http://pittcountynow.com Thu, 9 Sep 2010 21:22:24 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/404/19/woolard-calls-on-butterfield-to-resign.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/404/19/woolard-calls-on-butterfield-to-resign.html Today, I recieved this communiqué from the Ashley Woolard for Congress Committee explaining his rationalization of what should be his opponent, G.K. Butterfield's, next move in respect to his entaglement with the Charlie Rangel situation, and the "pocketing unspent cash advances from his congressional junkets and now is the subject of a federal investigation," as was stated by the congressional candidate, Ashley Woolard. These are damning accusations, and if they are substantia... Read More]]> Wed, 8 Sep 2010 14:21:56 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/395/19/this-year-conservatives-are-steering-the-tech-bandwagon-to-the-polls.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/395/19/this-year-conservatives-are-steering-the-tech-bandwagon-to-the-polls.html Leading up to the general election in November, grassroots conservatives are beating the young, tech-savvy liberal activists at their own game. In 2008, liberals may have been able to generate support for now-President Barack Obama using their inherent knowledge of YouTube, Facebook, text messaging, e-mailing, Google Maps and Twitter; but by 2010, the typically older, more rural conservative base has definitely caught up. Not only have these grassroots conservatives mastered the use of mass e-ma... Read More]]> Wed, 8 Sep 2010 12:42:00 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/368/19/gop-narrowly-votes-to-not-replace-baldwin-in-commissioner-race.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/368/19/gop-narrowly-votes-to-not-replace-baldwin-in-commissioner-race.html The Beaufort County Republican Executive Committee voted, 10 to 8, at a special meeting this afternoon, against appointing a new candidate to replace former Republican candidate for Beaufort County commissioner Cindy Baldwin, who voluntarily withdrew from the race on Aug. 3.

The special meeting was closed to media, and I was only permitted to attend as my father, Republican county commissioner candidate Stan Deatherage's, campaign manager. I will respect the wishes of Beaufort County Republica... Read More]]> Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:26:20 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/364/19/gop-to-vote-on-replacing-baldwin-in-commissioner-race.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/364/19/gop-to-vote-on-replacing-baldwin-in-commissioner-race.html A special meeting of the Beaufort County Republican Executive Committee has been called to vote on whether or not to appoint someone to replace former Republican candidate for Beaufort County commissioner Cindy Baldwin, who voluntarily withdrew from the race on Aug. 3.

If Baldwin stayed in the race, she would have been trying to win one of the three commissioner seats available in November, along with the two Republican incumbents Stan Deatherage and Al Klemm, Democratic incumbent Ed Booth, De... Read More]]> Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:46:23 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/237/19/woolard-celebrates-his-party-s-nomination-as-republican-candidate-for-u-s-congress.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/237/19/woolard-celebrates-his-party-s-nomination-as-republican-candidate-for-u-s-congress.html In yesterday’s primary election, Beaufort County resident Ashley Woolard defeated three competitors to win the North Carolina Republican Party’s nomination to run for the U.S. House of Representatives District 1 seat, currently held by Democrat G.K. Butterfield.

Woolard received 45 percent of the 8,302 votes cast for the Republican contenders across the 23 northeastern counties comprising District 1; whereas Butterfield received 73 percent of the 63,243 votes cast for the Democratic contend... Read More]]> Thu, 6 May 2010 11:06:54 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/236/19/board-of-elections-releases-vote-totals.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/236/19/board-of-elections-releases-vote-totals.html After the last key was turned on the last vote tabulator, and the last tape bearing results was printed, and the last precinct called in their results, at 8:30 p.m. yesterday the Beaufort County Board of Elections announced the winners of the 2010 primary election.

Long-time Beaufort County citizen Dan Cochran made it to the Washington Ward 2 precinct at the Washington Fire Department just before the 7:30 p.m. cutoff yesterday to mark a ballot for the primary election.

In attendance, anticipa... Read More]]> Thu, 6 May 2010 11:01:13 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/223/19/county-commissioner-candidates-release-unfiltered-statements.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/223/19/county-commissioner-candidates-release-unfiltered-statements.html Welcome to Beaufort County Now's inaugural candidate statements, unfiltered edition. We begin by thanking those five candidates who are seeking their parties' nomination to run for Beaufort County commissioner in the November general election who timely submitted their entries. For the sake of fairness, we will hold open the proverbial door of this publication for the remaining four candidates to submit their entries, up until the weekend before the primary election day.

A word of advice for t... Read More]]> Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:53:27 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/217/19/commissioner-candidates-build-their-platforms-at-forum.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/217/19/commissioner-candidates-build-their-platforms-at-forum.html Beaufort County commissioner candidates went under public scrutiny at the Washington Daily News Candidates Forum, held Tuesday night in the auditorium at Beaufort County Community College in Washington.

Republican, Democratic or unaffiliated, all candidates were given equal time and identical prompts in which to express their political philosophies and, sometimes, promises. These candidates will face off with their partisan counterparts in the May 4 primary election. The winners of the primary ... Read More]]> Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:28:57 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/216/19/elections-director-notes-elevated-participation-level-at-candidates-forum.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/216/19/elections-director-notes-elevated-participation-level-at-candidates-forum.html It doesn’t necessarily take a presidential election to motivate potential voters; it takes a midterm election, and a slight distrust of the Fed. Perplexed by the federal government's 2000-page health-care reform legislation and trillions of dollars in bailouts, the people are grasping at local politics for a sense of control.

