Tony "TJ" Keech, Jr. will seek the Republican Nomination for Beaufort County Commissioner | Eastern North Carolina Now

For Immediate Release

    I am announcing today my intention to file to run for Beaufort County Commissioner in the May primary as a Republican and then in the General Election in November. I am doing so because I feel strongly that our county is at a crossroads. Our county is virtually bankrupt. The current board has been spending more than it has taken in for the last several years. This past year they raised the tax rate on top of the revaluation. I believe the county has got to live within its means, just like the rest of us have to do.

    I will be announcing in the coming weeks the ways I think fiscal responsibility can be returned to the county without reducing essential services. Please check my website which should be up and running next week. The address will be: www.electkeech.com. We'll post more details about my positions there.

    I believe my background makes me uniquely qualified to serve as commissioner. While serving as Vice-chair of the Republican Party I have learned a great deal about how things are done in local government. My background in law enforcement I believe is something that will serve me well while representing the people of Beaufort County.

    For those who may not know me I will add:

    • I have lived all of my life in Beaufort County, having graduated from Washington High School in 1997, Beaufort Community College and Mt. Olive College.

    • I have a degree in mechanical engineering and have worked in the business world with that training.

    • I received my Basic Law Enforcement training at BCCC and my B. S. in Criminal Justice Administration in 2007 from Mount Olive College.

    • I am currently working as a Probation/Parole Officer with the Department of Community Corrections and have worked with the Williamston Police Department, U. S. Marshals Service and the Beaufort County Sheriff's department as well as the Beaufort County Tax Office.

    I am married to Catherine and we have two children, who are 3 years old and 1 year old. Having a safe community and good schools is important to me and Catherine and I want to work to insure every child has a high quality education. My second priority is to help steer the county towards creating the economic environment that will keep and add good paying jobs. I believe that is a key in reducing crime and that the county can do more to help small businesses in particular weather the hard times we're going through right now and be prepared to expand when the economy gets better. The best way to do that is to provide county services in the most efficient manner possible at the lowest possible cost. We have got to hold down, or reduce our tax and regulatory burdens on all of our citizens and businesses. I strongly opposed the proposed increase in the sales tax because it hurts the least able to pay the most.

    I look forward to meeting many folks during this campaign and would welcome any groups calling to arrange a get-together. I would appreciate your vote and support.

    Tony (TJ) Keech, Jr.

    In a brief interview with the Observer Keech emphasized his commitment to work toward getting the county's fiscal house in order. "The current board has been spending more than they have taken in for several years now and they have spent the fund balance down to a dangerous level. Most people in the county have had two tax increases back to back with the rate increase last year and re-valuation before that. We just can't keep expecting people and businesses to pay more and more. The County has got to begin to live within its means," he said.

    When asked what he would cut he said: "I don't think it is a matter of picking line items to cut but rather being more responsible in new spending. I favor building a budget based on how much money is available without a tax increase and I am prepared to work with the Manager, department heads and other board members to identify how to do that." He added: "the reason we are in the bind we are is because of the new and additional spending the current board has imposed on the taxpayers for several years. We just can't afford to operate that way until the economy turns around. You can't just keep spending and hitting the people with more taxes. This has just got to stop."

    The primary election will be held on May 8. Four nominees from each party are selected by each voter getting one vote. The top four voter-getters from each party then run in the November election where each voter again get one vote with the top four vote-getters being elected. The four current commissioners up for election are: Robert Cayton, Democrat; Jerry Langley, Democrat; Hood Richardson, Republican and Jay McRoy, Republican.