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CAPE FEAR MEMORIAL BRIDGE CLOSURE: UPDATES, RESOURCES, AND CONTEXT

Candidates for New Hanover County Commission Deliver GOP Response to Dawson's State of the County

Patricia Kusek (foreground) delivers GOP response to New Hanover County state of the County address by Beth Dawson. In the background are Woody White (left) and Jim Brumit (right).

New Hanover County Commissioner Woody White, in cooperation with two other Republican candidates for the County Board, delivered a scathing criticism of Chairperson Beth Dawson, after her state of the county address Monday nightThe response, posted on YouTube, attacks Dawson, who is a Republican, for abandoning GOP principles and cooperating with the Democrats.   

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The videoopens with Patricia Kusek, Chair of the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority’s Board, and a candidate for the County Board, criticizing Beth Dawson’s vote for Jonathan Barfield as Chairman last year and alleging Dawson made a deal with him to ensure her own chairmanship the following year.  

"Dawson maintained her support of Barfield and the Democrats with her support of a $6 million tax increase in the county when the Republican Board members demonstrated that was a tax increase that was just not needed.  Again, a three-to-two vote with Dawson voting with the Democrats."

Jim Brumit, also a candidate for the Board, criticizes Dawson over her vote for an increase in funding for childcare, which he calls an expansion of “welfare”. 

Woody White, who is seeking re-election this year, acknowledges that most of the issues confronting the Board are nonpartisan and involve decisions around planning, zoning, education, and law enforcement funding. 

"But when issues that define us as conservatives come up, as they always do, we must adhere to our principles.  And Beth hasn’t done that."

Campbell Dodd, Derrick Hickey, and John Babb are also in the race – bringing to seven the total number of Republicans seeking one of two open seats on the Commission this year.  

Rachel hosts and produces CoastLine, an award-winning hourlong conversation featuring artists, humanitarians, scholars, and innovators in North Carolina. The show airs Wednesdays at noon and Sundays at 4 pm on 91.3 FM WHQR Public Media. It's also available as a podcast; just search CoastLine WHQR. You can reach her at rachellh@whqr.org.