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he election for the 2026 Board of Commissioners is generating a lot of discussion. Former and current Commissioners, and residents are writing in with their opinions on what makes a good commissioner and a good board, and what are the best choices for the future of Oriental.

Their letters are listed here in chronological order, including letters from:

• David White
• Carol Small
• Dan & Sharon Forman
• Charlie Overcash
• Bonnie Crosser
• Martin Barrow
• Jean White
• Butch Rasmussen
• Frank Roe
• Gregory Bohmert
• Tammy Cox
• Carol Small, second letter
• Butch Rasmussen, second letter
• Gregory Bohmert, second letter
• Bonnie Crosser, second letter

Former Commissioner David White writes in about “Oriental Town Staff as an investment, not just an expenditure.”

Having been a past Oriental Town Commissioner for 10 years and assigned as the Human Resource liaison, I would like to share my observations on the current Board’s treatment of personnel.

We have members of our Board who do not view our Town employees as individuals or a team, rather only as numbers. Yes, our workforce must be managed properly as it is the largest portion of the Town’s budget, which is usually the case in small towns and municipalities. As a small town, we reflect our personnel as part of the entire budget, but they should be managed as people and not numbers. Once a Board starts viewing employees only as figures, they lose sight of staff as individuals and a team.

Oriental’s governance was established long ago as a Council form of government – we hire a Town Manager to handle the day-to-day activities, financials, and staff management, and that person then reports to the Commissioners. The Commissioners approve the Town’s budget and strategy for the Town Manager to implement. Commissioners should not be involved in the day-to-day activities or staff management as that is the Town Manager’s responsibility. This Council form of government serves as a clear path of defined roles among parties. A perfect example of Commissioners not understanding their roles was on 8/18/25 when Commissioners’ Price and Crosser tried to call a special meeting to discuss police coverage because of a resigning officer without Diane Miller’s presence – and the Town Manager has direct responsibility for Police personnel.

We are a small town for which hiring a qualified staff is hard at best and downright horrible at times. To name just a few of our employees’ responsibilities, they must manage a water plant, handle financials, see to town maintenance, maintain our waterfront assets, conduct Board meetings, implement the budget, address residents’ day-to-day concerns and issues, accomplish utility billing, deal with government bureaucracies, and carry out storm preparations and clean up. Our employees ably restored the Town after Hurricane Florence damages in 2018 as well as other storms that have impacted our village. We had a highly qualified team in place, but have recently lost five competent staff members.

Several of the current Commissioners do not understand their role and insist on meddling in the day-to-day management of employees causing much consternation and dismay with our Town Manager and staff. These actions caused the loss of five – three Public Works staff (including the Water Plant manager), the Financial Manager, and most recently one of our policemen. The Town had to hire two consultants and request assistance from the County to run our Water Plant while a new Water Plant manager was trained, and was also forced to hire a new Finance Manager at a higher salary than was being paid to the former employee. Additionally, the Board authorized outsourcing of both meter reading and mowing, jobs previously performed by now lost staff. I believe the above actions caused the Town to pay more for the competent servicing we previously had in place with the resigning employees. Our staff deserves better and should be managed by the very capable Town Manager and not by Commissioners overstepping their limited roles.

When storms such as Florence hit in 2018, it was Town employees working as a team that rebuilt Oriental – not a number, but a dedicated group of individuals who more than stepped up to the situation. If Oriental faces another hurricane, citizens will be forced to rely on a reduced Public Works staff now that previously handled responsibilities have been outsourced to private contractors.

Excluding the incumbents, there are nine new candidates seeking five positions on Oriental’s Board of Commissioners. We should elect five new Board members who have the best interest of the Town front and center and do not consider our staff as mere numbers. If another dysfunctional Board is elected, we will most certainly lose the Town Manager and possibly other staff as well. Do not let that happen.

David White
Oriental Resident
Crossposted to The Pamlico News
September 4, 2025

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to several letters and advertisements surrounding the upcoming Town of Oriental election for new Commissioners. I feel compelled to share my observations, particularly regarding Commissioner Bonnie Crosser’s campaign and tenure.