According to a Zogby International poll, as of February 2010, 57 percent of American voters still had confidence in their local governments, while only 41 percent had co... Read More]]> Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:24:47 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/212/19/commissioners-deatherage-and-richardson-are-inducted-into-the-aclu-wall-of-shame.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/212/19/commissioners-deatherage-and-richardson-are-inducted-into-the-aclu-wall-of-shame.html As your Beaufort County Commissioner, I, along with Commissioner Hood Richardson, have achieved a rather dubious milestone. We have achieved the distinction of being inducted into the North Carolina ACLU "Wall of Shame."

Now that I, and my compadre, have been spoken of in such a disparaging manner by the ACLU, I know I have now finally made my mark as a local politician, who also takes a very dim view of those who are bent on the destruction of our society, by the weakening of our United State... Read More]]> Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:01:07 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/211/19/candidates-forum.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/211/19/candidates-forum.html On Tuesday night, April 13, 2010, at 7:00 pm, there will be a candidates forum at the Beaufort County Community College Auditorium. It is sponsored by the Washington Daily News.

I do appreciate the WDN for sponsoring this event. It is truly the best platform from which to reach the public, and give them an unvarnished look at the citizens they will elect to make the decisions that will affect them greatly. I have always felt that politicians should speak directly to the electorate, whether... Read More]]> Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:54:18 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/183/19/at-this-naco-conference-change-was-in-the-air.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/183/19/at-this-naco-conference-change-was-in-the-air.html President Obama has made the proposed Health Care Reform Bill the centerpiece of his presidency. His political fortunes will continue, or be diminished by the crafting of this partisan initiative, and its subsequent passage before the midterm election cycle. To a lesser extent at the NACo conference, there were other talking points on other issues: proposed Cap and Trade / Clean Energy Policy legislation, but what resonated with me was the simpatico culpability within the NACo (National Associ... Read More]]> Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:05:50 EDT http://pittcountynow.com/post/179/19/a-primary-is-in-the-offing.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/179/19/a-primary-is-in-the-offing.html I have a primary for Beaufort County Commissioner. I did not want a primary, but I welcome one nonetheless. On the negative side, a primary diverts some of my attention from my personal business. That, obviously, will not be avoided, because there are now 5 aspiring politicians running for the three Republican nominations vying for the three open commissioner seats in the November 2nd, General Election.

On the other hand, a primary in early May offers me an opportunity to campaign, and, i... Read More]]> Mon, 1 Mar 2010 13:42:39 EST http://pittcountynow.com/post/120/19/candidates-file-for-campaign-2010.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/120/19/candidates-file-for-campaign-2010.html In the first hour of the campaign season, on Feb. 8 at high noon, six early birds officially filed as candidates for various Beaufort County offices. Of the six were five incumbents: Sheriff Alan Jordan, Clerk of Court Marty Paramore, County Commissioner Stan Deatherage (Republican), school board members Cindy Winstead and Teresa Banks; and one newcomer: Jerry Evans, who is running for a Democratic seat on the county commission.

At first glance, Evans and Deatherage, candidates on opposite si... Read More]]> Mon, 15 Feb 2010 11:52:58 EST http://pittcountynow.com/post/115/19/ashley-woolard-to-file-for-congress-on-february-10th.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/115/19/ashley-woolard-to-file-for-congress-on-february-10th.html At Beaufort County Now, we will publish any submission by candidates that are in the News Release format, irrespective of political party or ideology, providing that there is sufficient relevance to the people of our region.

Washington, NC - February 8, 2010: Ashley Woolard, who announced his candidacy for US House on October 8, 2009 will formally file for Congress from the 1st Congressional District at the Beaufort County Board of Elections on Wednesday February 10, 2010 at 2:00 pm. He will b... Read More]]> Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:57:50 EST http://pittcountynow.com/post/97/19/did-not-have-the-common-decency-to-offer-us-a-reach-around.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/97/19/did-not-have-the-common-decency-to-offer-us-a-reach-around.html These somewhat descriptive words were offered by Gunnery Sergeant / Drill Instructor Hartman, from the classic Vietnam War film, “Full Metal Jacket,” to his new recruits when discussing the demerits of one young private’s character. Gunny Hartman, played by the irascible R. Lee Ermey never equivocated when it came to his true feelings, and I suppose his character’s words fully illustrate my true feelings as to how we, American citizens, are being treated, yet rather unro... Read More]]> Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:38:30 EST http://pittcountynow.com/post/96/19/election-law-changes-highlighted-at-the-republican-men-s-club.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/96/19/election-law-changes-highlighted-at-the-republican-men-s-club.html The Director of Beaufort County Elections, Kellie Hopkins, graciously expended her time by extending to the Beaufort County Men’s Club (where there usually are as many women as men) her wealth of knowledge regarding the election process in Beaufort County. Kellie, as the Board of Elections Director, oversees the machinations of providing the platform for the administering the election for Soil and Water Commissioners to the President of the United States.

Director Hopkins discussed with... Read More]]> Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:34:10 EST http://pittcountynow.com/post/95/19/the-off-year-election-turnover-in-washington-status-quo-in-belhaven.html http://pittcountynow.com/post/95/19/the-off-year-election-turnover-in-washington-status-quo-in-belhaven.html Elections can be Transformational

Washington City Government fixture and photo-op specialist Judy Jennette has lost the Washington mayoral race to City Councilman Archie Jennings 801 votes for Jennings to 607 for Jennette.

In the Washington City Council Election: Challenger Bobby Roberson was the top vote getter with 1,084 votes, Incumbent Doug Mercer was second with 1,036 votes, and Incumbent Gil Davis was third with 924 votes, Challengers Ed Moultrie and William Pitt were fourth and fifth ... Read More]]> Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:28:39 EST