Comments by Washingtonian | Eastern NC Now

Kabuki theater continues at the City Council meetings as pre written motions are prepared by "employees" for the members to read like the rubber stamps they are.

These preprepared motions are Not basic, they contain propaganda? Why do that? Isnt a vote on a straight up issue enough?? Nope because they "employees" want to "manage" our opinions. So why doesnt a Council member ask, WHO wrote this preprepared Motion for me to read? Who, not which Dept? Does the Council member ever stop to think...why am I reading this insertion of propaganda? Why dont I just NOT read that part? Or is the Council under pressure to conform?

Sooo not only that but now taxpayer are buying cell phones for th Council at $60 each per month. Do we also pay for cellphones for the CM, the City Attorney, the Dept heads too?

TAXPAYERS Want To Know!
Also, isnt the County now being sued for activities of Social Services?

Commented: Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 @ 10:28 am By: Washingtonian

I dont know about Climate Change, but I do know we need a clean environment and clean water. Its a done deal, all we can do now is weep for what is lost.

NCDEQ approves permit allowing Martin Marietta Materials to discharge up to 12 million gallons of wastewater daily into Blounts Creek.

Despite strong public opposition—including packed hearings and repeated calls for stronger safeguards—the revised permit moves forward without additional protections.

www.publicradioeast.org

Commented: Sunday, January 11th, 2026 @ 5:19 pm By: Washingtonian

Some of the people swooning adoration of Kidwell on this comments page are acting like Dems. It is really a sad thing to see. Do ya'll recall Harry Reid who told lies about Mitt Romney, who then lost his bid for the Presidency? Afterwards, Sen Reid was exposed for his lies abt Mitt. His response was: "Yeah but it worked didnt it."
So what we see here is the same kind of Democrat smear job, but its coming from Republicans against fellow Republicans. Stop being a "useful idiot."

JUST SAY NO TO KIDWELL !
VOTE for a change, Say YES to Darren Armstrong!

Commented: Saturday, January 10th, 2026 @ 3:44 pm By: Washingtonian

I see a lot of people on here talking out of their ass!
They smear a Republican challenger by trying to associate him with the names of people they dont like.

Kidwell is spreading this BULL Sh*t! Its called dirty politics and Kidwell knows how to do that well.

Now he is whining that he is having to stay local here in Dist 79 to defend *his seat! My point is he should have been staying here all along to support his constituents instead of dumping all over them...why because he thinks he is a King. He got a wake-up call.

Politicians are like diapers and should be changed OFTEN! And for the same reason. They become dirty.

JUST SAY NO TO KIDWELL!

Commented: Friday, January 9th, 2026 @ 10:22 am By: Washingtonian

Just Say No to Kidwell !!

If you are a local, he is not working for you!

Commented: Wednesday, January 7th, 2026 @ 2:30 pm By: Washingtonian

Seems like a GoodMan! Told me he doesnt know Berger!
albemarleobserver.news

Darren Armstrong, 53, was raised in the Grassy Ridge community of Hyde Co. “We purchased a business in BeaufortCo, just east of Belhaven, in 2020 and moved there at that time”
Armstrong, a Republican, sd his decision to enter politics comes from a desire to serve the community and preserve the values he grew up with. “I am running because I am a conservative Republican and this is my home where my roots run deep in Eastern North Carolina, and I know I can make a positive difference”

Armstrong said he has several priorities focused on economic growth, preserving local industries, & protecting individual freedoms. “I would like to keep agriculture our state’s number one economic driver, protect our commercial fishing industry,grow our small businesses & residential developmernt or the next generation, keep our timber

Commented: Tuesday, January 6th, 2026 @ 9:37 pm By: Washingtonian

By voting Yea, Rep. Kidwell SUPPORTED:
• The 2023 Appropriations Act (HB 259)
• The embedded provision (Section 27.9) exempts legislators from the NC Public Records Act
• It allows legislators to decide what is or isn’t a public record
• The ability to destroy records they choose not to classify as public

This change is huge because:
• It eliminates the public’s ability to monitor NCGA decision‑making
• It weakens investigative journalism
• It creates a 1‑way transparency imbalance
• It allows lawmakers to hide communications w lobbyists, donors,& contractors
• It undermines the principle of open govt
The NC Press Assoc, called it a “significant threat” to transparency.
• Gives legislators sole discretion to decide what is or isn’t a public record.
• Allows them to destroy records w/out oversight
• Removes any obligation to respond to public‑records requests
It is a “major expansion” of legislator power paired with a “cutoff” of public access.
RETIRE THE OLD Govt,to bring in the NEW!

