Beaufort County Republican Politics - Another Chance To Do The Right Thing | Eastern North Carolina Now
The democratic process should control the party's actions, not a select few individuals.
BEAUFORT COUNTY REPUBLICAN POLITICS - ANOTHER CHANCE TO DO THE RIGHT THING
BY: HOOD RICHARDSON
The earthquake at the March 2025 Beaufort County Republican convention provides an opportunity for this group to renew itself, return to the practice of Christian ethics and pull away from Democrats masquerading as, at best, RINOs (Republicans In Name Only). The worm is turning by a small majority, but it is turning. As nearly as we can tell, Carolyn Garris kept the chairmanship by only one vote. There are two new vice chairmen. Another big win is in the way the Executive Committee membership is selected. The Kidwell faction lost the vote to hand pick members of the Executive Committee.
(Disclaimer: Pronouns. The North Carolina School System English books taught for more than 100 years: “The masculine denotes both the feminine and the neuter”. That definition is how we use it.)
During the past ten or so years each Executive Committee member was nominated and voted on individually. A well-organized faction of liberal Republicans, RINOs and outsiders (people not familiar with Beaufort County who had lived here a very short period of time) voted in a set number of people who were anything but conservative Republican.
This liberal Executive Committee then used the Party to support RINO’s like Frankie Waters and Randy Walker. Both have formed an alliance with Democrats Ed Booth and Jerry Langley to vote Democrat. They gave more than four million dollars of County tax money to Barack Obama’s broad band program. The former Tri-County Telephone Company got a chunk of this money. You may remember Frankie Waters was Chairman of the Board of Tri-County Telephone for several years before it had to be sold because of impending bankruptcy.
The RINO Executive Committee refused to vet Republican candidates. They allowed Frankie Waters and other Republicans, while members of the Republican Executive Committee, to make donations to Democrats who were opposing Republicans. They used the Beaufort County Republican Party to support RINO’s in all elections. The Republican Headquarters, during elections, campaigned for Democrats and actually advised Republicans to vote for Democrats against Republican candidates.
The email list of the Party was restricted. Only the insiders and RINOs received meeting notices. Conservative elected officials were removed from the list. All Republicans elected to public office are ex-officio members of the executive committee. Ex-officio means that by right of winning a public election they are guaranteed membership with all rights of access.
Representative Keith Kidwell ran a three-hour battle during the county convention to defeat the democratic election of Executive Committee members. He and his cronies tried every trick in the parliamentary rules book but (after three hours) they lost. That is how important keeping liberal (RINO) control of the Executive committee is to them.
We elected the new Executive Committee by those who were present at the convention who wanted to serve, having volunteered to serve. Now all factions within the County Republican Party who want to be represented have a say. This is democracy in action. As it should be.
After a plea by Hood Richardson that we want our delegates elected democratically, during the three-hour battle Kidwell announced to the convention that this is not a democratic process. Nothing is further from the truth. We do have a democratic republican form of government at all levels and the same is practiced by the Republican Party. The delegates to the convention are selected by a democratic process to represent their precincts at the convention. Then all votes during the convention are by democratic, majority. Kidwell needs more schooling on how our government works.
It is the Executive Committee (not the Chairman) who determines who fills vacant positions until the next election. For example, should a Commissioner be unable to serve out his term, it is the Executive Committee of that Party (Democrat or Republican) that elected the Commissioner that decides who will serve in that seat until the next election. That is how we got John Rebholz and T. W. Allen. The Executive Committee (not the Chairman) decides how Party money is spent. More than $20,000 of money raised in Beaufort County for Beaufort County Republican candidates was sent out of Beaufort County so it could not be used for conservative Candidates. Some of those candidates were Stacey Davis, Stan Deatherage, Hood Richardson, Charles Hickman, Malissa Polk, and Tandy Dunn.
The so called “Arch Conservative” Representative, Keith Kidwell, leading the charge for RINO control of the Beaufort County Republican Party may seem puzzling. However, we have watched him for years and determined him to be a garden variety politician. He spends a lot of time looking out for Representative Kidwell. Kidwell votes conservative in Raleigh, but in the back room, he supports the RINOs, Frankie Waters, Randy Walker, T. W. Allen, etc. He spends a lot of time conniving for dictatorial control. The vote against his vote to hand pick delegates shows that not only we, but others, are catching up to him.
About 2/3 of the vote in the 2024 elections were conservative, Trump supporting. There are eight Republicans and one Democrat on the School Board. There are five Republicans and two Democrats on the Board of County Commissioners. Yet, both bodies are controlled by a liberal (RINO) Democrat vote. This is because of the liberal make up of the Beaufort County Republican Party Executive Committee. Democrats need not worry, today, they are in control with RINO representation.
