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t was standing room only at the Candidates’ Forum Thursday night. Nine of the 11 candidates for Oriental Town Commissioner sat on the stage of the Old Theater. The event was co-sponsored by The Pamlico News and TownDock.net.

Nine Town Commissioner Candidates on the Old Theater Stage. From left: Gregory Bohmert, Iris Cooper, incumbent Bonnie Crosser, Paul Fairbank, Mary Ellen Ham, Paul Jordan, Don McGuire, Chris Moffat, and Lou Ostendorff. At the podium, Zac Schnell.

These nine candidates are competing for five seats on the town board and were seated alphabetically from left to right: Greg Bohmert, Iris Cooper, incumbent Bonnie Crosser, Paul Fairbank, Mary Ellen Ham, Paul Jordan, Don McGuire, Chris Moffat, and Lou Ostendorff. Mayor Sally Belangia is the only candidate running for the mayoral seat and since it is likely she will again be elected Mayor, she was not present at the forum.

Pamlico Community College President Zac Schnell moderated.

Pamlico Community College President Zac Schnell.

Candidates responded to 10 questions culled from a poll on TownDock, reader emails, and questions from the last decade plus of candidate questionnaires. Question topics ranged from road repairs and budgeting philosophy to public participation in government and the state of Oriental’s police department.

Responses also had range. Candidates discussed the publicly unpopular move of the election year, the abandonment and then return to Robert’s Rules of Order, the role of Commissioners and managers in the current government, and the need to be creative when approaching budgets with more needs than money.

Zac Schnell talks to the candidates before the forum starts.

A common theme appeared in the candidates’ answers: desire for a board that would willingly work together despite personality or political differences.

Most spoke of harmony and getting along, a theme echoed on many campaign signs. Some discussed negotiation and collaboration with their future board members, others spoke of winners and losers.

Audio Responses to questions

For those who could not attend — and for those who wish to hear the candidate responses again — audio recordings of the candidates’ responses to each question are available below.

Don McGuire answers a question while candidates listen.

The format called for each candidate to answer each question and for the first question to be answered first by the candidate seated farthest to the left and with the next question starting with the candidate next along the line, and so on. That is why, in these recordings, you will hear different voices being the first to answer before the rest in the lineup answered in order.

The candidates were asked were given 60 seconds to answer. At the 50 second mark, a light would come on when the candidates were approaching their time limit and the mics would turn off when the time limit was exceeded.

Opening Statements Each candidate had 30 seconds to introduce themselves.

Paul Fairbank, wearing a new pair of overalls, explained his community involvement as Oriental’s Parade Master for the last 20 or so years.

Question 1 How do you participate in Oriental? Are you involved in clubs, groups within Oriental, are you a volunteer, or is there another way you engage with the people of the town? (The question was first posed to Gregory Bohmert. It was then answered Iris Cooper, and so on down the line.)

Question 2
How can the town address the issue of maintaining the town’s roads? (Responses start with Iris Cooper.)

Question 3
Other than roads, what is Oriental’s biggest challenge? (Responding first, incumbent Bonnie Crosser.)

Residents file in to the theater Thursday night.

Question 4
Question for incumbents: is there a vote you cast or action you took as a Board Member that you would do differently? Question for challengers: what vote of the board, or action of the board, would you have done differently? (Responses begin with Paul Fairbank.)

Question 5
Besides wanting to serve, why do you want a seat on the Town Board? (Responding first is Mary Ellen Ham.)

Question 6
What are your thoughts about Oriental’s police department? Do you think Oriental should maintain a one or two person police department? (Responses start with Paul Jordan.)

Gregory Bohmert answers a question about the police department.

Question 7
If elected, you will be involved in planning the town’s budget. What is your philosophy on spending public money? (Responses begin with Don McGuire.)

Question 8
If you could pick one thing to achieve while you are commissioner what would it be? (Responses start with Chris Moffat.)

Question 9
Oriental, like most town/county commissioners, hires a professional manager to execute commission policy. Do you believe the commission has a role in executing town policy (such as hiring staff or directing staff functions) beyond holding the manager accountable? (Responding first, Lou Ostendorff.)

Incumbent Bonnie Crosser looks on as Iris Cooper explains her strategy to budget for road repairs.

Question 10
Many observers have noted that the current board appears to be dysfunctional. If elected, how will you work with your fellow commissioners even if you don’t agree with their position? (Responses begin with Gregory Bohmert.)

Closing statements. Each candidate was given time for closing statements.

The election for Orientals five Commissioner seats is Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at Station 19 Volunteer Fire Department on Straight Road.

Lou Ostendorff listens to moderator Zac Schnell.

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Story & photos by Allison DeWeese.

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Questions from past Candidate Questionnaires, including the 2013 Candidates’ Forum, are below.

• Meet the 2023 Oriental Town Board Candidates
• Meet the 2019 Oriental Town Board Candidates
• Meet the 2017 Oriental Town Board Candidates
• Meet the 2015 Oriental Town Board Candidates
• Oriental Candidates’ Forum 2013

Posted Friday October 24, 2025 by Allison DeWeese