First, let’s talk about advertising. Commissioner Crosser has invested heavily in promoting her image with three small ads paid for by Frank Roe and one notably large ad, likely funded by Crosser herself. Why do other candidates not feel the need for such extensive advertising? Perhaps they have nothing to hide and don’t need to push their image so forcefully.

Crosser’s supporters often dismiss criticism as “lies,”  but after speaking with those directly involved, I ask: how could so many of us be telling the same “lies?”

Her lawn signs proclaim, “Fears and Feelings are not Facts” and “Honesty Puts Principles before Personalities.”  Yet, in my opinion, fear has been a defining feature of her leadership. During her tenure, I’ve witnessed an unprecedented number of town employees leave their positions, citing the toxic atmosphere she created. While Crosser may claim they planned to leave anyway, those individuals have said otherwise. That they left because they couldn’t endure the working conditions.

Let’s address the “facts.” Crosser touts saving the town over $230,000 by outsourcing services like meter reading and lawn care. But this savings came at the cost of eliminating three Public Works positions. The result: A fragmented workforce. The lawn is mowed, but not edged; weed control is handled with Roundup. The meter reader reads meters, nothing more.

Gone are the days when our staff did everything, especially during crises like Hurricane Florence, when employees camped in Town Hall to serve the town before tending to their own damaged homes. This used to be a team. Every member understood the town’s needs and worked together to meet them. Now, fear and division reign.

And the biggest concern? Our Town Manager, Diane Miller, has indicated she will retire depending on who is elected as commissioners. I challenge anyone to find a Town Manager who has done more, found more grants for funding, worked as hard for Oriental than Diane Miller.

So, back to Crosser’s signs: Honesty, Principles, Personalities. I urge voters to reflect on who truly embodies these values. Who do you trust to lead our town forward…not with slogans, but with integrity and collaboration?

Sincerely,
Carol Small
Oriental, NC
September 13, 2025

In response to David White’s article in your paper:

I agree that the Oriental town staff is an investment, as we train them, send them to classes etc. They are truly an asset to the town. When they do well we all do well. They are also one of the largest portions of our town budget. With that said, the operation of the town is also a business and needs to be run as such. It needs to be accountable to the residents of this town who trust that it will us use our taxes wisely and responsibly to provide the most effective means of service while also preserving the unique character of Oriental. It is a difficult balancing act and I appreciate all the dedicated work that Diane Miller and the town employees do to help achieve those goals.

But there is always room for improvement. One of the commissioners was voted onto the Board specifically because her campaign was based on her strong background in money management. I applaud her for honoring her campaign promises, but I am deeply concerned about the responses to it. I hear completely different telling of events depending on who I talk to. This makes me wonder if people are dealing more with feelings regarding personality and/or perceived threats to the status quo rather than facts. It seems to me that both sides need to take a breath, disregard the hearsay, and work on communicating with each other while embracing each other’s unique skill sets in order to achieve the goal of the best town government this wonderful little town can afford at our present tax rate.

Sincerely,
Dan & Sharon Forman (50 year resident of Oriental)
September 17, 2025

Oriental’s Town Board Works Best with Collaboration

Having been one of your Town Commissioners going on 12 years, I would like to share my thoughts on our Board’s lack of collaboration. Any Board works healthier with open collaboration and respect for members. It is not about whose position on an issue is better than other Commissioners’ positions, but what is in the best interest of the Town. Effective collaboration starts first with each Commissioner’s respecting the others, which sadly is missing with this Board.

In my experience with previous Boards, we did not always agree, but there was a respectful working relationship. Town business was conducted in a civil manner with consideration for all. We are a small town where open collaboration and constructive communication is paramount to a successful Town and Board. When several Board members seize the stance that their positions are best for all and disregard input from Town residents, staff, and other Commissioners, then the best interest of the Town is lost to personal agendas.

Excluding the two incumbents, we have nine candidates running for election. The voters should choose five to replace all as the Town deserves a functional Board and there are nine qualified candidates to fill these five positions.

Charlie Overcash, Commissioner
Oriental, NC
Crossposted to The Pamlico News
September 17, 2025

Dear Neighbor,

Mr. White’s recent opinion letter (9/10/25) is riddled with inaccuracies and misrepresentations. As one of your commissioners, and as a CPA, I feel it is important to set the record straight with facts.

