Elections director notes elevated participation level at candidates' forum | Eastern North Carolina Now

    It doesn’t necessarily take a presidential election to motivate potential voters; it takes a midterm election, and a slight distrust of the Fed. Perplexed by the federal government's 2000-page health-care reform legislation and trillions of dollars in bailouts, the people are grasping at local politics for a sense of control.

    According to a Zogby International poll, as of February 2010, 57 percent of American voters still had confidence in their local governments, while only 41 percent had confidence in the federal government.

    A selection of Beaufort County politicians enjoyed this level of confidence at the Washington Daily News Candidates Forum, held Tuesday night in the auditorium at Beaufort County Community College in Washington, where they had the opportunity to espouse their policy platforms to an eager, well-represented electorate.

    “I do believe it is the most well-attended forum we’ve had in quite awhile,” said Beaufort County Director of Elections Kellie Harris Hopkins, the forum’s moderator, as she surveyed the near-full audience.



    Appearing onstage were Beaufort County commissioner candidates and candidates for the District Court seat held by retiring Judge Sam Grimes. The forum was limited to these candidates, as they are the only local candidates facing a May 4 primary.

Appearing as candidates for Beaufort County commissioner were:

•  Ed Booth, Democrat (incumbent);
•  Jerry Evans, Democrat;
•  Sonya Shamseldin, Democrat;
•  Darwin Woolard, Democrat;
•  Cindy Baldwin, Republican;
•  Stan Deatherage, Republican (incumbent);
•  Buddy Harrell, Republican;
•  Tony “T.J.” Keech Jr., Republican, with wife Catherine Keech appearing on his behalf;
•  Al Klemm, Republican (incumbent) and
•  Bertie Arnhols, unaffiliated.

Appearing as candidates for District Court judge were:

•  Darrell Cayton Jr.
•  Jonathan Jones;
•  Sonia Privette and
•  Watsi Sutton.
The judicial races are nonpartisan.

    The candidates for commissioner made opening and closing statements and, in between, were asked a total of four questions: two formulated by Daily News staff and two randomly selected from those submitted by the audience.

    The overflow of questions from the audience will be added to the pool of questions considered at the next candidate forum, which will be held closer to the Nov. 2 general election, and will include all candidates, rather being limited to those with a primary, according to Hopkins.

    Early voting for the primary election began today and lasts until May 1, relayed Hopkins. To take advantage of early voting, registered voters can visit Beaufort County Board of Elections at 1308 Highland Drive in Washington and fill out their ballots. The Board of Elections is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon. through Fri., and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday May 1. Unregistered voters can register and vote through one-stop voting during this time.

    Friday was the last day to change party affiliation for the primary election, but eligible residents can still change parties for the general election. For the primary election, registered Republicans and Democrats will receive ballots listing candidates from their respective parties. Unaffiliated voters can choose either of these partisan tickets, or can vote a nonpartisan ticket, which lists only judicial candidates.

    It’s to be determined, whether or not the high volume of participation in the forum will translate into high voter turnout; or if voters will be cynical and apathetic.

    By 2:45 p.m. today, 63 people had already taken advantage of early voting, Hopkins said during a phone call made to the Board of Elections.

    “We’ve got a roomful right this second,” said Hopkins.

    A 20-percent voter turnout is normal for a midterm primary, she said. That means over 6,284 of the 31,419 registered voters in Beaufort County need to make it to the polls to make 2010 an exceptionally good year.