Pamlico commissioner says he has no regrets after loss

Doug Brinson said he was disappointed after losing a Pamlico County commissioner race for the first time in 16 years. But the four-term Democrat and current chairman said he had no regrets.

He lost by 57 votes to  Republican Kenny Heath in Tuesday's election.

"It is what it is," Brinson said. "I've sure enjoyed serving the citizens of Pamlico County in my four terms as county commissioner. It was just a tough year to be a Democrat in Pamlico County."

Brinson said that although Democrats hold the majority in District 5, he felt there were enough Republicans and unaffiliated voters that made the difference. District 5 includes Arapahoe, Minnesott Beach and a large rural area along the Neuse River

"I'm disappointed, of course," he said. "I don't know of anything I would have done different in my race. I haven't been negative. I have always enjoyed serving, but the voters have spoken."

Brinson, who campaigned on a record of keeping taxes low and the county budget tight, didn't think any issues involving the commissioners led directly to his defeat.

Heath said he was concerned about the Democrat majority in Pamlico County, but worked to reach all voters.

"I just went door to door and connected with people," Heath said. "Everybody worries about the straight-party ticket, especially the two-to-one Democrat to Republican in my township. So, I had a lot of support across party lines."

A half-hour after the polls closed Tuesday night, Brinson had a 27-vote lead when the early one-stop results were reported. At the end of the evening, with 1,447 total unofficial votes counted in District 5, Heath had overcome the margin.

With Heath's win, the Pamlico commissioners will have five Democrats and two Republicans.

Christine Mele, the other Republican on the board, won re-election in District 2. She said Wednesday that an additional Republican member won't affect how the board does business.

"I have never viewed the county Board of Commissioners as a particularly partisan position," she said. "We all work for the good of all the citizens, so it is not particularly partisan here at the county level."

   Pamlico boards in recent years have kept the purse strings tight on county spending.

Mele won her third term by 127 votes over newcomer Phillip Willis of Oriental.

"I'm honored that my neighbors have enough confidence in me to return me to office and I want to thank all of them," she said.

Willis, 38, who owns a trucking and land-development company, was making his first attempt at elected office.

"I'm pleased with the turnout of what the voters gave me, especially not running before and running against an incumbent," he said.

He was complimentary of Mele, but said he would seek office again.

"I couldn't have lost to a better one, but I'll give it another try again," he said. "I'm not giving up that easy."