Bea Basnight officially becomes Dare County Commissioner

From Outer Banks Voice

In a process that took about a minute, former Dare of Education Member Bea Basnight became the newest member of the Dare County Board of Commissioners during the opening moments of its Dec. 4 meeting—gaining the unanimous support of her new colleagues.

Her appointment fills the vacancy left by the Oct. 18 death of Commissioner Jim Tobin, and it follows the Nov. 9 decision by the Dare County Republican Party’s Executive Committee to nominate her for the post.

Basnight, who spent a dozen years on the Dare Board of Education, also served as a teacher in the system for 35 years. Describing herself as “a middle-of-the-road person” politically, also has switched parties in recent years. A Democrat while on the education board, she switched to unaffiliated about three years ago and moved into the Republican column about a year ago, acknowledging that in red-leaning Dare County, “I needed to be an ‘R’” to compete for political office.

After the Dec. 4 vote, Basnight literally assumed her new position, taking her place on the podium next to Commissioner Rob Ross to become the only woman on the seven-member body.

Also at the Dec. 4 meeting, Commissioners Bob Woodard and Wally Overman were re-elected board chair and vice-chair respectively, with no other names being offered in nomination.