Donnie Potter exits race; Corey Moore steps in

When the Caldwell County Republican Party’s Executive Committee chose Corey Moore as the nominee to replace Commissioner Donnie Potter in the November County Commissioner election, it sparked a swath of social media backlash.

Posts flooded social media soon after the 32-20 decision between Moore and the other nominee, Jeremy Benge, with many viewing the final choice as a slap in the face of the people.

Facebook users discussed casting write-in votes, with most of the commenters looking for ways to get around voting for the current nominees entirely.

It all began when Potter announced his withdrawal from the race in July, four months after securing the nomination in the primaries. Discussion swirled online considering who would be chosen in his stead.

Many online commenters argued that Benge, the man who came in third place in the Republican primaries in March, should have been selected.

In the primary election, Potter had 3,391 votes, Mike LaBrose — the current Vice Chairman of the Board of Commissioners — took 3,197 votes, and Benge received 3,069.

Moore had the fourth-most votes at 2,233.

COREY MOORE

“I believe (the committee) saw someone who is prepared to serve on day one,” Moore said, when asked why she believed the committee selected her — her background as a small business owner at Coco Bail Bonds, her experience working within the criminal justice system, and years of advocacy and service in Caldwell County.

Moore said she understands that some voters may be concerned about how she was nominated, but that the process of her appointment followed the laws of the state.

“My dedication to serving Caldwell County is the same as it has always been,” she said, explaining that she had been meeting with legislators and working alongside community leaders long before the opportunity arose.

“I have spent years serving, building relationships, and investing in this county because I believe in Caldwell County and the people who make it special,” Moore said. “My goal is simple: to listen, to work hard, and to do my part to make Caldwell County an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.”

THE REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE

According to Lynette Ramsey, a member of the executive committee, the room was packed with people on the evening of the appointment.

Some supported Moore, but many were there in support of Benge, she explained.

Although the rules distributed that evening stated that guests could make nominations, Ramsey said they were explicitly told at the beginning of the meeting that they were not to speak or they would be removed.

Of the 63 members of the committee, 52 showed up for the vote. Ramsey said several of those members had rarely attended meetings in recent years.

“People were visibly upset,” Ramsey said, referring to the aftermath of the decision with the public, “because once again, their votes don’t matter.”

JEREMY BENGE

“My plan going forward is 2028,” Benge said following the County Commissioners meeting on July 27. “When I lost the first time this year, my campaign manager and my team and I started working that day to continue forward with our plans for tourism.”

Benge explained that he had presented some ideas to the Caldwell Chamber of Commerce and felt like things were headed in a good direction.

“As far as this past (election), it was disheartening. I learned a lot about humanity in a week, and it made me sad for the county — for their leadership and the people. But I’ve got hopes for the Republican Party and for Caldwell County, altogether, moving forward. … Some people like you, some don’t, I guess.”

Since Benge lost in the primary and was not chosen as Potter’s replacement candidate, his name cannot be counted as a write-in come November. As of late July, he said he’s holding off on endorsing the other candidates.

DONNIE POTTER

Potter sent his withdrawal of candidacy to the Caldwell County Board of Elections on July 13, stating that he decided to withdraw his candidacy to “pursue a new professional opportunity that I believe is the best interest of my family and me.”

According to the letter, Potter submitted his withdrawal as soon as possible to ensure transparency and allow the election process to move forward as smoothly as it could.

“(Making the announcement now) provides the party with the time needed to complete that process and gives voters an opportunity to become familiar with all of the candidates before Election Day,” Potter said.

During the commissioners meeting on July 27, Potter also responded to a public commenter, dispelling the rumor that he had taken a position at the Department of Social Services a few weeks after working with the rest of the Board of Commissioners to secure the department a raise.

“I can tell you this: that is absolutely not true,” he told the woman at the podium. “You can put that on the record.”

Although he withdrew from the election, he did not resign as County Commissioner. He intends to serve the remainder of his current term, attending meetings through November.

“To everyone who has supported me, encouraged me, prayed for me, volunteered, displayed a yard sign, or simply placed your trust in me, thank you,” Potter stated. “I will never take your confidence for granted. While my campaign is coming to a close, my commitment to Caldwell County is not. I remain grateful for the opportunity to serve and excited about what the future holds.”