Local barbeque lovers and diehard Republicans gathered Thursday to meet and support an Eastern North Carolina native's candidacy for governor.

State Sen. Fred Smith, R-Johnston, rolled into Kinston to have one last barbeque with potential voters at Kinston High School before the holidays. Lenoir County was stop No. 68 in his 100-county barbeque tour.

"How can you serve the people if you don't get out and talk to them?" he said. "I love talking and getting to know people face to face."

Smith mingled with area Republicans and ate King's barbeque, while listening to what people had to say.

"I want to be a governor of the people, not a governor of the government," he said.

While on his campaign tour, Smith said he was surprised to find out the most important issue for North Carolina Republicans is honest government.

"It's our job to debate and disagree," he said. "But we also need to be transparent and open in what we do."

Smith decided to do a barbeque tour to pay homage to his native East North Carolina. Tra-ditional barbeque has always been a part of Smith's life.

"Barbeque plays a predominant role in North Carolina," he said. "It is the state food."

Smith wanted people to know a bit about him before he met them for barbeque. So he wrote a book about himself and sent it to those who had voted Republican or independent in two of the last four primaries, along with an invitation to attend the gathering.

Stephen LaRoque, chairman of the Lenoir County Republican Party, said the barbeque tour and the book are great ways to learn about a candidate.

"He shares his visions for the future and where he came from," he said. "During a time of corruption in Raleigh, we need someone we can trust."

After eating traditional Eastern North Carolina barbeque, a video was shown with family and friends paying tribute to Smith. Pictures were also shown of him growing up, as well as some of his family, his grandchildren and recent barbeque tours to other counties.

Dr. William Sumner, a self-proclaimed lifelong Republican, enjoyed reading Smith's book, "A Little Extra Effort."

"I agreed with a lot of things in the book," he said.

Debbie Hardee, teacher at Sampson School, also enjoyed reading Smith's book and said his principles lined up with hers.

"He has integrity and is exactly what our government needs," she said.

The article above by Katie Marshall was published in The Free Press on December 13, 2007 and can be found online HERE.