More on the Beaufort County Republican Party Executive Committee Chaos | Eastern NC Now
A clear disregard for rules exists within senior party leadership.
More on the Beaufort County Republican Party Executive Committee Chaos
BY: HOOD RICHARDSON
Some Republicans, mostly those who are in Beaufort County Republican Party leadership or maybe I should say “dictatorship” positions, are laying out heavy criticism of me and my supporters for daring to talk publicly about what is going on inside “their” party. To those, I say, if you were following the written operating rules of the Beaufort County Republican Party called “The Plan of Organization” there would be nothing for me to write about. It is the corrupt behavior of those who are violating the rights of all who are registered Republicans that are making this news.
The basic premises of fair play and following rules that are set out in writing (The Plan of Organization) have been violated and corrupted for many years by the leadership of the local Republican Party. All registered Republicans should be aware that this is their party and not the dictatorship of those whom they have trusted and elected to keep our political process honest and fair.
Page 5 of the rules (Plan of Organization) item 4.a.ii states… “the chair shall preside at all meetings of the County Executive Committee”. Chairman Garris turned the conduct of the meeting on December 18 over to Representative Kidwell in order to avoid having to answer for her violations of the party rules since the last meeting of the Executive Committee during September of 2025. Those violations include attacking fellow elected Republicans publicly by asking for resignations of elected officials for no reason whatsoever. I am referring to the public attack on School Board member Stacey Davis. Representative Kidwell and Chairman Garris falsely pretended to represent the Republican Party in demanding that Davis resign. Note the Beaufort County Republican Party gave the appearance of supporting the Democrat opponent of Davis during the 2024 elections. Neither Representative Kidwell nor Garris represent the Republican Party without the express vote of the Beaufort County Executive Committee. Garris deliberately did not call for Executive Committee meetings from September through December so she and Kidwell could have a free hand to mount the attack on Davis and perform other acts to oppose conservative Republicans in the City of Washington municipal races.
In addition, attacks were launched during this period of time on this writer, Adam O’Neal and others, using Beaufort County Republican Party funds. Money was paid to Inner Banks Media for radio ads in the amount of $4,500.00, AI Business Services LLC in the amount of $2,100.00, and the Media Corporation in the amount of $4,024.00 during September and October without the approval of the Executive Committee. This totals $10,634.00. There are issues as to how this money was raised and if it was used for the purposes represented to donors.
When this unauthorized spending issue was raised at the December 18 meeting there were representations that the “Victory Committee” approved the spending. This Executive Committee elected during March of 2025 has not approved the existence of anything called the “Victory Committee” nor authorized them to spend money. Who are the members of this phantom committee? Garris and her clique seem to believe that as long as there are no Executive Committee meetings she and they can do as they please.
The rules (The Plan of Organization) very clearly define Garris’s authority. On page 5 Item 4.a.(i): “The Chair shall: Have general supervision of the affairs of the Party within the county, with the advice and consent of the county executive committee”. Prima facie proof there was no approval to spend money and demand this resignation is the fact there were no meetings of the Executive Committee from September to December 18.
Keith Kidwell running the Executive Committee meeting for Garris violated several provisions of the rules of the party. On page 6 of the rules Item b. clearly states: “The First-Vice Chair shall function in the absence of the Chair”. Garris deliberately, illegally installed the bully, Keith Kidwell, so he could help cover up their violations of the rules. Kidwell is in a primary election contest with Darren Armstrong. Kidwell is a voting member of the Executive Committee. Page 13 of the rules Item G. states: “Refrain from utilizing Powers of Office in Republican Primary. Each office and each member of any committee created under this Plan shall refrain from utilizing the powers and dignity of his/her office or position in any Republican primary for public office at any level”. Kidwell violated the party rules when he accepted the bully position to stand down those who insist on the rules being followed. Once Kidwell had a primary opponent he is not supposed to vote or represent on any Party issues that affect his campaign in any way. That is almost everything that happens with the Executive Committee. Rules do not seem to bother Kidwell because he does not mind attacking any Republican. Maybe that is why he is so unpopular in Raleigh.
