GOP House 15 primary rivals now allies

Bitter rivals in the N.C. House 15 Republican primary have come together to defeat a common foe in November’s general election.

By filing a petition to run as an unaffiliated candidate, Sneads Ferry resident George Shaeffer may have inadvertently pushed the former opponents — Phil Shepard, Martin Aragona Jr. and Tracey Miller — closer together.

Shepard, who won the Republican Party nominee for House 15 in May, sat down Tuesday morning with his former rivals, Aragona and Miller, to talk strategy and show solidarity. They laughed and shared anecdotes at a picnic table under a cypress tree at the boardwalk along the New River in downtown Jacksonville.

The language was very different than the stings and traps they set for each other during the May primary. During those heated weeks, the three traded barbs over who signed — and did not sign — the American’s For Prosperity no-tax pledge and whether they supported the Onslow County sales and use tax increase. As the campaign flared, Aragona supporters took jabs at Shepard for taking money from Democrats and Democratic fundraisers. Shepard’s supporters questioned whether Aragona actually lived in his house on Kerr Street or moved there to run for office.

On May 4, Shepard won with 1,311 votes or 43.88 percent of the vote; Aragona had 1,090 votes or 36.48 percent; and Miller received 587 or 19.65 percent, according to official tallies from the Onslow County Board of Elections.

Months later, Shepard hasn’t signed the no-tax pledge, saying he never will because his word that he will not raise taxes once in Raleigh should be good enough. And Aragona still lives in his downtown Jacksonville home. He can often be seen walking his young son to school.

They laughed Tuesday when asked about the accusations made by their supporters in May.

“I spoke to Phil shortly after the campaign was over — and we both knew (Shaeffer) might run, although it was not official — and I told Phil good luck and I supported him,” Aragona said.

Miller, who made a strong showing during the primary in the Sneads Ferry area where she lives, said she was proud to support Shepard and felt like he was the candidate of the Republican Party.

“Onslow County is a healthy conservative community with people who are good at telling their representative what they want,” she said.

Shepard said he is coming to rely on information and feedback from Miller.

“She keeps me on my toes,” Shepard said, adding that he also looked to Aragona for advice on subjects on which he is not as well versed as the Jacksonville developer.

Shepard, a retired civil servant and Baptist preacher, said the three agree on more than 90 percent of the issues.

“The Republican Party has an opportunity here that it has not had in Onslow County in a long time,” he said. “We have some tough choices to make at the state level; we have some unpopular cuts to make and work to be done on the budget.

“It is time for Republicans to work together as a team again.”