Klemm cuts a deal...gives control of the chair to Democrats in return for a minor title | Eastern NC Now

    Publisher's Note: This article originally appeared in the Beaufort Observer.

The Gang of Five has apparently become the Gang of Four.

    Klemm voted with the board's Democrats Jerry Langley, Ed Booth and Robert Belcher to elect Langley to another term as chairman. Republicans Hood Richardson, Stan Deatherage and newcomer Gary Brinn voted for Deatherage. Klemm was then rewarded by Langley, Booth and Belcher by being elected Vice-Chairman.

    Charles Hickman, Chairman of the Beaufort County Republican Party told the Observer:

   I am very disappointed that Republican Commissioner Klemm gave control of the Board of Commissioners to the Democrats. I tried to get the four Republican Commissioners together to plan for the coming year, hoping to find areas where they could work together as party members for the good of the county. Unfortunately, Commissioner Klemm refused to meet.

    Since we first gained a Republican majority on the Board, we have always squandered that majority because of Republican divisions. I thought this was a good opportunity to finally rectify that situation with a new makeup of the Board. It is a shame that it will not be. Sadly, this is an opportunity wasted.

    Prior to the vote, Deatherage, as publisher of Beaufort County Now penned the following:

   The chairmanship will be selected tonight, and it will set the political tone for this Beaufort County Board of County Commissioners for some time hence. It is not my decision for it to be this way; it is just the way it is. Click here to read the balance of this article.
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