Republicans Make Historic Gains on N.C. County Commissions | Eastern NC Now

    Publisher's note: Sam A. Hieb is a contributor to Carolina Journal.

GOP holds majority of commission seats and controls most N.C. counties

    GREENSBORO For the first time since records have been kept by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners -- and possibly for the first time since the 19th century -- Republicans hold a majority of seats on county commissions in the Tar Heel State. Pending results from two recounts in the western part of the state, Republicans elected 304 commissioners, Democrats 270. Six commissioners are unaffiliated.

    Again, pending recounts, Republicans will hold the majority on either 53 or 54 county boards, with Democrats holding 44 or 45. Two boards have no partisan majority.

    These results continue a steady but dramatic turnaround of the fates of the GOP in local races over the past few decades. In 2010 there were 295 Democrat commissioners and 277 Republicans; Democrats controlled 50 boards, Republicans 49.

    Indeed, Republicans had been gaining gradually since the party hit its low point in 1976, when Republicans held just 46 of 484 county commission seats, and Democrats controlled 89 of the state's 100 county commissions.

    County commissions often serve as the initial elected position for candidates who go on to serve in the General Assembly, Congress, or in administrative agencies. A party whose ranks are growing is perceived to have a strong bench of candidates to cultivate for higher public office.

    One of the recounts, scheduled to take place today, could switch the partisan balance in Buncombe County, currently controlled by Democrats. Republicans Mike Fryar and Christina Merrill -- whose campaigns focused on fiscal conservatism -- appeared set to win their districts and establish a 4-3 Republican majority.

    Unofficial election results put Merrill ahead by 87 votes, but a mandated review by the county Board of Elections put Democrat Ellen Frost ahead by 13 votes.

    In Guilford County, however, there was no doubt by the time votes were tallied on Nov. 6. Republicans took control of the county commission for the first time in 14 years, albeit by a slim 5-4 majority.

    While Republican Hank Henning defeated fellow newcomer Linda Kellerman by a solid majority, the bigger surprise was fellow Republicans Jeff Phillips and Alan Branson unseating Democratic incumbents Paul Gibson and Kirk Perkins, respectively.

    While all three candidates ran on a platform of fiscal conservatism, the respective victories by Phillips and Branson were surprising because their opponents -- both longtime commissioners -- were considered moderate Democrats, far cries from Chairman Skip Alston, an outspoken liberal.

    The outcome was so surprising that the Greensboro News and Record -- which was critical of the General Assembly's redistricting that many believe helped Republicans at all levels of government -- felt compelled to send a message to the new commissioners.

    In an editorial headlined 'Not so Fast, Guys," the N&R wrote that fiscal restraint "won't be a bad thing as long as the commissioners realize their obligation to invest to invest in the county's future, especially education. The new board shouldn't lose sight of the bigger picture in its quest for smaller government."

    In an interview with Carolina Journal, Henning says constituents saw a county saddled with debt and riddled with internal problems.

    "One of the things I heard frequently was they would just like us to get down to business. There are a lot of people out there unemployed, on fixed incomes, and we keep talking about raising property taxes, sales taxes, and any other tax you can think of," Henning said. "We have a PR problem here in the county, whether it's fair or not. There's a perception that there hasn't been a lot of transparency or accountability."

    Henning cited Commissioner Bruce Davis' statement at a recent board meeting -- later reported by the Rhino Times -- that it was "urgent" that the county grant the High Point Arts Council $200,000 because "if we don't approve it tonight, the new board will never approve it."

    "People have grown cynical," Henning said. "It seems like there's always this rush to spend money."