I was appointed Financial Liaison in 2024 by a majority vote. During Mr. White’s decade on the Board (2013–2023), serious financial lapses occurred: weak internal controls, years of delayed bank reconciliations, and idle funds left uninvested. These failures cost the Town real money. Since my appointment, those problems have been corrected and controls are in place, reconciliations are timely, and idle funds now earn interest.

On Personnel – Mr. White claims the Board mishandles employees. That is false. Employee supervision and retention fall under the Town Manager, not the Commissioners. Even the Town Manager has said publicly she is eligible to retire in early 2026. Suggesting her future depends on the outcome of an election is nothing more than fearmongering.

On Services – Mr. White suggests services have declined. The facts prove otherwise. Public Works promoted a manager from within, a new finance officer was hired, and outsourcing of meter reading and park mowing reduced costs while keeping services strong. Residents report services have not declined; in fact, they have improved. There is no backlog of work orders and no measurable overtime.

On the Special Meeting – Mr. White falsely claimed I tried to arrange a meeting with the Sheriff. The record shows it was Commissioner Litzenburger who initiated that meeting, and Mayor Belangia who canceled it. Mr. White’s accusation is intentional misinformation.

On Finances – Mr. White ignores the progress that has been made under proper oversight. In July 2025, the Town Manager reported $234,000 in expense reductions compared to the prior year, pending final audit adjustments. Outsourcing was one contributing factor to these results.

Today, the Town’s finances are stronger, services are stable, and residents are better served due to the corrective measures taken by the current Board of Commissioners and the Town Manager.

Respectfully,
Commissioner Bonnie Crosser, CPA
September 18, 2025

I read with interest Commissioner Overcash’s recent observation about the Town Board’s lack of collaboration, and I must say, he seems to be misremembering.

During my tenure as Commissioner from 2019–2021, it was an honor to serve the Town of Oriental and work to deliver both quality service and fiscal responsibility. It was only after I was elected that I began to realize how different agendas influenced Town operations. I made it my goal to understand those agendas, support services where they were effective, and push for improvements where they were needed. Prior to my time as Commissioner, I had served on the Planning Board for two years, working alongside then-Commissioners Mayor Pro Tem David White and Charlie Overcash.

Not long after joining the Town Board, I learned from the Mayor Pro Tem that many decisions were made before official meetings even took place—through “before the meeting” and “after the meeting” gatherings. This effectively disenfranchised the public, since key issues were decided before citizens had a chance to speak. Both Allen Price and I opposed this approach. Commissioner Diane Simmons, who served with integrity and respect for residents’ input, also valued true public participation.

In practice, “collaboration” under White and Overcash often meant falling in line with their positions—or being cast as an obstacle. While I sometimes agreed with their proposals, they seldom supported ideas they did not originate themselves. On that point, when a few commissioners assume they have all the answers and refuse to consider other perspectives, the Town suffers.

Before leaving the Board, I recommended a candidate I believed would serve the Town well. Soon after, Overcash wrote a lengthy opinion letter opposing this person’s appointment. I believe his concern was not qualifications, but rather that the candidate would act independently rather than align with their “team.”

Ironically, Overcash himself wrote in a Pamlico News opinion piece: “When several Board Members seize the stance that their positions are the best for all and disregard input from Town residents, staff, and other Commissioners then the best interest of the town is lost to personal agendas.”

He was correct—but failed to see that he and Commissioner White exemplified exactly that approach for years.

This is why I agree it’s time to bring in new leadership. Commissioners Crosser and Price have been relentless in their pursuit of transparency and accountability, and it shows. Along with Frank Roe, their energy, expertise, and dedication have strengthened the Town’s governance.

Disinformation and a lack of transparency have no place in Oriental’s politics. Residents deserve leaders who are open, collaborative, and focused on the best interests of the Town—not personal agendas. For that reason, I encourage voters to continue supporting Bonnie Crosser and Allen Price for their knowledge, commitment, and tireless service. And when you see former Commissioner Frank
Roe, be sure to thank him for all he has contributed to our community.

