Comments by Carolyn Garris | Eastern North Carolina Now

As usual, you are a day late and a dollar short. You already know that I am not the Chair of the BCGOP. It was automatic resignation when a fellow Republican filed to run against me according to Article 6 Paragraph H in the BCGOP Plan of organization. You knew this since you used to be a member. Under Article 6.6, states, Any current or former officer or Member of a Precinct Committee or County Executive Committee who, for any reason, is removed or resigned from said position shall forfeit all rights and privileges in anyway connected with that position. When you attended a meeting you were given the floor to speak. Remember, you refused to let Representative Kidwell and myself to speak at your meeting. These are verifiable facts. You have reviewed the Plan of Organization for the past twenty some years. Please be truthful.

Commented: Monday, January 15th, 2024 @ 11:33 pm By: Carolyn Garris

Response to Washingtonian. Just for clarification, no deeds or recorded documents were discarded. There was a lot of trash in the basement. NC Archives reviewed everything in the basement. There are many items in the basement that we are required to keep indefinitely. I repeat, no Deeds were discarded. By the way, all books are backed up on microfilm and are stored at NC Archives starting with Book 1. If you have any questions, please feel free to visit the Register of Deeds office or give us a call. The basement is now much cleaner and more organized. Rather than spreading misinformation and making untrue statements, I am only a phone call away. All you have to do is call and I am happy to provide the information you need. The role of the Register of Deeds is to safeguard the records within and I take my role seriously and carry my duties out according to the law. Respectfully submitted. Carolyn Garris, Beaufort County Register of Deeds

Commented: Friday, January 12th, 2024 @ 10:11 pm By: Carolyn Garris

E-Recording is a technology that allows attorneys, realtors, and title companies around the country to file documents easily, securely, and most of all, quickly from the comfort of their own office to the Register of Deed’s Office—96 counties e-Record in North Carolina. In 2023, the Beaufort County Register of Deeds office recorded 6,122 real estate documents. 3,492 recordings were over-the-counter (hard copies) and 2,630 were eRecordings. The only difference between the two is the delivery method. They all go through the same process of indexing. 255 marriage licenses were issued. Over 285 births were recorded and approximately 548 deaths were recorded. It is imperative to offer convenient services to our customers. The issue is space in the Register of Deeds office. The commissioners did not approve additional space when requested by the previous Register. We will continue to work with what we have. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn Garris, Register of Deeds

Commented: Friday, January 12th, 2024 @ 10:43 pm By: Carolyn Garris

Please read the material that is sent to you. I have been working in local government for over 30 years. Longer than you’ve been a commissioner. Let’s work together for the best interest of our citizens. Since you have refused to meet with me, I want you to know that I am putting the citizens first. No need to try and defame me. Kindest regards

Commented: Tuesday, November 14th, 2023 @ 4:16 pm By: Carolyn Garris

I want to thank you for your continued support Commissioner Richardson. As usual, you know the truth but you continue to state false information. The previous register posted a notice that no more real estate books would not be printed after December 31, 2022. All records are backed up locally, in the cloud, and on microfilm. If our system should go down and we needed a document, we would contact State Archives and they would send it to us. Many counties no longer print real estate books because of technological advancements or they no longer have space. From January 3-November 2, 2023, we have recorded 5,285 real estate documents, over 26,000 pages. This does not include vital records. I stand by my Oath of Office and will continue to preserve and protect the records of our Beaufort County Citizens. This is my mission. The offer still stands for you to come to the table for discussion. I am following the statutes and laws of NC. You have already been informed of this fact.