Within the Executive Committee meeting on December 18 was Ashley Woolard who is involved in a primary election for County Commissioner. He assisted Kidwell by making motions to cover up the bad behavior of Garris, Kidwell and himself. It is difficult to know how Ashley Woolard will be able to serve as a Commissioner, if elected. He has never, to my observation, sat through an entire meeting. He arrives late, makes some prearranged motion, and promptly leaves long before the meeting is over. What drives a person to have such a low level of patience. Ashley also provided the ringer in the 2025 City of Washington elections that divided the vote and caused two conservative Republicans to lose. The ringer, Ashley’s brother, got about 360 votes. Kidwell and other Garris operatives were at the poles during the election telling people that Wiley Woolard was the Party Candidate. Those who knew Wiley Woolard did not vote for him. The two conservative Republicans lost by about 120 votes each.
The purpose of primary elections is so those who are registered Party members can select their choice to represent them in government. This is a form of political democracy if not adversely manipulated by party operatives. Unfortunately, the leadership of political parties cannot keep their hands off the primary election process.
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RINO Hunter: I agree. There needs to be a reckoning, and then we move on ... But ... Without the same know-nothing people occupying space in leadership positions in the Beaufort County GOP.
That reality has gone on for far too long, doing far too much damage to real Conservatives that well realize that the RINO element will eventually finish off the Republican Party of Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump, and others like them. |
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Van Zant, I do not see anyone on here defending the actions of Chairwoman Garris. To avoid the sort of turmoil over the allegations that have been raised, there is clearly a need for more internal transparency. The sooner the party can get to the bottom of these things and get them resolved, the better. There comes a time when there needs to be a reckoning and then move on.
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Faced with attempts to review and bring some accountability to all the shady business done by these party thugs lately, the party thugs are actually doubling down and attacking more good people with ridiculous charges and no due process whatsoever. To the apologists (maybe it's not plural) for these gangsters that say this is small potatoes next to the important work these ruthless perpetrators of evil are doing politically, I say BS. Perhaps the apologists are actually the perpetrators. If not, they are just as guilty.
Innocent people are being mistreated. That means something to me. It should mean something to any fair-minded person. |
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Janet: My observation, after nearly three decades of politically dealing with RINOs, these nominal "Republicans" always embrace the status quo, while possessing an unhealthy aversion to principled common sense.
On the other hand, RINO Whisperers have the astute ambition to use RINOs as if they are tools; simple, rudderless hypocrites that can be managed to do their bidding, which actually makes these Whisperers accomplices to a grand political mendacity. |
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Hood, you have made so many legitimate points that are completely ignored by the hard heads that follow Chairwoman Garris. It's always astounding how the facts seem to confuse some people. They don't want the truth, just their delusions. Like the liberals.
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News Flash - The Beaufort County Republican Party is STILL not conducting legal business. They are being run by an illegal shadow committee with no oversight. At this time, they are attempting to purge people they do not like from the executive committee illegally with no legitimate committee process. They are worse than the mafia and it is not even arguable. The people that have hijacked the party are very bad people.
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SD: I agree; there has to be a separation of powers AS WELL AS an internal system of checks and balances.....with adequate oversight.
Other than on this publication, the Mr. & Mrs. John Q. Public's of the GOP seem to be unaware of the friggin' lunacy they're paying for....that's a major problem. They're either apathetic OR they're getting smoke blown up somewhere by someone to keep them purposely unaware. Sooner than later, the public needs to start turning up the heat and asking questions. I've already been told that Kidwell refuses to talk to anyone but HIS "Republicans" and that anyone who disagrees with him is considered a "plant". The Emperor doesn't like it when people realize he ain't got no clothes on. |
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Ignoring and erasing the results of the last county convention while operating in the form of an illegal, unaccountable shadow committee are not the actions of anyone worthy of a leadership position. The gyrations going on over the last few months are the preparation for sweeping these major issues of abuse of power under the rug. What we are seeing here is about as bad as it gets.