The Daily News, Former board chair, two incumbents, Swansboro mayor victorious in Onslow commissioner primary

Candidate website

Believes in involving the public and being transparent in local county governance. Supports creating a citizen study group to help residents understand the county budget and government operations.

Supports creating a citizen study group to help residents understand the county operations and allow for transparent communication.

- Supports creating a citizen study group to help residents understand the county operations and allow for transparent communication.

Public Services

Supports collaborating with officials to create job opportunities, attract new businesses, and connect education with local economic needs.

Plans to collaborate with other elected officials to create job opportunities and attract new businesses.

- Plans to collaborate with other elected officials to create job opportunities and attract new businesses.

Economy

Believes in ensuring school safety and providing diverse learning, job training, and mentorship programs to support all young people. Aims to create an inclusive community where everyone receives the support needed to succeed.

Wants to ensure school safety and provide diverse learning, job training, and mentorship programs to support all young people. 

Said, "It's essential to connect education with what our local economy needs. We want high school graduates to have chances to work and help our county's economy grow."

- Wants to ensure school safety and provide diverse learning, job training, and mentorship programs to support all young people. 
- Said, "It's essential to connect education with what our local economy needs. We want high school graduates to have chances to work and help our county's economy grow."

Education

As of May 5, 2025, Tony Padgett’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

Supports developing affordable housing to improve quality of life and address homelessness, believing it creates a safer and stronger community.

Believes in managing county finances wisely to keep property taxes low while ensuring essential services are funded. Plans to prioritize spending to balance financial stability and community needs.

Plans on managing county finances wisely to keep property taxes low while ensuring essential services are funded. 

The candidate's website says, "Balancing progress and preservation is crucial for Onslow County's prosperity. While growth is positive, unchecked expansion can challenge unprepared communities. The county must commit to supporting growth without compromising its agricultural heritage and strong neighborhoods. To ensure responsible growth, allocate new taxes strategically to address challenges like reinforcing essential services, safeguarding the environment, and ensuring quality education. This proactive approach preserves the county's character, fosters resilient communities, and aligns with residents' needs, making progress beneficial for all."

Wants Onslow to grow responsibly by maintaining balance between development and preservation.

- Supports developing affordable housing to improve quality of life and address homelessness, believing it creates a safer and stronger community.
- Plans on managing county finances wisely to keep property taxes low while ensuring essential services are funded. 
- Wants Onslow to grow responsibly by maintaining balance between development and preservation.

Housing & Urban Development

Transportation & Infrastructure

Facebook

Tony Padgett

Swansboro, John Davis

North Carolina State Board of Elections, 11/07/2017 OFFICIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION RESULTS - ONSLOW

Wants to increase access to services for mental health and addiction recovery.

- Wants to enhance services for veterans.
- Wants to increase access to services for mental health and addiction recovery.

Supports decreasing county taxes and improving regional economic development.

Supports promoting economic development and job creation.

- Supports decreasing county taxes.
- Supports promoting economic development and job creation.

As of May 5, 2025, John Davis’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes in prioritizing emergency response capability.

Plans to prioritize "emergency response times for outlying areas."

- Plans to prioritize "emergency response times for outlying areas."

John Davis

Onslow County, Paul Buchanan

LinkedIn

Candidate profile: Paul Buchanan

Said during his 2020 campaign that transparency will remain a priority when serving county citizens.

Said, "Excellent customer service from Onslow County employees are a priority and required when serving the citizens."

- Said during his 2020 campaign that transparency will remain a priority when serving county citizens.
- Said, "Excellent customer service from Onslow County employees are a priority and required when serving the citizens."

Plans to advocate and support local fishing and tourism by working with MCBCL, Senators, and Congressmen.

Believes taxes are a major issue, and wants to install initiatives that aim to avoid increasing taxes such as the "quarter-cent sales tax which has helped the county with roll-back to the citizens"

- Plans to advocate and support local fishing and tourism by working with MCBCL, Senators, and Congressmen.
- Believes taxes are a major issue, and wants to install initiatives that aim to avoid increasing taxes such as the "quarter-cent sales tax which has helped the county with roll-back to the citizens"

Believes in "the excellence in education, fiscal sustainability and in creating a more consistent long-range budget plan. "

- Believes in "the excellence in education, fiscal sustainability and in creating a more consistent long-range budget plan. "

As of May 5, 2025, Paul Buchanan did not have a website or any information online.

Said during his 2020 campaign, the primary challenge in generating economic growth county wide is the "infrastructure, and specifically interstate highways and rails."

Oversaw the completion of several county projects, including "a new terminal and tower at Albert J. Ellis Airport..., the Onslow County Public Safety Memorial, Montford Point Marine Memorial, [and] the Vietnam Memorial..."

- Said during his 2020 campaign, the primary challenge in generating economic growth county wide is the "infrastructure, and specifically interstate highways and rails."
- Oversaw the completion of several county projects, including "a new terminal and tower at Albert J. Ellis Airport..., the Onslow County Public Safety Memorial, Montford Point Marine Memorial, [and] the Vietnam Memorial..."

Paul Buchanan

Onslow County, Robin Knapp

NORTH CAROLINA STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS

Candidate profile: Robin L. Knapp

Plans to "focus on Emergency Medical Services and Firefighters."

Supports upholding transparency for all citizens.

As County Commissioner, developed a segment on a local radio station, Commissioner’s Corner, where citizens can call in, and ask questions about current county issues.

- Plans to "focus on Emergency Medical Services and Firefighters."
- Supports upholding transparency for all citizens.
- As County Commissioner, developed a segment on a local radio station, Commissioner’s Corner, where citizens can call in, and ask questions about current county issues.

Wants to install a merit pay system for county employees.

As County Commissioner, voted against increasing property taxes, and promises not to vote for raising property taxes.

- Wants to reduce taxes.
- Wants to install a merit pay system for county employees.
- As County Commissioner, voted against increasing property taxes, and promises not to vote for raising property taxes.

As of May 5, 2025, Robin L. Knapp did not have a website or any information online.

Plans to continue increasing funding and grants for programs aiming to address Mental Health and Substance Abuse prevention.

- Plans to continue increasing funding and grants for programs aiming to address Mental Health and Substance Abuse prevention.

Robin L. Knapp

As of May 5, 2025, Velvet T. Scoggin’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes in advocating for jobs to sustain family welfare.

Plans on advocating for jobs to sustain family welfare.

- Plans on advocating for jobs to sustain family welfare.

Believes in "growing investment in our youth, safety, and education."

- Believes in "growing investment in our youth, safety, and education."

Instagram

Velvet T. Scoggin

- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay property and sales tax rates, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of county residents.
- County Commissioners can create, change, or abolish offices, positions, departments that are not required by law. 
- County Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms, with no term limits. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district.