Beaufort County GOP Chairman Keith Kidwell Announces Campaign for County Commissioner. | Eastern North Carolina Now

    For Immediate Release:

Cites Need for Business/Executive Experience in Challenging Times.

    WASINGTON, NC     Today, Beaufort County GOP Chairman Keith Kidwell announced he will run for Beaufort County Commissioner. In his announcement, Chairman Kidwell emphasized that the County needs a leader with business, budgeting and executive experience.

    "In these challenging economic times, Beaufort County needs a leader who has experience managing a budget and prioritizing resources," Chairman Kidwell said. "We need a leader who can restrain spending while creating an environment that encourages the growth of much needed jobs, make our schools stronger, and ensuring Beaufort County Citizens have access to a transparent government. I believe my experience in large, small and private businesses, as well as Beaufort County GOP Chairman has taught me how to be this leader. Over the course of this campaign, I look forward to sharing my experiences and ideas with the citizens of Beaufort County."

    Mr. Kidwell also outlined the current challenges facing the county. Specifically, the recent decisions by the County Commission to move forward with building a jail without doing the proper research, and the fact that they violated the democratic process by not allowing the people of Beaufort County to vote on referendum when spending up to $30,000,000 (30 million dollars). I find this to be very disappointing. I raised the idea that the timing of when to take on capital projects should be part of the process when considering the jail as well. Has the commission looked at what debts are retiring and maybe waiting until that happens as a way of not having to raise taxes? How about waiting until we recover from what is the worst economy in 80 years? Beaufort County citizens have seen their taxes and homeowners insurance increase unbelievably in the past few years, many now have to pay wind insurance, and who knows how much health insurance is going up? The commissioners should be considering how they can avoid raising taxes. The Commissioners have not dealt with the loss of Pungo District Hospital. This is a devastating blow to the citizens of Eastern Beaufort County. Some type of Urgent Care facility needs to be addressed. PCS just laid off ten percent of its workforce. Jobs in Beaufort County have been shrinking for more than a decade. I believe these are far more important issues that need addressing now. The citizens of Beaufort County deserve a commissioner who is concerned and cares about how their tax dollars are used, and will fight to keep their taxes as low as possible. I have spent over 22 years defending the rights of citizens against the IRS and other taxing agencies in Eastern NC, now I am going to take up the battle right here at home in Beaufort County. It sends chills up my spine to see the county commissioners make decisions using their "best guess" (as stated by one commissioner) when determining what our needs are for the jail. I recently told Commissioner Klemm, "I don't know what we need as far as the jail goes, but neither do you, because you and the Board have not done the proper due diligence". County Commissioners should be spending "our money, our tax dollars" as if that money was coming out of their own pockets, their own family budgets. Mr. Kidwell will be discussing his ideas on how to tackle these and other challenges facing Beaufort County over the course of the campaign.

    About Keith Kidwell

    Keith Kidwell is a successful tax accountant, business executive, civic leader, and family man.

    Successful GOP Chairman: Keith currently serves as Beaufort County GOP Chairman. During his time he established a training program for the Party poll workers and Election Judges, successfully took on the Raleigh Establishment in the way of getting a locally elected person seated on the Board of Elections.

    Business Executive: Keith spent 11 years in management with fortune 500 companies before returning to the family business of tax accounting in 1992. His business employees as many as 50 local people, has assisted thousands of citizens in keeping their tax liability as low as possible while staying within the maze of IRS rules and regulations. Has helped hundreds of local small business owners and non-profits establish themselves and maintain their financial health.

    Civic Leader: Keith has served on church vestries, parish councils, home owners associations, and fraternal organizations as both treasurer and chairman. Keith is currently on the boards of: the local crisis pregnancy center where he has served as both chairman and treasurer for a total of 17 years, Chairman of the Beaufort County Community College Board of Advisor for the Business and Accounting Division for five years, as treasurer of the Beaufort County Hospital which oversees the real estate of the of the hospital.

    Keith and his Wife, Viki, live in Chocowinity, have one son, Jason, who is in working alongside him in the family business. They also raised a niece Kimberly, who was orphaned in 1992. Keith and Viki have three grandchildren, April, Keith II and Julian, with whom they spend much of their spare time.