By Miles Layton

Sunday’s round-up covers the silly season, FAFO — Jerry Tillett files a lawsuit (see below), John Spruill says his peace, and there’s information about an upcoming candidate forum.

It’s silly season – that time when folks receive a barrage of campaign ads that try to convince us that their candidate should be elected and that their opponents are slime. 

One of our readers in NC Congressional District 1 received this via text:  

Trump Fake News Alert! 

Millionaire Laurie Buckhout is trying to buy a Congressional seat by using deceptive ads using years-old clips featuring President Trump, when the truth is, Trump has NEVER endorsed Laurie Buckhout in a Republican Primary! Sheriff Asa Buck is calling out these millionaire Washington insiders and will do the same as your Eastern North Carolina Common Sense Voice in Congress! Watch the video to find out more and share it with your friends to let them know that a millionaire is trying to buy your seat in Congress, but that Eastern North Carolina is not for sale!

Paid for by Citizens for Asa Buck

The text echoes remarks Buck made at the tail-end of WNCT’s forum:

“Well, we’ve heard a lot of similar answers here tonight, and there are a lot of similarities amongst the candidates, but there are some differences. And all you gotta do is go and look at some campaign reports, and you’ll be able to see. You know, one of the candidates in this race is a lot different than some of the rest of us. Laurie Buckhout is all about Washington, DC, and not eastern North Carolina. You didn’t hear much about it tonight, but a lot of her stuff, that’s all she talks about is DC and endorsements. But if you go to her campaign finance report, you’ll see about two million dollars, and you’ll see three donors from this district, totaling about eighteen hundred dollars.”

Buck continued, “Let me do the math for you on that. That’s 0.08% of the money raised here in this district. And she talks a lot about Donald Trump, and she certainly uses him a lot in her deceptive ads to make you think that Donald Trump has endorsed her in this race, but he has not. Donald Trump has never endorsed Laurie Buckhout in a Republican primary, including this one.”

Buckhout didn’t get to respond because time elapsed, and the forum ended right then and there. No one else said anything negative during the forum.

Because Buckhout lives in Edenton, I feel obliged to defend her by saying, “Kiss my ass, Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane,” though her record of service to this country speaks volumes, demands respect, so she doesn’t need me to say anything.

Negative campaigning does not convince me to vote for any candidate. If anything, negative statements convince me to vote against the campaign that sent them. 

The time and money spent on this negative campaigning would’ve been better spent saying that, as sheriff, Asa Buck has a strong record on reducing crime, putting loser-dirtbags behind bars, and he has always worked with federal authorities, including ICE.

This is not aimed at any campaign, but you know what I would rather see from each candidate? Whether you are a Republican candidate or a Democrat, rather than 1-minute soundbites or negative campaigning, I’d like to know how you will have the strength of will to resist, to stand up to the powers-that-be who really own Congress and the federal government, aka the Deep State.

We all know that if you don’t vote with the party that “brung ya” – then you’ll face a primary challenge that, if you succeed in a bruising primary that drags your name through the mud, will leave your campaign coffers dry for the general election. Don’t believe me? — Feels like after Shrimpgate, Raleigh is meddling in Eastern NC politics. Then, if you win, you won’t get to sit at the popular kids’ table, your proposed legislation will stall, and any earmarks you seek will never get approval. Hell, maybe even Trump will fire a tweet at you!

Big donors – they don’t invest in campaigns that don’t support their interests – that’s how we got the military-industrial complex that pursues forever wars instead of badly needed infrastructure in rural areas.   

Question for any candidate— How are you going to put aside all the work you did to get elected as a member of Congress to vote against your own party, your donors’ interests and corporate threats to defund you when better people than you have failed time and again? Everyone says they have the fortitude to stand strong until the cock starts crowing – maybe three times.  

I wish there were a down-to-earth candidate who steps up to the podium and says, “I own my home, so I can’t be bought. I’m happily married and my dogs love me. So no matter what Washington throws at me, I know where I stand and I’m strong enough to take the hits. I may make mistakes, but I know my path is true.”

Doing the right thing is hard – but it’s the only way to do things because if you justify shortcuts by applying reasoning that the rules don’t apply to you, it’s only a matter of time before God will cut you down — great song by Johnny Cash.

Personally, I think I’d rather vote for a rebel who can think independently rather than toe the party’s line, genuflecting to false Gods or kowtowing to the almighty dollar.  

Advice — Don’t Piss Off a Former Judge

Speaking of rebels, file this under FAFO — former Superior Court Judge Jerry Tillett has filed a defamation lawsuit in Dare County against four individuals, alleging that false accusations of racism have harmed his campaign for state Senate.

