Comments | Eastern NC Now

It is becoming VERY apparent that there is a huge disconnect between folks in the old guard and those involved with the new guard of Conservative politics.

Factions of the old guard want to maintain control and keep things "as they've always been". The new guard sees where the issues are, they ask hard questions and the old guard doesn't like that because it takes them out of their comfort zone; they're stuck in their ways and would rather go down with the ship than call things as they are.

If the issue of calling out Kidwell is dividing the local GOP as bad as some are indicating (I really think only a select few are pissed off about blowback on Kidwell), it shows that some have absolutely no clue about what in the hell's actually going on in their own backyard....because they're so focused on Kabuki theatrics in Raleigh.

It's beyond stupid.

Commented: Sunday, January 11th, 2026 @ 9:38 am By: John Valley

RINO Hunter: I agree. There needs to be a reckoning, and then we move on ... But ... Without the same know-nothing people occupying space in leadership positions in the Beaufort County GOP.

That reality has gone on for far too long, doing far too much damage to real Conservatives that well realize that the RINO element will eventually finish off the Republican Party of Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump, and others like them.

Commented: Sunday, January 11th, 2026 @ 11:01 am By: Stan Deatherage

Faced with attempts to review and bring some accountability to all the shady business done by these party thugs lately, the party thugs are actually doubling down and attacking more good people with ridiculous charges and no due process whatsoever. To the apologists (maybe it's not plural) for these gangsters that say this is small potatoes next to the important work these ruthless perpetrators of evil are doing politically, I say BS. Perhaps the apologists are actually the perpetrators. If not, they are just as guilty.

Innocent people are being mistreated. That means something to me. It should mean something to any fair-minded person.

Commented: Sunday, January 11th, 2026 @ 8:23 am By: Van Zant

The record is clear that Kidwell is one of the very strongest voices against high taxes and big spending in the legislature. He has the highest conservative rating ever achieved in the General Assembly on the Civitas legislative ratings. Why in the world would we want to give up that sort of record for someone who cannot even articulate what his political views are, or maybe just does not want to tell us? Or maybe he is waiting for a consultant to tell him what he needs to say to try to get elected? When Kidwell first ran, he articulated a comprehensive agenda of conservative policy, and he has stuck to it. When I vote, I look at policy positions and policy records. Kidwell's is excellent. Armstrong's is almost non-existent.

It is not a matter of who you like or dislike on a personal basis, but who will pursue conservative policies and be effective in achieving them. Kidwell has an excellent record on both counts.

Commented: Saturday, January 10th, 2026 @ 8:17 pm By: Concerned Taxpayer

Some of the people swooning adoration of Kidwell on this comments page are acting like Dems. It is really a sad thing to see. Do ya'll recall Harry Reid who told lies about Mitt Romney, who then lost his bid for the Presidency? Afterwards, Sen Reid was exposed for his lies abt Mitt. His response was: "Yeah but it worked didnt it."
So what we see here is the same kind of Democrat smear job, but its coming from Republicans against fellow Republicans. Stop being a "useful idiot."

JUST SAY NO TO KIDWELL !
VOTE for a change, Say YES to Darren Armstrong!

Commented: Saturday, January 10th, 2026 @ 3:44 pm By: Washingtonian

It figures that the communists would be involved in this riots. Deport them along with the illegals.

Commented: Saturday, January 10th, 2026 @ 7:08 pm By: Bubba

Nick if you cant get the various City Depts to reply to you, what hope is there for the rest of us??? You are in a position of authority, so Do something about it. That is what we elected you for!

Commented: Saturday, January 10th, 2026 @ 10:47 am By: Befuddled

In other parts of the world, particularly Europe, water cannon have been particularly useful in dispersing mobs. A good soaking in January weather in the north should sent them home in a hurry. Since there is probably little of that equipment in the US, a good substitute would be pumper fire trucks. Hose them down and watch them Get Out of Dodge.

Commented: Saturday, January 10th, 2026 @ 12:20 pm By: Conservative Voter

Mr. Fritz,when you write for a publication such as this,it tells all of us exactly who you are and it isn't good.

Commented: Saturday, January 10th, 2026 @ 8:13 am By: JR

Historically, I am a strong supporter of enforcing our immigration laws, and remain so. I will not be led astray by who I personally like or dislike. The state house race is very clear in that regard. Kidwell is a proven friend and supporter of enforcement of our immigration laws. Armstrong is part of the Big Ag cabal that sees exploitation of illegal aliens as part of their business model and will do everything they can to keep the illegal aliens among us where they can exploit them. If you like illegal immigration, you will love a Big Ag guy like Armstrong. Whatever they may tell you, the Big Ag people will always stab immigration enforcement in the back. Sending someone who is not on our side on illegal immigration to Raleigh would be sickening.

Commented: Friday, January 9th, 2026 @ 8:09 pm By: borderhawk

News Flash - The Beaufort County Republican Party is STILL not conducting legal business. They are being run by an illegal shadow committee with no oversight. At this time, they are attempting to purge people they do not like from the executive committee illegally with no legitimate committee process. They are worse than the mafia and it is not even arguable. The people that have hijacked the party are very bad people.

Commented: Friday, January 9th, 2026 @ 7:09 pm By: Van Zant

Auditor, you are certainly correct that this information is held inside the city's books. Auditors can not add or delete information, only verify and perhaps reorganize. The problem is that the books are not open to the public. Since November 4th, I've requested three simple bits of information several times: 1. If any debt has been added during this fiscal year, and what our current total debt is. 2. What percentage of the budgeted amounts has been spent in each fund and how much we are below budget. 3. If we wanted to pay off any debt, how much is unrestricted and available for us to do so. When I asked Greenville for this information I received it in a few hours. I have yet to receive it from Washington.

Your accusation of my ignorance or deception is curious. I do not claim to be anything more than a citizen-representative reporting back to my fellow citizens. While I am certainly not a municipal accountant, and I suspect neither are the other 99.99% of residents and former city councilmen and mayors, I have a rudimentary grasp of finance and accounting. Like most, I rely on the high-paid director of finance, the finance department, and the expensive outside annual audit for information. When none of that information is supplied expeditiously or intelligibly, I have little recourse except to become suspcious and seek outside opinions. If you have this skillset, I highly encourage you to investigate and I would greatly appreciate your feedback.

My goals are pretty straightforward. I want to lower our property tax rate and naturally the budget is a fairly big part of that. The audit is inordinately important to me because I cannot get these numbers from our finance department and I'm trusting that I will get them from the auditors.

I do not leap to the conclusion that things are nefarious. The state auditor said that sloppiness is far more common than graft. What I am saying is that this information has been elusive. I cannot speak to past experience or history, I can only speak to my personal experience since November 4th. And I intend to continue relaying that experience openly to all who care to hear about it. I appreciate your reading and I appreciate any advice and criticism.

Commented: Friday, January 9th, 2026 @ 6:03 pm By: Nick Fritz