A Turning Point | Eastern North Carolina Now

    My political life has reached a proper and constitutional catalyst point. Due to a Republican primary election, my political career exclusively here in Beaufort County is done, and I am more than ready for the change. It has been a most rewarding education over 18 of the last 20 years that I have served as a Beaufort County Commissioner, but all things must come to a conclusion at some point, and that time is now.

    My minor political career was built upon my Libertarian / Conservative philosophical construct that took years to build, brick by philosophical brick, while always keeping a keen eye on the Founders' guiding words in our United States Constitution. I have always worked for smaller more responsive, and a more logical government, which has been emblematic of my entire career, and while it has always been a hard fight, I was happy to do it because that is what my constituents wanted because that is what I have always promised that I would continue to do.

    Tonight, I have been delivered a request to cease and desist my Conservative approach to governing here in Beaufort County, which I will at the end of my natural term. At that point, I will be free of Beaufort County Government and the People's representative government in this county will be free of me. This is the way it works, and should work, and I have always been well aware of that.

    And as my advocacy for others shall end as an elected representative, my advocacy will continue, but for different things, in different ways. Actually, I will be looking forward to this life change, this shift of priorities: fiduciary and otherwise, where I will have a greater freedom to seek business associates - those that seek excellence - here locally, regionally, and well beyond. Accordingly, I will never lose sight of this perfect purpose of providing one's best as one's ultimate goal, regardless of one's pursuit of avocation.

    No longer constrained by politics, or governing always as best I can, I will have a far greater flexibility to concentrate on my business, and, moreover, my family.

    In conclusion, I would like to thank those good folks that have long supported our political path, our governing ambition of a smaller more responsive government that never lost sight of our Founders' intended purpose. While I will no longer be that good soldier fighting the good fight, I will happily transition to one of those good supporters; happy to do my part as I see fit, for a better, more sustainable community.

    Again, I thank my constituents for the opportunity to serve in our representative government, and I look forward to knowing all of you better - past constituents or not - in a different, more personable, and possibly a business perspective, where I may serve the folks in Beaufort County, as I also seek to serve others far beyond our county's borders.

    As in the Jaycees Creed, I shall continue to embrace, but in a finer form: "And that service to humanity is the best work of life."

    Thank-you.