Martin Barrow
Oriental Town Commissioner 2019-2021
Oriental, NC
Crossposted to The Pamlico News
September 23, 2025

Partisan voting has no place in Oriental’s elections.

What’s going on, and when did this happen? Only this time ‘round…

Commissioners’ elections in Oriental have always been wonderfully nonpartisan, as they logically should be. Lately though signs have shown evidence that clearly speak to an allegiance to a political party rather than choosing a candidate for the right reasons.

Allegiance to a Commissioner candidate for a purely political affiliation has no place in our village’s municipal election. There’s enough political divisiveness nationally without having it creep into Oriental, too.

Oriental’s upcoming election is a bipartisan contest, which means the focus should be on cooperation, agreement, and compromise with a goal to bridge differences and find common ground in resolving issues.

Our most recent Board has been lacking just that, and I beg you to consider your November 4th votes to encourage candidates that can evaluate issues based on their merits and promote policies that benefit the public interest rather than focusing on personal agendas.

This is not about politics; do not be shamed into voting along party lines. Think for yourself and forget so-called “party allegiance” – do the right thing and elect Commissioners that will find common ground through compromise and collaboration rather than contribute to a continuing dysfunctional Board going forward.

Jean White
Oriental Citizen
September 23, 2025

To The Residents of Oriental, A question.

Is it appropriate for a town manager to suggest—either directly or indirectly—that her continued employment depends on the outcome of a local election?

This conversation is happening in our town.

This very question raises serious legal, ethical, and professional concerns for our community.

North Carolina law (N.C. General Statute 160A-169) prohibits municipal employees from using their position or authority to influence elections. Federal law (5 U.S. Code 1502) likewise bars state and local employees from using official influence to affect election results. Even the appearance of such influence can erode confidence in the fairness of our democratic process.

Beyond the law, the ethical implications are troubling. When the authority of public office is used to favor or oppose candidates, it undermines public trust. Citizens expect town management to remain impartial, not to pressure voters, commissioners, or employees with suggestions of what might happen if certain candidates win or lose.

Professional standards, such as those upheld by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), require that managers refrain from partisan activity and avoid even the appearance of political pressure. A manager’s duty is to serve the entire board, regardless of who is elected. Tying one’s position to election results represents a conflict of interest and weakens confidence in local government.

So, I ask again: Shouldn’t we expect our town manager—and all public officials—to keep their conduct above reproach, free from even the hint of political coercion?

Respectfully,
Butch Rasmussen
Oriental, NC
Crossposted to The Pamlico News
October 6, 2025

Although I live outside Oriental’s town limits, I remain invested in our town’s well-being as a property owner and former commissioner. During my years of service, I saw firsthand the ways in which financial transparency and responsible management benefit our entire community.

When I served on the board, we made real progress: reporting became clearer, inefficiency was addressed, and competent professionals were brought in—putting the town on stable financial ground. While these changes benefited taxpayers, not everyone viewed them favorably. Some former and current officials, along with a group of politically aligned citizens, have now formed a coalition aimed at removing commissioners who have insisted on diligent oversight and accountability.

The town’s elections are supposed to be non-partisan, but this coalition—supported by former and current town officials—has made the process unnecessarily political. There have been efforts to characterize honest disagreements and debate as dysfunction, when in fact such oversight is a cornerstone of representative government.

Elected officials serve the taxpayers, not just the administration or its employees. While Oriental’s staff and manager are compensated more generously than most area jobs, public service demands transparency in spending and policy enforcement.

I hope voters will focus on results, not coalitions or partisan leanings. Choose candidates who demonstrate a commitment to openness, responsible stewardship, and the long-term interests of Oriental’s people.

Frank Roe
New Bern, NC
Crossposted to The Pamlico News
October 8, 2025

To set the record straight, the “honesty puts principles before personalities” and the “fears and feelings are not facts” signs are mine, I designed and paid for them.

Let me take a few minutes of your time and explain/show you why I created them.

Take the nine letters to the editor before this one. They are required to be 500 words or less, except for David White’s which is 671 words long, why? Is not the PRINCIPLE of fairness and equity to offer everyone the same number of words? One-Hundred and Seventy-one extra words is not a small clerical or punctuational mistake.

