Another Political Campaign Begins | Eastern NC Now

Another Political Campaign Begins

BY:  HOOD RICHARDSON

All elections to hold political office are for two-, four- or six-year terms. We are finishing the two-year municipal elections. These are called the “off year” elections, because they happen during odd numbered years. County state and federal elections are held every two years during even numbered years.

We are beginning a two-year cycle with elections to be held during November of 2026. We will be electing a US Senator (RINO Tillis finally realized he cannot win another election), a US House of Representatives member, a North Carolina House member and a Senator. Beaufort County will elect three County Commissioners, four School Board members and a Clerk of Court among others.

The North Carolina Legislature never tires of elections. Candidates must register for the November of 2026 election during December of 2025, almost one year before the election. If it were up to me, I would return to the old system which has registration during March or April of 2026 with the primary elections in June or July. This avoids bombarding the public with perpetual elections.

During the past several years Beaufort County has voted almost two thirds MAGA conservative. However, we have a majority of elected Republicans voting liberal RINO (Republican-In-Name-Only) on the School Board.

It is a disgrace that two Democrats control the five Republicans elected to the Board of County Commissioners. The two Democrats do this by forming an alliance with RINOs Fake Frankie Waters and Randy Walker. This Gang of Four votes together for liberal causes. They refuse to lower taxes, or control spending for education, and are donating hundreds of thousands of tax dollars to their favorite charities.

The same is the case on the School Board. There are eight Republicans and one Democrat on the Board. The vote is usually six to continue liberal programs and three against. This is why we continue to purchase training materials and programs that teach DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) and CRT (Critical Race Theory) in the schools. Cursive writing is no longer taught, there is still a sexual orientation influence, new and illogical math is taught, and computers rather than textbooks dominate teaching. The first clue about how liberal the system is comes with the knowledge that the Superintendent, the Big Cheese, did his doctorial thesis on DEI.

The Conservative Club has worked hard during the past four years to elect conservatives to office. We have had some success. However, several board members have RINO’d out. That is, after election, their promises of conservatism were promptly abandoned. Of particular concern are School Board seats held by Gary Carlton and Donald Shreve. Carlton moved out of his school district and resigned. He was replaced by Steve Rader, a conservative who remains a conservative after taking office. Donald Shreve, from Bath, is a great disappointment. He has become thoroughly entrenched with the Big Cheese and the liberals. Shreve behaves somewhat like RINO Terry Williams. That is, he occasionally votes on minor issues like a conservative, but he is there supporting all the liberal things the Big Cheese wants.

The Conservative Club intends to recruit candidates for the School Board. The two people who need replacing are Terry Williams and Donald Shreve. We are actively recruiting candidates. Williams represents Chocowinity and Shreve represents Bath.

Three seats are open on the Board of County Commissioners. Open seats are held by Stan Deatherage, Frankie Waters and Ed Booth. We are recruiting candidates for the Fake Frankie Waters and Democrat Ed Booth’s seats. Stan Deatherage is a conservative Republican. The Gang of Four (Waters, Langley, Booth and Walker) have refused to lower taxes, voted to close the Snowden School, and failed to provide oversight of the County tax monies while promoting their liberal agenda.

The Conservative Club believes in the primary election process and therefore will consider any conservative candidate who runs in any primary election. Recent attacks on conservative Republicans by incumbent Representative Kidwell have put his seat at risk. We need a spirited primary to keep a Democrat from taking this important seat.

Those who think they may want to run, regardless of whether they identify with the Conservative Club or not should be aware that the Beaufort County Republican Party has historically protected their RINOs. Candidates should contact any member of the Conservative Club, Adam O’Neal or myself. If you are uncomfortable with the Conservative Club, candidates should talk to a trusted elected official or someone with experience in the political process. Contacting the Beaufort County Republican Party is not a good idea if you are conservative.

Both the School Board and the Board of Commissioners offer the best opportunity we have had in recent years to elect truly conservative boards. But it will not happen without good, solid conservative candidates and a strong turnout by conservative Republicans. It is certainly possible to replace the RINO’s with conservatives on both boards.

It is time to put conservative majorities on both boards. This is the year to do exactly that.