Commented: Monday, November 13th, 2023 @ 10:36 pm By: Carolyn Garris

Since you are so interested, let's get the record straight. My parents and family are natives of North Carolina (Beaufort, Pitt, and Craven Counties). My father went to Jersey for a job assignment and I was born in Jersey. They moved back to Beaufort County when I was an infant and I was raised in Beaufort and Pitt Counties. I also attended Kindergarten at Eastern Elementary School in Washington, GR Whitfield, and Chicod Elementary School in Pitt County. We eventually moved back to Jersey during my mid-teens. My father was murdered in Jersey and we returned to North Carolina for his memorial service held in Craven County. My mother stayed in Pitt County and I went back to Jersey to work for a law firm in Atlantic City. I returned to North Carolina and never looked back. Best regards, Carolyn

Commented: Sunday, October 22nd, 2023 @ 3:35 pm By: Carolyn Garris

The preservation of backup copies of real estate records also is governed by state law. The North Carolina statutes direct the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to cooperate with local governments to have a program for making and keeping “preservation duplicates” of permanent records. G.S. 132-8.2. The department directs that land records and marriage licenses be preserved with duplicates that are “durable, accurate, complete and clear” and “made by a photographic, photostatic, microfilm, micro card, miniature photographic, or other process which accurately reproduces and forms a durable medium.” Records Retention and Disposition Schedule, Register of Deeds, N.C. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources, Government Records Section, at ix-x. This applies whether permanent records are in paper or electronic form. Accordingly, a register complies with the prescribed preservation methodology by participating in the microfilm backup program supervised by the state’s Gover

Commented: Tuesday, October 10th, 2023 @ 9:34 pm By: Carolyn Garris

Stan Deatherage: We are recording hard copies (over the counter real estate documents), and we are still printing hard copy real estate indexes. We are also eRecording real estate documents. eRecording was started in 2022. I will be happy to discuss this issue with you at any time. It is also necessary to have some workspace for our attorneys, paralegals, and others that are researching. The previous register posted a notice in the Register of Deeds office that real estate books would no longer be printed after December 31, 2022. She insructed the staff to fill the last book. The last document placed in the book was dated January 4, 2023. Please take time to stop by my office to review and discuss. Respectfully, Carolyn L Garris, Register of Deeds

Commented: Thursday, October 5th, 2023 @ 3:58 pm By: Carolyn Garris

Response from the BCGOP Chair, Carolyn Garris...Please note this is not an attack on anyone. I am stating straight facts. First and foremost, I am very proud of the dedicated Conservative Republicans that serve on the Beaufort County Republican Party Executive Committee. They work very hard and volunteer many hours for ALL Republican candidates in Beaufort County, the state, and nation. We participate and support many community events. I am honored to serve with them. Citizens entering the BCGOP Headquarters are welcome. It does not matter whether you have been a lifetime resident or just arrived today. We are an inclusive party and our doors are open. Commissioner Frankie Waters, Tandy Dunn, and Commissioner Stan Deatherage are the Republican candidates. We support them ALL. There is a policy established at Headquarters that we will not promote one Republican candidate over another. Commissioners Hood Richardson and Stan Deatherage are constantly attacking fellow Republicans online, in print, and on the radio. The BCGOP will not participate in attacking fellow Republicans in any form. No money will be obligated for such party disloyalty. Therefore, if you see any negative/nasty ads, they are not from the BCGOP. These are tactics the left uses in their assault and we will not be a part of their platform. Commissioner Hood Richardson resigned his seat on the BCGOP Executive Committee. In doing so, he was no longer a voting member and lost all privileges regarding the committee. This is according to the GOP Plan of Organization.
E. FORFEITURE OF OFFICIAL PRIVILEGES
1. Removal or Resignation from Committees
Any current or former Officer or Member of a Precinct Committee, County Executive Committee, District Committee, State Executive Committee or State Central Committee who, for any reason, is removed or resigned from said position shall forfeit all rights and privileges in any way connected with that position.

When I called for an executive session, all visitors were asked to step out. Yes, this included Commissioner Hood Richardson since he was no longer a member of the Executive Committee.

Funds raised will be utilized in the most efficient way to protect the rights and freedoms of the citizens of Beaufort County. The BCGOP Headquarters is the home of ALL Republicans. ALL Republican candidate signs are available for pick-up and other candidate material. I want to thank everyone that continues to support and hope to see you soon.

We will not be bullied by any Political Action Committee with their own agenda. Happy elections my friends!!

Commented: Monday, September 5th, 2022 @ 6:10 pm By: Carolyn Garris