It tells you a lot about Armstrong's political ideology that he has never given a nickel to a Republican legislator or legislative candidate but he had no problem writing a big check to Marc Bashight, a notorious liberal power bully. Armstrong may be new to Republican politics but he is not new to politics generally. He is a warmed over Basnight Democrat trying to reinvent himself as a Republican.

No wonder Armstrong does not want to talk about issues. No wonder Washingtonian cannot identify one single issue on which she can try to claim Armstrong has a better, more conservative position than Kidwell.

We have too many useful idiots for the left and the RINOs who ignore real issues and vote on silly personality matters instead.

WE have a conservative Republican with a proven and very solid conservative voting record representing us in Raleigh. Why in the world would we want to replace him with a warmed over Bashight Democrat who was recruited by the RINOs? Serious voters vote on policy and issues, not get their panties in a twist over personalities.

Commented: Monday, January 19th, 2026 @ 7:38 am By: John Steed

Borderhawk, you are just an opportunistic liar.
I asked Armstrong who approached him about running for Dist. 79, and I can you, it was NO ONE in the NC Leg, or anyone working for the NC Leg. And it wasnt Berger or Dixon.

I have no doubt you are being purposefully fed dirty talking points by Kidwell himself. You are doing the same kind of crap Dems do to Trump and his supporters...that is to try to destroy them by association. I find that kind of politics cheap and crude.

But that seems to be how its done around these parts. From the City bosses to the County, then NCLeg, all the way up to DC and The New World Order... the powerplayers will try to bring down anyone who rubs the bosses the wrong way.

Kidwell cant be trusted any longer. He needs to be retired.

Commented: Sunday, January 18th, 2026 @ 6:11 pm By: Washingtonian

One of the most important issues in our country is illegal immigration, and Keith Kidwell has been a strong ally on cracking down on illegal immigration. He is a candidate who has proven he can be trusted on that critical issue.

Armstrong was brought into this race by one of the weasels in the General Assembly, Jimmy Dixon, who is always skulking in the backrooms trying to block or water down legislation that cracks down on illegal immigration. Why? Dixon, like Armstrong is a large scale farmer, or as many call them a "big farmer". Their business model depends on exploiting the illegal aliens as laborers and they want to keep them around. Whatever they tell you, a big farmer is NOT going to do anything that decreases the supply of illegal aliens to work on their farms. They simply don't care what other damage having them around does to our country.

If you like illegal immigration, you will love Darren Armstrong.

If you want to crack down on illegal immigration, Keith Kidwell is your man.

Commented: Sunday, January 18th, 2026 @ 5:37 pm By: borderhawk

Steed Part II: I'm not going to get too cranked up here as you have a right to your own opinion BUT, and there is a BUT, we're going to go deep in the sheol of things, as they are.



The old guard's caught up in the "short-term" and playing checkers down at King Chicken. The younger guard's playing 5D chess in 8-10K resolution; they're seeing more "long term" and calling $*** out for what it is from an unbiased standpoint.

The attitude that you're showing in defending Kidwell reflects, I believe, a sentiment that's no longer SOP (standard operating procedure). Though you don't like it not do you see the strategic advantage present, North Carolina still has a way to save a key piece of the strategic operation center of the GOP; the Virginia GOP pulled a "Robinson 2.0" with Earle-Sears late in the fourth quarter. They don't have as much time as we do. They've f-ed too late in the game.

Members of the new guard don't hate the old guard; they dislike the acceptance of complacency

Commented: Sunday, January 18th, 2026 @ 2:03 pm By: John Valley