That's right. I seek re-election to my seat as one of your Beaufort County Commissioners. It is my distinct privilege to have served the people of Beaufort County for nearly 14 years as your county commissioner. It is my high honor to have been elected in four county wide elections, for four separate terms, and I do embrace the public's request, and consequently, my oath to serve as seriously as when I took my vows of marriage, as genuine a promise as when I held each of my four new born children.

    On vacation on Hilton Head Island when we actually could all get together at one time in one place in summer, 2007. From left to right: Wife, Lynn; Daughter, Anna Alyss; Stan; Daughter, Brandia; Son, Stanhope on leave from the USCG; Son-in-law, Neil Loughlin; Married Daughter, Meredith.

    That promise: is that I will work to make your lot better, and one day, I will help you help yourselves to learn to support yourselves, while becoming productive, and caring citizens in our great land, our great state. As each of my four children strived to become productive and wholesome, caring adults, my county also raises a new crop of citizens that must deal their environment in a world that becomes more dangerous, as our government becomes ever more paternalistic. In other words; our two supreme governments - state and federal - tell us how to live, while we taxpayers, who raise children whom become taxpayers, pay their freight.

    Almost all of our state and federal mandates are administered through the government closest to the people - the county government. Therefore, it has always been incumbent upon me to question those programs' validity, while facilitating their better management ... and still - I often feel helpless to correct the gross inefficiencies that has become, our state and federal government. Moreover, and more sadly, they are becoming worse.

    Alternatively, in my nearly 14 years of serving you, your Beaufort County Government has become much more efficient and could easily serve as a model of efficiency to your state and federal governments, however, I still see where we can become more effective, as we remain the government closest to you, the people of this old county split by the flow of the Pamlico River.

    In my nearly 14 years as a county commissioner, I have made many friends. I have also angered many people as I have stood firmly in the path of many special interest desires, which, quite frankly, did not meet my threshold for expending the goodwill of the taxpayer - their tax dollars. That threshold: Does the project meet the present and future needs of a considerable number of our citizens? Often they did not, and much more often than not, I did not vote for their passage, and often worked diligently for their defeat. I am good at saying "no."

    Just as I have said "no" often in my 28 years of fatherhood, and sometimes I have said "yes" when the benefits outweighed the negatives, I hope to have earned my children's love and respect. Subsequently, I do not expect my constituents to love me for my nearly 14 years of service, however, I pray that they will respect the office, and understand, and in some measure, respect that I endeavor to always do what I feel is in their best interest for the better management of our county government, and the protection of our children's future.

    Furthermore, just as my wife's loyalty to our union of nearly 32 years has humbled me, I likewise appreciate the past opportunity to have been your humble servant, and should you re-elect me, I pledge to surrender unto you my continued loyalty, by oath, and to my county, my fiduciary to remain your county commissioner - humbled as your servant, but bowing to my to no man in your service.