After ‘Educate Pender’ mailer sparks confusion, two endorsed candidates win primary
PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY-TV) — Now that the primaries are over in Pender County, some of the tension within the local Republican party may be cooling off. A group called “Educate Pender” drew attention during the campaign after sending out a mailer endorsing candidates.
“Things going on have impacted me heavily,” said Kenneth Ramsey.
Ramsey is a long-time Pender County resident and says this primary was an interesting one.
“And a lot of people obviously as you can see from the election results that we want change we want it to change for the better,” Ramsey said.
Controversy within the Republican Party focused on “Educate Pender” a group founded by Phil Cordeiro.
The group sent out a mail ballot endorsing several candidates. GOP party leader said the mailer confused voters because it states it was paid for by “Pender County Republicans.”
“The people that prepared this voter guide are all Pender County Republicans and the name of the group is Pender County Republicans, we live in Pender County, we’re all Republicans, we’re not affiliated with the Pender County Republican Party,” Cordeiro said.
Only two of the group’s endorsed candidates are preliminary winners, Shayne Frey for District 1 County Commissioner and Camille Costin Harrell for clerk of court. Harrell beat current clerk Elizabeth Craver, who was on trial and found not guilty for misusing county resources.
In a statement to WWAY, Cordeiro said in part:
“From the very beginning, our group of Pender County republicans understood we were up against a powerful establishment that has controlled the levers of power in Pender County for the past half-century. While we’re disappointed less than one in five voters cast a ballot in this election — and only two of seven candidates we endorsed were successful — we will continue our efforts to engage younger voters.”
Tensions also rose after former state representative and Republican party leader, Carolyn Justice posted photos of her and Cordeiro and claimed she intimated her at a polling site.
Cordeiro said he sat down in front of Justice at her request while speaking with her and left after the county elections director asked him to leave. Justice hopes the party can look forward as it looks to the general election in November.
“I think we all would just like to put it behind us now and be thankful that some really great candidates won and there has a better future to look forward to,” Justice said.
