A Critical Look at the Commissioners Race | Eastern NC Now

A Critical Look at the Commissioners Race

BY: HOOD RICHARDSON

The 2026 Beaufort County Commissioners races are unusual compared to all commissioner’s races since limited voting came into being more than 30 years ago. This is an odd man out race. Actually, it is an even man out race because three of the four candidates will be seated. The fourth lowest vote getter is out. An individual voter will be able to vote for only one of the four. That makes your vote very valuable considering the mix of political values of these candidates. There is one liberal Democrat (Ed Booth), one liberal Republican (John Edwards), another Republican of erratic behavior (probably) sponsored by the Republican Party’s secret Victory Committee (Ashley Woolard), and one proven conservative (Stan Deatherage).

With only one vote per voter and the top three vote getters being seated any one of these candidates could be the “even” man out. Conservatives, unaffiliateds, Republicans and Democrats have only one chance to select someone who desires to lower taxes and limit the size of government. That is Stan Deatherage.

Ed Booth is an incumbent Democrat. If asked, he would probably say he is conservative, but he votes liberal. Booth voted to close the S. W. Snowden School, continue to consolidate schools with the new Eastern Elementary School, close the Belhaven Hospital, support LGBTQ+ at the Community College, and voted to increase fire and property taxes 7.48 percent this year.

Neither of the two newcomers are tried and tested. Both are carrying substantial baggage. John Edwards came by invitation to the Conservative Club and made a presentation. John Edwards has not attended any other meeting of the Conservative Club. His presentation was closely patterned to that of Fake Frankie Waters when he ran for commissioner the first time. When asked questions he gave very conservative answers. But he always qualified his answer with: “I would have to know all of the information about any situation in order to make a decision”. Translation: What I just told you to prove how conservative I am does not matter, I will always have an excuse to vote liberal.

Fake Frankie Waters announced at the September Commissioners’ meeting that he is supporting Edwards.

Ashley Woolard is a member of the Beaufort County Republican Party Executive Committee. Ethically, commissioner candidates who are members of the Executive Committee should resign after winning the primary during the election campaign. This keeps them from using the Executive Committee to unfairly influence their campaign against those who are not members of the Executive Committee. Ashley Woolard is a double dipper; he is a member of the secret Victory Committee. Ashley Woolard’s refusing to resign is why Stan Deatherage kept his seat on the Executive Committee. Other members of the Victory Committee are Queen Carolyn Garris, Steve Rader, Paul Varcoe, Keith Kidwell and Greg Dority. The Victory Committee, secretly and without the approval of the Beaufort County Republican Executive Committee, uses Party money to influence elections.

One of the Victory Committee’s recent claims to fame was to spend money in such a way as to insure the election of Randy the RINO Walker during the 2024 elections. Another project of the Victory Committee was to enter the City of Washington Council races, a nonpartisan race, to campaign against registered Republicans. This resulted in the election of two Democrats to the City Council. Queen Garris and Kidwell have publicly demanded the resignation of a conservative Republican School Board member. The Victory Committee has attacked Republican candidates.

Voters are advised to be suspicious of any candidates for county commissioner who are recommended as being preferred by the Beaufort County Republican Party. The Beaufort County Republican Party must endorse all three candidates equally.

My belief is the Victory Committee will try to rig things so voters will believe that Woolard is number one, Edwards is number two and Deatherage is the number three choice. Actually, there is only one proven conservative and that is Stan Deatherage. They will be spending money donated to the Beaufort County Republican Party by Republicans.

Do not help the Victory Committee corrupt this commissioner race. Vote for Stan Deatherage. There will be two liberals elected regardless of the vote. Keep the conservative.

Voters can send a strong conservative message to the Democrat and Republican Parties by voting only for the proven conservative, Stan Deatherage. Three of these four candidates will be seated regardless of the vote. Let Edwards, Woolard and Booth struggle over the crumbs. A low vote for these three sends a strong message. The Victory Committee can use a dose of this same medicine.

We have Conservative Club sample ballots and palm cards.