Economic Development in Beaufort County: To Whom One Should Hear? | Eastern North Carolina Now

   In Beaufort County's realm of economic development, I listen to myself, and just a spare, few others. Here begins a discussion of why Beaufort County must finally get serious about real economic development - even if the current system must first be dismantled.

   Long, long ago in a previous life far, far away, when I became a Beaufort County Commissioner, I initially found it wise to pick the people I listen to, and subsequently, from that piece of the public's knowledge, I discovered how to form my own opinions on these major issues facing my county. Economic Development, or the lack thereof in Beaufort County, is a major issue.

   Very early (back in 1995) in this public service career that I chose as my way of giving back to the community, I initiated this board's involvement in economic development. In my young and youthful days, I felt that my home county was a great place to live and work - I had personally chose the county of Beaufort over the county of Wake in 1984.

   It was my optimistic opinion, then in 1995, that Beaufort County should develop a plan to promote our area, and our people, while developing an infrastructure for growth, and concurrently, Beaufort County could work on getting its proverbial "house in order." Remember as you read this, at this time in 1995 through 1999, and unlike now, there were jobs to be had if one properly recruited them. It really did seem like the right idea at the time, and probably would have remained such if Beaufort County had stayed on the right track.

   Obviously, the Beaufort County EDC strayed from the right track, and we definitely missed the opportunity to gain jobs at this most critical juncture in Beaufort County.

   Enter the Tom Thompson era, who lasted for over a decade as the EDC Director until recently, here in Beaufort County, where Beaufort County's EDC, under Thompson's tenure, adopted the North Carolina Democrat Party Plan for Economic Development, which is relative to Beaufort County as this well recognized 13 step plan: 1) create a political environment that will keep Democrat politicians, and Republican politicians, who support Democrat politicians, elected; 2) reward Democrat politicians and marginalized Republicans with campaign donations, and ancillary sweetened deals; 3) create a political component (in Beaufort County's case the Committee of 100) to organize Political Action Committees to punish outlying independent-minded politicians; 4) Commingle the duties of Beaufort County EDC employees (Beaufort County employees), so that a portion of the Beaufort County Committee of 100's activities will also be funded by the Beaufort County taxpayer, and so these taxpayers will thus be vested in their activities, any success or failure - political and otherwise; 5) develop infrastructure, but make the "shell" / "quickstart" building fantasy its centerpiece; 6) Do no meaningful promotion outside of the NC Department of Commerce approved sources; 7) depend primarily on NC Department of Commerce for leads; 8) work to keep Beaufort County designated as a Tier I (poorest in NC) county; 9) engage in the local real estate sector, and pick winners and losers using the public's money; 10) keep the county's fiscal "house (completely) out of order" by favoring or sponsoring political candidates, who share that fiscal governing point of view - i.e. the "Gang of 5" at the local county level, all Democrats seeking office in the General Assembly, or in the Executive Mansion, over the Republican nominee; 11) refrain from using the power of the internet in all its possible forms of expression and subsequent networking; 12) reward valuable politicians to the EDC / Committee of 100 cause and punish the unsympathetic detractors (did I mention that already?); and finally 13) REMEMBER the SECOTAN!

    This has been Beaufort County's economic development plan as I have perceived it, and, sadly, I still do. This is why I will now vote against continuing any remnants of the NC Democrat Party's plan for economic development in Beaufort County, therefore, I will vote against any continuance Beaufort County's Economic Development Commission. With North Carolina having some of the highest unemployment rates in the United States, and Beaufort County following somewhat higher in this regard, it has long been high time to rethink the Democrat's plan here in North Carolina and Beaufort County.

   In the next few weeks, maybe longer, I will discuss what has not worked, what may well will work, and to whom I listen to as one of the few independent-minded politicians, who tends to think "outside of the (Democrat controlled economic) box." And yes, I have long been one of those outliers, who, among others, have been politically punished, and who may; however, just have the correct idea to move Beaufort County, and North Carolina for that matter, back on the right track as to how government better functions, and thereby provides an inherent economic incentive to do business here.

   And finally, as I initiate this necessary discussion, please feel free to comment if I appear to be somewhat "disingenuous" in my rather well considered assertions. You may also comment if you favor what I am espousing as true, or if you have something meaningful to add. The good Lord knows that I am always receptive to, and do appreciate, all manners of creative thought.
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