Filed on Wednesday, the lawsuit names Tillett’s former daughter-in-law, her new husband, a website publisher, and a social media user as defendants.

A civil summons issued by Dare County Superior Court on Feb. 4 lists Republican N.C. Senate candidate Jerry Tillett as the plaintiff with Richard Burrus, Noel Fritsch, Teddy Daniels, and Brianna Daniels as the defendants.

The lawsuit seeks to counter claims that have emerged in recent months and that Tillett says threaten to derail his campaign. If you know, you know.

Echoing Dan Bongino, we come with “receipts” — here’s the lawsuit:

Tillett, 68, is one of four Republican candidates seeking the party’s nomination in the March 3 primary for the 1st District seat, which includes several northeastern North Carolina counties. Early voting is scheduled to begin Feb. 12.

According to previous reporting by The Assembly, Dare County resident Richard Burrus posted a 23-second audio recording on Facebook in December. The clip appeared to capture a conversation between two men and a woman inside a car. During the exchange, the two men used a racial slur and joked about shooting a Black man.

Burrus wrote in his post that one of the voices belonged to Tillett, who has STRONGLY denied that claim.

Tillett’s lawsuit alleges that Burrus further spread the allegations by sharing a Dec. 23 article about the recording published on the right-wing website National File. The complaint names Noel Fritsch, the site’s publisher, as a defendant.

Tillett did not file suit against National File itself or against the article’s author, Ethan Fowler, but instead, the website’s publisher, Noel Fritsch.

The remaining defendants, Teddy Daniels and Brianna Daniels, are also named in connection with the alleged defamatory statements.

No court dates or additional details about the case were immediately available.

To reiterate — FAFO…

Spruill is the real deal

In other news, more news from silly season — there’s social media nonsense floating out there about John Spruill, a Republican candidate for House District 1, being a RINO — Republican In Name Only — not a compliment.

I know Spruill — he’s definitely no RINO. Spruill is as conservative as they come. I’ve heard Spruill talk at multiple campaign events — he’s the real deal.

Spruill is pushing back against criticism and labels circulating in the race, saying voters deserve facts and a focus on local leadership as early voting begins.

“There’s a lot of noise flying around in this race, and voters deserve facts not labels and distractions,” he said in a statement released through social media this week.

Addressing claims about party loyalty, the candidate emphasized a long history of involvement with the Republican Party.

“I registered as a Republican in high school and have been a Republican my entire adult life. I’ve served our party, not just talked about it as Washington County GOP Chairman, 3rd Vice Chair, and 2nd Vice Chair for the 1st Congressional District. I’ve represented our district as a delegate at multiple state and national Republican conventions,” the candidate said.

Spruill soundly rejects accusations of being a “Republican in name only.”

“So let’s be clear: there is no ‘RINO’ here,” Spruill said.

Spruill responded to claims about outside influence, stressing deep local roots in Washington County.

“As for ‘out-of-state voices,’ I was born and raised in Washington County and still live here today. This community raised me, shaped my values, and is where my family calls home. No one has to tell me what matters to Eastern North Carolina I live it every day,” he said.

Spruill criticized what were described as misleading campaign tactics, arguing that they distract from meaningful issues.

“What voters don’t deserve is to be confused by baseless talking points meant to divide rather than lead. This race should be about service, solutions, and standing up for our district not who can shout the loudest,” the statement said.

With early voting beginning this week, Spruill urged voters to focus on qualifications and community ties.

“Early voting starts this week. I’m asking voters to choose experience over drama, truth over labels, and local leadership over distractions,” the candidate said.

The statement concluded with a commitment to public service and local representation.

“I’m ready to serve and I’ll always stand for Washington County and House District 1,” Spruill said.

Last word, the Pasquotank County Political Action Committee (PAC) will host a two-night Candidate Forum next week at the Pasquotank County Courthouse in Elizabeth City.

The forum will take place Tuesday, February 10, and Wednesday, February 11, beginning at 6 p.m. both nights. The courthouse is located at 206 East Main Street.

The first night, Tuesday, will feature candidates for U.S. Senate, North Carolina Senate, and congressional offices. On Wednesday, the forum will focus on candidates for judicial positions, clerk of court, and sheriff.

Organizers say the event is designed to give voters an opportunity to hear directly from those seeking public office and learn more about their platforms and priorities.

Event’s flyer notes that all other candidates are welcome to attend and introduce themselves.

The forum is open to the public.