As we approach Election Day, Brunswick County voters deserve to hear from their political leaders about the issues that matter most to them. Sadly, our congressman since 2015, David Rouzer, our elected members to the General Assembly, and incumbent members of the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners don’t agree. Instead, they believe they don’t need to address their constituents beyond curated meetings with donors and likely supporters.
Despite multiple requests for a public debate from Rouzer’s challenger, Marlando Pridgen, the congressman has remained conspicuously silent. WECT, a respected local TV station, expressed interest in airing a debate; Rouzer declined. This silence is more than just a missed opportunity for political discourse; it's a disservice to the voters he is supposed to represent.
Meanwhile, three Brunswick County Board of Commissioners, whose terms are expiring (Pat Sykes, Mike Forte and Frank Williams), chose not to participate in a candidate forum proposed by the Brunswick Beacon, one of the county’s newspapers of record. Similar requests by other non-partisan groups have been ignored or declined to date. As a result, the Democratic challengers — Bob Fulton, Tom Simmons and Jonathan Damico, who accepted the Beacon invite and are open to any opportunity to speak before the public, have been effectively muzzled.
Compounding the issue, local media outlets and some non-partisan organizations have given the GOP a veto power by declining to host forums if both parties do not agree to appear. So Rouzer and his fellow incumbents control the narrative, effectively denying opponents the opportunity to make their case to the public.
Similarly, State Senator Bill Rabon, and State Reps. Charles Miller and Frank Iler are also missing in action during this political season. Public appearances for them are as rare as unicorn sightings.
In a democracy, debates are a critical part of the electoral process. They allow voters to make informed decisions by hearing directly from the candidates their policies, plans and positions on the issues.
Silence, then, is not an option. The pattern of GOP incumbents refusing to participate raises serious questions about their commitment to transparency, accountability and mutually respectful solution-building. What are they afraid of?
Rouzer in particular has been the poster boy for a broad pattern of constituent neglect during his time in office. Constituents across the district have long complained about his inaccessibility and failure to address their concerns. Whether it's issues related to healthcare, education, or infrastructure, many feel their voices are ignored.
Of special note is Rouzer’s obtuse and ill-prepared response to coastal natural disasters and severe flooding. After nearly 10 years in Congress, a period that includes some of the worst hurricanes in the state’s history, Rouzer has been slow to react and made limited headway on long-term solutions.
Rouzer’s stunning failure to even acknowledge — for six long days — the devastation his constituents experienced in several counties in his district due to “Potential Cyclone 8,” including massive flooding and road and bridge collapses, is unsurprising. His perfunctory response and staged photo-op came across as an afterthought and contained nothing more than a photo op and an online link to emergency services for his constituents.
As Election Day approaches, the people of Brunswick County deserve representatives willing to engage with them, listen to their concerns and be accountable for their actions. The neglect of Rouzer and his and state and local colleagues speaks volumes. It's now up to us to decide whether we want to continue with representatives who refuse to communicate — or vote for new leaders who will speak out on our behalf.
We think the choice is clear: We deserve better.
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