Ashley Mcmullan Woolard

Ashley Mcmullan Woolard is a Republican candidate for the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners in the 2026 election in Beaufort, North Carolina. He is seeking a seat on the county’s governing body, which is responsible for setting policy, approving the budget, and overseeing local services such as public safety, land use, and infrastructure.

Woolard was born and raised in Beaufort County, graduating from Washington High School before earning a Bachelor of Science in business from East Carolina University. After college he joined the family‑owned Woolard Insurance Group, eventually becoming its president (or vice‑president, according to his own statements) and building a career as a small‑business owner in the region.[1]

His political involvement began early. Woolard served as Chairman of the Beaufort County Republican Party from March 2007 to March 2009, a role in which he helped organize local GOP activities and candidate recruitment.[1][4] He also held leadership positions in civic groups, including three years as an officer of the Washington Rotary Club (earning Rotarian of the Year in 2005), and service as president of the Old Ford Ruritan Club in 2004, where he was named Ruritan of the Year in 2002.[4]

Woolard first ran for elected office in 2014, seeking the Republican nomination for North Carolina House District 6. His platform emphasized two tracks: lowering taxes and reducing regulation to foster small‑business job creation, and maintaining a strong job base while supporting a raise for all teachers without tenure‑related penalties.[1] He again pursued the District 6 seat in 2016, finishing a close second in the Republican primary with 36.73% of the vote behind Beverly Boswell’s 39.27%.[1] Although he did not win the primary, his campaigns highlighted a conservative fiscal agenda, support for eliminating the state income tax, and a pledge to protect constitutional principles.[1]

In 2009 Woolard announced a bid for the U.S. House of Representatives in North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, positioning himself as a “citizen‑legislator” who would remain rooted in Beaufort County while serving in Washington. His campaign messaging stressed opposition to what he described as intrusive federal government, a commitment to conservative values, and a promise to defend the Constitution.[4][9]

While Woolard has not held elected office, his repeated candidacies and party leadership experience have kept him visible in local politics. His current run for the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners builds on his business background and long‑standing involvement in community organizations, and he continues to advocate for lower taxes, limited government regulation, and policies he believes will benefit small businesses and families in eastern North Carolina.[1][4]

If elected, Woolard says he will bring a “conservative platform of fiscal awareness” to the board, aiming to balance budgetary responsibility with support for essential services and local economic development. He also emphasizes his intention to remain a “citizen‑politician,” living in Beaufort County when not serving in a governmental role, and to uphold Judeo‑Christian values in public decision‑making.[4][9]

Sources

• [1] Ashley Woolard - Ballotpedia
• [4] Ashley Woolard Announces his Candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives, 1st District | Eastern NC Now
• [9] Ashley Woolard for Congress