Commented: Monday, December 29th, 2025 @ 10:10 am By: Washingtonian

I agree w Befuddled.
Three more years of Trump is not going to save this country nor Beaufort County. If a Dem gets elected to the WH just bend over and kiss your cherished liberty goodbye.
I watched a video of an English woman in England say:
"This is the beginning of the end. There is no going back for us."
That may be true for the USA as well.

All I can do is vote the scroundrels out...and that begins with Kidwell. I'm voting for Darrin Armstrong who I understand has a home in Belhaven. I wouldn't vote for Kidwell, even if he were the only GOPer on the ballot. His contempt for the people he is supposed to
represent is obvious. Good Riddance!

"If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear. George Orwell."

Commented: Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 @ 12:27 pm By: Washingtonian

BUT JS, Tyre is a member of the new council and he says he didnt get a chance to approve the "new agenda." Sooooo, my question is WHO was working with the City Attorney to set up the new agenda?? Who knew about it? Who had the inside scoop, it certainly wasnt Tyre who was also on the new council. So I think for the sake of transparency it is a good thing that this agenda was Erased. The city may have been Saved by Tyre, even if saving us was not part of his plan.
Quite frankly I believe that those in the Washington Govt have been "working the system," to get what they want. Please understand that every time a govt works the system to favor one outcome, they are stepping on the toes of others who perhaps are being hurt by it. Its not good Govt. "Working the system" needs to stop. It leads to
institutionalized corruption.

"Trust but Verify."

Commented: Thursday, December 18th, 2025 @ 11:59 am By: Washingtonian

Mark Doane who has been the assistant School Superintendent since 2014 was named Beaufort County's interim Superintendent.
Does anyone know his reputation and character? Perhaps we could keep him full time? Unless he was just a shell, he surely knows the job.

www.witn.com

Commented: Thursday, December 18th, 2025 @ 12:21 am By: Washingtonian

Well, well, well, according to WITN Cheeseman is indeed going to Craven County. He will begin Feb 1, but Beaufort County Board of Education will select an interim Superintendent Wednesday night. His salary will be $235,000.
Craven County said Cheeseman was chosen because of his skillset which includes experience in budgets! ;-)
www.witn.com
Like Rats fleeing a sinking ship.... or, seeing the handwriting on the wall! A few more in the Washington City Govt need to go too.

Commented: Tuesday, December 16th, 2025 @ 7:24 pm By: Washingtonian

Frankly Rino Hunter, I dont see the new Washington Govt suing the old City Govt. Perhaps someone could contact Ellen Brabo's attorney and ask him to consider a class action lawsuit. Here is his public info as shown on their website:
Christopher J. Waivers,Attorney
Chris.Waivers@michaelbest.com
Greenville
T.910.218.3959
Office of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
790 N. Water Street, Suite 2500, Milwaukee, WI 53202
T: 414.271.6560

Commented: Friday, December 12th, 2025 @ 12:26 pm By: Washingtonian

Speaking of the now resigned City Manager. I saw this on WITN.

"Former Washington city manager named town manager of Robersonville."
By WITN Web Team
"Robersonville Mayor Tina Brown confirmed to WITN that Jonathan Russell started as town manager last Friday."
==
I feel sorry for the people of Robersonville.

Commented: Thursday, December 11th, 2025 @ 3:49 pm By: Washingtonian

There is Too much Govt control by small brains.
I read... I think it was about China of old. The emperor blamed the
sparrows as the cause of hunger. He said the birds are eating the grain. So he decreed that all people should work day and night to kill off the birds. Finally there were few birds left, but guess what, then came the insects. The insects ate everything. The people starved.

In England a religious leader decreed that cats were demons. So they killed off all the cats, then came the RATS and the Black Death.

Commented: Wednesday, December 10th, 2025 @ 3:50 pm By: Washingtonian

So Stan, who is the one that advises the Mayor, that Govt should be cancelled due to weather? Was it the last decision made by the outgoing City Manager?
Inquiring Minds want to know!

Commented: Tuesday, December 9th, 2025 @ 4:17 pm By: Washingtonian

Last month we were reminded of the reason for the Thanksgiving holiday.
This month some cities need to be reminded of the reason for the December Holidays: Christmas!!

Today Greenville is celebrating:

"MERRY & BRIGHT NIGHT"... a kick-off to the Holiday Season! Join us from 5:30 - 7:30pm in Five Points Plaza to shop & spread holiday cheer at our Holiday Market w local organizations & vendors, enjoy live music & dance performances, visit with Santa."

NO Where is the word Christmas!

Commented: Friday, December 5th, 2025 @ 12:59 pm By: Washingtonian

Hey Van Zant,
As I have been saying: "Citizens dont have any rights. They just think they do."

Commented: Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025 @ 2:25 pm By: Washingtonian