County Leadership

 

Carolyn Garris
Chair

Carolyn Garris was re-elected as chair during the 2025 Beaufort County Republican Convention. Her interest in local politics peaked during the 2018 election cycle when she hit the pavement to promote strong candidates like Representative Keith Kidwell. Carolyn’s desire to serve her community grew, and she became involved in voter registration, volunteering at the Republican Headquarters, attending rallies, planting and delivering signs, and working at her local precinct on election day.

During her 2021-2024 terms, the Beaufort County Republican Party accomplished so much, including

  • Implemented a standing Victory Committee - successful elections
  • Record fundraising
  • Permanent headquarters
  • Meet and greets with many candidates
  • Successful events such as raffles, golf tournaments, Reagan Day Dinners, and assisted with fundraisers for candidates
  • Blood drive at headquarters
  • Supported elected officials
  • Boots on the ground - record poll observers
  • Call center at headquarters
  • Public candidate forum
  • Float in the Belhaven July 4th Parade
  • Delegates at District & State Conventions

Carolyn was appointed Beaufort County Register of Deeds in January 2023 and elected in November 2024. She has worked in local government for over 30 years and still has the enthusiasm, if not more, than when she began. Her work record goes back to age 10 and includes a law firm, a car dealership, an egg farm (egg picker), and even harvesting cucumbers!

In May 2021, Carolyn received a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a major in Computer Information Systems.

Carolyn is committed to building strong foundations within the Republican Party and growing participation from our young people. In today’s climate, she believes we must educate young people before they reach voting age. They will be our leaders in the future.

Carolyn agrees with President Reagan, who said, “I believe now, as I always have, that America’s strength is in We the People.”

Contact Carolyn: Email or (cell) 252.944.3307

Diane

Diane Ahearn
Vice Chair

Contact Diane: Email or (cell) 252.945.8780

 

Janet Knight
Second Vice Chair

Contact Janet: Email or (cell) 252.947.2207

 

Alicia Salinas

Acting Secretary 

 

Contact Alicia: Email or (cell) 252.944.1905

David French
Treasurer

After graduating from JH Rose High School in Greenville, I attended Pitt Community College in the Machinist program. Upon completion of this curriculum, I continued at PCC in Manufacturing Engineering Technology, which provided a solid foundation for the first 28 years of my working career in manufacturing in operative and leadership positions.

I then spent eight-plus years as a realtor specializing in Residential Properties. During this relatively brief period, I served on the Greenville-Pitt Association of Realtors’ Board of Directors. In 2007, I was one of 12 realtors statewide selected to attend the North Carolina Association of Realtors Leadership Program, an intensive yearlong program to train future leaders at the local, state, and national levels. In 2008, I served as president of the Greenville-Pitt Association of Realtors and on the NCAR Professional Standards Committee.

My wife Sheila has been in the beauty business for 37-plus years. For about 25 of those years, she operated Salon French and Day Spa, a full-service salon in Greenville. In her early years, I helped her with budgets and inventory and introduced her to QuickBooks and a beauty industry point-of-sale software program. I served as her advisor in personnel matters.

Sheila and I have been married for 41 years and counting. We have one son, Bryan, who served in the 101st Airborne. His MOS was 11Bravo. He was deployed to Iraq in 2003, where his deployment lasted 11 months. Fortunately, he was discharged in 2005. He now lives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Contact David: Email or (cell) 252.717.1441