The Personalities (that run/edit town dock net) took precedence over the principle of fairness to their readers. Allowing their Prejudice (to Pre-Judge) to show favoritism instead of adhering to the principle of fairness.

In the nine other letters, you get many different interpretations of the same events. I see very few “Facts” with supporting evidence… which is what separates Facts from Fears.

Chicken Little Feared the sky was falling. His fears, plus his feelings… about those fears… made him very convincing.
Much upheaval occurred before the Facts emerged from the brouhaha, that the sky was NOT falling.

These letters contain personal interpretations of events without offering collaborating facts (Their Pre-judging). These personal interpretations (Feelings) follow roughly the same fear-mongering patterns and include the inescapable consequences of their individual Sky Falling scenario.

When Andrew and Tammy Cox first came to town, as unskilled hourly employees of the town, they were great people who worked their asses off.

Through their hard work and dedication, they raised themselves from unskilled workers to highly accredited and certified professionals.

Serving as the town’s water plant director and as the town’s financial director… A true American success story.
The average salary for a man of Andrew’s qualifications (in medium size towns) was $185,000.00 per year, his Oriental salary, less than $70,000.00 for the same job!

His wife’s story was similar. No-one can know the absolute truth that is in another mans mind… But I don’t think they were “Driven Away” from their “Forever Home” as story goes.

The Town of Oriental installed 300-feet of stormwater drainage pipe next to my property, each day I had an opportunity to talk with the town employees.

I didn’t see the fear and low morale mentioned in these letters, nor did I get the impression they weren’t being treated as humans… but only as numbers.

Thet’s not to say the employees didn’t have complains or ideas about how to do things differently than the boss was currently doing things… but which employees don’t?

Disagreements on the town board are not new, … but this insane level of Identity Politics and infighting began this past election cycle; With the forever home caper, the pansy caper, the pickle-board caper, the secret meeting/email caper.

Unlike Chicken-Little, the arousal of these Prejudices, Feeling of Fear, and the abandonment of Civil & Moral Principles… was intentional.

Gregory Bohmert
Oriental Town Commissioner Candidate
October 19, 2025

Dear Editor,

I am writing a letter in regards to re-election of Bonnie Crosser. I was the Deputy Finance Officer for the town of Oriental when she was elected in 2023.

She came into town hall at the end of December to review financial documents, which is allowed by any citizen.
The problem is Bonnie came in with accusatory remarks and mindset. She stood at the copier in the office and said to us, “I’m looking for discrepancies.”

She has promoted her CPA title without considering government accounting is different than private business accounting. A CPA for government accounting has to be approved by the NC State Treasurer – which Bonnie was not.

Between June 2016 and 2021 we had a lot of turnover in the front office: we started 2016 down two office staff. We hired eight people in those five years and lost them to termination or they resigned. The board sets the budget. And hiring staff at $9.75 an hour, and some staff were making $12 and some change when they resigned in 2021. Staff couldn’t afford to live in town, much less pay their bills making that kind of money.

While that was going on, Diane and I had to maintain all the duties on several occasions with her and I the only staff in the building. Yes things got behind a little, but that never delayed an audit.

I even trained public works and police on how to receive payments, close the daily drawer and prepare deposits and reports, to stay in compliance with dual controls required.

Did Bonnie ask about any staff shortages or ask any previous employees why they resigned? Did Bonnie ask any of the previous approved CPAs about any discrepancies or concerns with us?

No.

My husband Drew was the Director of Public Works. After Hurricane Florence, our home was destroyed and our family lived at Town Hall for 9 days while we found temporary housing. Drew spent every waking minute of those 9 days working to clean up Oriental, and even hurt his back during the storm.

But because they wanted to cut costs by going after staff, Bonnie and Frank went after two long time, dedicated employees. They questioned us for dropping our son off at school before work, and to using our lunch to pick him up. Commissioners have no right to go after parents for taking care of their son.

Drew and I had no intention whatsoever to leave our jobs and home in Oriental for another job. We did not have jobs waiting for us somewhere else. That is a lie.

We gave our hearts and soul to people who didn’t appreciate all that we done for the town.

