Opinion Editorial -by Thom Roddy
February 13, 2024

Currituck County has announced a special meeting of its board of commissioners for Thursday, February 15, 2024, at 5:00 pm. Still under consideration is a measure to censure Commissioner Paul Beaumont. However, one board member has expressed dismay, referring to the ongoing situation as “their evil scheme” that should never have transpired. Despite this sentiment, the issue persists, and every commissioner who has allowed this matter to drag the county and another commissioner through the mud is deemed to have violated the county code of ethics.

The ethical breaches extend beyond the commissioners, as county staff have also become entangled in the controversy. Initially, County Attorney Megan Morgan stated to the Daily Advance that Commissioner Beaumont’s remarks regarding County Manager Ike McRee’s contract non-renewal were false. However, just days later, Morgan contradicted herself, informing the Virginian-Pilot that McRee had indeed been served with written notice of non-renewal by Chairman White and Vice-Chair Selina Jarvis. Despite this revelation, the scheme persists unabated.

The recently published letter of censure on the county’s website merely echoes what has been known for weeks and confirmed by Morgan’s statements in the Pilot as a false official declaration. One of the charges alleges that Commissioner Beaumont made false statements regarding the county manager’s contract in an interview with the Daily Advance. However, Morgan has since verified the accuracy of Beaumont’s statements, indicating that the contract was indeed voted on and notice was served to the Virginian-Pilot days later. Consequently, everyone involved in drafting this censure has violated numerous articles in the county code of ethics. Morgan is responsible for ensuring the county follows the law, and the code of ethics takes that a step further, saying, “the spirit of the law.”

None of the six commissioners can evade responsibility for allowing the county to be subjected to treatment akin to the character Paul Sheldon in the film “Misery,” enduring slow torment at the hands of Annie Wilkes. Commissioners may attempt to deflect by claiming they were awaiting evidence, but two commissioners have confirmed they took the time to review the evidence with Morgan and found that there is none. BlackwaterReports sought confirmation from Morgan, and it was affirmed that all available evidence had already been disclosed.

Thursday night’s meeting may bring further anguish for the county, but there remains hope that five courageous commissioners will advocate for hiring outside counsel to investigate this scheme. Following such an investigation, the county may find itself compelled, as it did in the Register of Deeds case, to refer criminal charges of public corruption and violation of public trust to the district attorney. When government bodies take action as they did with the Register of Deeds, it may have the unintended consequence of precedent. Like other states, North Carolina has laws and regulations governing the conduct of public officials, and transgressions can indeed lead to legal repercussions.

In addition, it’s worth noting that Commissioner White’s actions in advancing the false narrative against Commissioner Beaumont constitute a blatant violation of the very code of ethics he has weaponized against Beaumont. White’s conduct might serve as the quintessential example if there were a clear case for amotion (removal from office). There is no question Bob White should do the right thing and resign from office immediately. It’s past time to put this chapter of misery behind us and move this great county forward. Whites’s resignation would put to rest the need for a lengthy investigation and restore some semblance of trust in county government.

Let’s Make Currituck Great Again!