Republicans take care of business, behead 'King Ben'...for now

Neither Dodge nor Ford nor Chevrolet could have engineered a more dramatic shift of power in Caldwell County than that produced by Republicans in their May 8 primary election for county commissioner. Political power moved like an earthquake, but the GOP will maintain its same 5-0 hold on the commission.

Republicans elected two new commissioners—retired Lenoir Fire Chief Randy Church and Sawmills hunting-and-fishing shop owner Jeff Branch. That election effectively breaks the stranglehold that real estate developers Ben Griffin, who was voted out, and Clay Bollinger, who was reelected, have had on county policy the last four years.