The 52-million-dollar Eastern Elementary School expansion is a disaster with none of the laws and regulations being followed. This year the Board of County Commissioners voted not to lower taxes before they began work on the budget even though there is more than 30 million dollars of surplus sitting in the bank. The cost of a ten percent tax reduction is only four million dollars. We have plenty of money to waste on broadband, the county park, an unplanned and unneeded new school, and Frankie Waters, Randy Walker, Ed Booth, and Jerry Langley’s charity vote buying.
The new Executive Committee has to go to work at their first meeting and correct these terrible deficiencies.
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It can be challenging to remain completely objective when addressing deeply ingrained prejudices and beliefs. The primary necessity within the Local Republican Party should be to set aside minor personal conflicts and concentrate on the actual needs and improvements required for local governance and the methods through which we can implement them.
The Republican Party should prioritize what benefits the people, free from personal bias. Morality, integrity, honesty, and truthfulness are often missing in national politics. While the local party can't control the national scene, they can uphold these values locally. "Trust but verify," "Consider the source," and "We the people" are essential principles that should be kept in mind for future endeavors of the Local Republican Party. |
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John: This is the time in politics where we stand strong for what is absolutely right.
Donald Trump has proven himself beyond all measure in standing strong for what is right, and if that does not work, he understands the possible need to at least consider the ramifications of "Burning it all Down." |
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Mr. Steve (Rader): I totally agree with you on placing a strong sense of urgency in pushing the policies of President Trump, minus the administration's obsession with pushing AI, as well as utilizing Sun Tzu strategy to achieve the end goal we all desire to reach.
We've all been guilty of burning ships to the water when it comes to confronting incompetent officials about their lack of intestinal fortitude on past matters but, moving forward, we eventually learn to focus on the bigger picture and pick our battles SD: Hypothetically speaking, if the Executive Committee were to be stacked with a sizeable "Dream Team" roster, would it be possible to override the lesser performing players and force a certain outcome OR would it cause gridlock? With that being said, I believe I've heard The Hood say: "Gridlock is good"😎. I'm just throwing some thoughts out here. If anything sounds ridiculous, don't hesitate to offer constructive criticism. |
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As an interested observer, I've made some phone calls to see how all of this is going. By an overwhelming margin, it appears that only certain people are receiving any party notices. Looks like conservatives are screwed again.
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Steve: The problem in Beaufort County government at all levels is the Beaufort County GOP. I was asked that question in a podcast, and that was the first thing that my brain told my mouth to say ... so it must be correct.
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Confrontation over things past is NOT what is needed. Our country faces an exitential threat from the woke Democrats, and we must do all we can to push conservative policies and solutions at all levels, such as those President Trump is so energetically leading on, and use all of our experience to push those in the most effective manner possible. If something did not go the way we wanted in the past, the objective should be to work constructively do see that it goes a better way in the future.
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It seems like the tone of things is still anti native, anti-conservative and exclusive. I just don't see these control freaks sharing anything.
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John, it is a pure mess up there and has been for far too many years.
Now that Hood, Dave, Steve, Stan, Charles and so many others are on the Executive Committee, it is time to confront a few truths on the the BC GOP will conduct itself in Beaufort County going forward. |
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SD: Dr. Michael Karachun has also talked about this, over the years, to a mainly incoherent audience within several regional political organizations. When he would state difficult truths, only a small fraction of those in attendance would acknowledge they were firing on all eight cylinders.
One of the biggest problems, as I'm sure you would agree, is that the GOP, especially the Beaufort County GOP, is that they've prioritized THEIR, mainly outsider Northern bureaucrats and clueless local sellouts, view of what the party should be instead of focusing on what should matter: intelligence, competency, "boots on the ground" experience and, most importantly, common sense. Both Trump eras of the GOP have spawned a new generation of Conservative minds that have combined old strategy with new strategy and a certain sense of "fire" that has been missing from the political arena for quite some time. Some may call it Tribalism but I feel the party should be led by capable native minds. |
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Van Zant: I don't know if one can always witness the proverbial "leopard changing its spots."
Furthermore, I offer this. As I am diving headlong into the world of sales again, I see people, especially after how Americans have generationally, I see humankind in a different light. I always want to think the bet of people; but and this is a big but, I am also searching for the best of people, so I subtlety find myself now looking into their hearts as I examine what is in their heads. As these people who made this terrible GOP were people that I do not know. At this point in my life I am, and have been very busy. If these people, who want to get to get into Beaufort County politics, have not got the gumption to walk up to a 7 term Beaufort County Commissioner who also publishes a massive regional publication, and speak in clear honest tones, I have to wonder about their intentions or their capabilities to be truly productive. |
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After being an exclusive party for so long, it will be interesting to see if they can win back the confidence of conservatives and natives.
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It is not civic club. The Beaufort County GOP's exclusive mandate is to elect real Republicans as per the dictates of the Republican Party Platform of Ideals.
I know you see it that way too, or you would not have done all that you have done over these many decades to elect the real Republicans in our midst that truly need real help.
Thank-you Buzz for all that you do, and all that you have done.