Bonnie wanted to cut staff, lied about it, and then was brought to light by Charlie Overcash in the discussions between commissioners.

Bonnie has never apologized to Drew or I and she was never kind or thoughtful to either of us or our kids.

I think she had it out for me ever since I refused to put funds in the Parks & Rec account that didn’t belong there in July 2023 (she used to be head of Parks & Rec department). She wouldn’t let us have the funds until the auditor weighed in, and agreed with me on where they should go.

I want everyone who reached out to me during last year and apologized for voting for her, to please keep your word and not re-elect Bonnie. I want all you to consider all of the information, and not re-elect Bonnie Crosser.

Sincerely,
Tammy Cox
October 20, 2025

Dear Editor:

I feel compelled to ask two questions concerning the election of our Town Commissioners. When did the dysfunction and toxic environment evolve in our town government? Things were running smoothly under the management of Diane Miller for many years. Grants were provided, town work was executed with loyal employees, and as much as the town could afford, new developments in Parks and Recreation and other areas were made. All was moving along smoothly. Suddenly, many employees who had been loyal, hardworking, skilled in their jobs, and a real asset to the town left. They left to live with relatives, as they could not afford to buy a new house while still owning one in Oriental. They left to try to find new jobs, and when they did, it was entry-level jobs with low pay. When did this happen? Was it at the start of the term of the newest commissioners?

Second question: Now that we outsource a lot of our work (having fewer employees), will the meter readers, lawn mowers, and other outsourced workers come to our aid during a disaster such as we had after Florence? Will they stay overnight in the Town Hall because their house was wrecked and work extra long days to restore our town? Will they be a team with our regular employees to do whatever it takes to restore any disaster that might befall Oriental?

And lastly, that famous $234,000 that was “saved” during the term of the last commissioners. Several savings included those individual contractors (no need to pay salaries or benefits), but those fees have gone up. Savings by cutting down mosquito control by 69% and drainage maintenance by 49% — how’s that working for you? Included in that figure is a FEMA reimbursement which simply repaid the town for storm expenses already spent. And lastly, removing merit compensation and Christmas bonuses for employees. Good choices for keeping loyal employees? And by the way, we may lose our Town Manager if another toxic set of commissioners is elected for her to deal with.

I know many of you are firmly entrenched with your choice for commissioners, but perhaps a little thought and consideration of these questions are worth merit in your thinking.

Thank you,
Carol Small
Oriental, NC
October 25, 2025

Hello, Oriental,

I recently had the most enjoyable conversation with Commissioner Candidate Mary Ellen Ham. She is the only candidate who truly understands the Oriental that so many speak of preserving—because she has lived it her entire life. We talked about how Oriental once was, and how it can be again.

Large budget increases, more town employees, and a two-person police force—along with slogans like “value spending” and “Robert’s Rules”—as promoted by some recent resident candidates, will not get us there. With few exceptions, most of them could count the number of town meetings they’ve attended on one hand. And again, with few exceptions, they’ve done little to improve, maintain, or support this town through their own time and effort.

We do not need candidates bringing their recent past ways to an Oriental they barely know. Don’t think for a moment that Mary Ellen doesn’t understand the need for smart growth, careful maintenance, and responsible spending—she spoke thoughtfully and clearly about those very issues. She’s sharp as a whip. And while you may not always see it, Mary Ellen is out there quietly helping and supporting neighbors in their times of need.

If you want to preserve what makes Oriental special, limit big spending, and promote wise, informed growth rooted in a true understanding of our town’s past and promise, your thoughtful, Oriental experienced choices for Commissioner are:
Greg Bohmert
Mary Ellen Ham
Bonnie Crosser
Allen Price

Together, they represent well over 125 years of dedication to Oriental. Choose experience.

Butch Rasmussen
Oriental Resident
October 27, 2025

I found Thursday evening’s Candidate Forum to be a wonderful event. I was excited to get to know my fellow candidates better, and to discover the topics uppermost on the minds of my fellow citizens of Oriental.

I was greatly relieved to hear all the candidates pledge to end the personal attacks so aptly named “Character Assassination” during the forum. These have distracted the board and caused frustration among many citizens as well.

