General Election 2012: Beaufort County | Eastern North Carolina Now

This is the place, on the well traveled Beaufort County NOW, where it all happens this election night, and we intend to keep you informed as the night progresses.

    Please join us tonight for what may be the most important election of our collective lifetimes. We will be at it all night until we are sure exactly who wins, and who loses. It is most important as to what transpired at the polling places here in North Carolina and Beaufort County, and, when information is available, what occurred at the national level, and in the presidential election.

    We look forward to you returning at your most earnest convenience.

Beaufort County Commissioner Jay McRoy Defeated

Comes in 6th
    3 term Beaufort County Commissioner Jay McRoy was defeated in his fourth effort to re-win a seat on the Beaufort County Commission. The former chairman, and severely moderate Republican county commissioner was defeated by five other candidates, three of them Republicans, to lose his seat on the county commission.

    Current chairman of the Beaufort County Board of County Commissioners, and Democrat Jerry Langley finished first, in this limited voting form of electing county commissioners, with 3,854 votes. Former Beaufort County School Board member, Democrat Robert Belcher, finished second with 3,500 votes. Republican Gary Brinn scored 3,088 votes, while Conservative Republican Hood Richardson won his 5th term to continue to serve the interests of those inclined toward less intrusive government.

    Conservative Republican Donald Dixon did not win enough votes, 2713 votes, to take one of the Commissioner seats, but did finish well enough to best Jay McRoy, who received 2,574 votes.

    While the race was tight from top to bottom for any candidate to call for a recount.

    Democrats: former county commissioner, Carolyn Harding - 2,468 votes, and Wayne Sawyer - 1,075 votes, finished 7th and 8th in this race for these 4 county commissioner seats.
Above: Hood Richardson (right) - "Why so serious?"

You spent almost no money in your re-election effort. You asked everyone, who would stop long enough to listen, to split their vote between you and fellow Conservative Dondi Dixon, who did quite well coming in a close 5th in this limited voting election, and you helped unseat your arch nemesis, Jay McRoy, as well. Now, you have four 4 more years to preach your message of a less intrusive government, a smaller government ... so ... tell your buddy, Buzz Cayton (left), to lighten up, smile, and you be the "happy warrior" ... then - in kind - help your other buddy on the county commission to fight that good and worthy fight.

Below: Yeah, now that's the Hood (right) I know. And you too Buzz (left), we'll need you as well

Republican Bill Cook was defeated by incumbent Democrat Stan White in a close race in the NC Senate 1 Race with all 8 counties reporting

Stan M. White (DEM)     42,943 votes    50.23% Bill Cook (REP)     42,555 votes    49.77%
   It remains to be seen whether NC Rep. Bill Cook will call for a re-count.

Republican Mattie Lawson loses to Democrat Paul Tine, both from Dare County, in a very close race for the NC House, District 6 seat

Paul Tine (DEM) 20,564    50.56% Mattie Lawson (REP) 20,111    49.44%

Republican Michael Speciale, Caraven County, trounces Beaufort County Commissioner Robert Cayton, Democrat, to win the NC House 6 seat

Robert B. Cayton (DEM) 14,209    40.78% Michael Speciale (REP) 20,630    59.22%

   Please click here for a complete list of how the local candidates fared here in Beaufort County.
Not unlike a sporting event, these spectators are intent to understand the outcome of this general election, in this Beaufort County, in 2012: Above.     photo by Stan Deatherage
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