I was excited by the many comments/ideas encouraging greater resident awareness, transparency, and hopefully, greater participation in the various town board functions. This would include the yearly budgeting process, and the auxiliary boards incorporating workshops that seek greater public input.

Exciting stuff, but how to do it, perplexed me until I saw the way Town Dock’s online coverage of the forum broke things down into simple bitesize pieces… Listing the questions separately with the audio response for ONLY that question. Brillant! I was able to focus on the questions that were of interest or the answer(s) and get a 100% accurate replay of exactly what happened, what was said, by whom, in an instant. I did not have to read/listen to the entire event OR rely on Hearsay!!

I personally would love to see our town board meetings recorded in such a fashion, broken down by agenda items, including public comments, and placed on a Reorganized Town Website, enabling those who could not attend in person, to become better and more accurately informed and hopefully, more involved.

The only disappointment I experienced this week was at Saturday’s Candidate Meet & Greet held at the O.W.C. I was shocked to find out it was a Partisan Event (adj: prejudiced in favor of a particular cause), in a non-partisan election. It was a meet and greet for ONLY those six candidates. Apparently, Oriental now has Political Action Committees of some sort that sponsor and organize such events. Who knew?

I offer my sincere apologies to anyone I may have offended, for showing up with my name tag on. After I removed it, I was allowed to stay, as a citizen of Oriental, and again got to know my fellow candidate and my neighbors’ concerns better as I listened.

As I was leaving, I picked up informational handouts on the table by the door and was deeply disappointed to discover these flyers were yet another attempt at Character Assassination by Out Going Commissioner Breena Litzenberger. Oddly enough, at the end of her manifesto of hurt feelings and somewhat inaccurate Financial Remembrances, she wholeheartedly endorsed the six candidates who openly condemned Character Assassinations and promised in the future not to do what Litzenberger just did.

You cannot make this stuff up!! For some, fears and unpleasant feeling will forever cause them to put their Personalities ahead of Principles that guide a healthy and harmonious society, which has individual differences, and outlooks, but a greater allegiance to the Whole.

Candidate Gregory Bohmert
Oriental, NC
October 27, 2025

Dear Neighbors,

Thank you for the kind words and the chance to serve Oriental these past years. I’m humbled by the trust you’ve placed in me, and I’m asking for your vote on November 4 to continue that work.

This letter isn’t about politics—it’s about who I am when the meetings end, and the real work begins. I’m the neighbor who shows up with a rake, a deck of cards, or a homemade pie—not for credit, but because this town is family.

Here’s a glimpse of the Bonnie you might not see at the podium:
•2009 – 2011. We bought our home in 2009 and moved in just three weeks before Hurricane Irene flooded it in 2011. We rebuilt higher and smarter—our new home was finished in 2014, and so far, it’s stayed high and dry. Lesson learned: resilience isn’t optional in Oriental.
• Parks & Rec Volunteer Chair (4 years): Pulled weeds, dug ditches, spread mulch, and fought for pickleball court expansion—because kids and seniors deserve safe, fun places to play.
• Every Monday at HeartWorks: Teaching Pods 4 & 5 bridge. Nothing beats the grin when a 10-year-old takes their first trick.
• Croaker Festival (dual role):
1. Children’s Park Coordinator – From mechanical bulls to bouncy houses, I make sure the kids’ area is the happiest spot on the waterfront.
2. Board Treasurer – Balancing books so the festival stays free, fun, and fully funded.
• Church & Community:
• Leading the Thanksgiving Bake Sale ($1,800 raised last year—thank you, bakers!).
• 4th-Sunday post-Mass social crew – I bring the dish, set the table, and stay to wash the last cup.
I still work part-time as a Cost Accountant, finding ways to save money without sacrificing quality—the same mindset I bring to our town’s budget as Financial Liaison.

No matter the outcome on November 4, I’ll keep showing up—with gloves, a smile, or a spreadsheet—because Oriental isn’t just where I live. It’s where I belong.

Please vote Bonnier Crosser for Town Commission.
Together, we’ll keep building a town that’s safe, strong, and full of joy.

With gratitude, Bonnier Crosser, CPA
Oriental, NC
October 29, 2025
P.S. See you at the polls—or raking mulch on Saturday.