Karen Holstein, the new president of the Democratic Women of Beaufort County, wants to take advantage of the fact that the majority populations in Beaufort County, North Carolina and the United States are women.

She also wants the Democratic Women of Beaufort County to become more proactive in recruiting new members, supporting Democratic candidates who run against Republican candidates and comparing what Democrats want to accomplish with the Republican agenda at the local, state and national levels

“We are the majority. We need to start acting like that. We need to let our hearts be heard. … We need to act. We need to work together. We need to create an army of us to get out there and turn out the vote,” Holstein said minutes after taking her oath of office and citing a Daily News report on area population statistics.

She also addressed the need for Democratic women to put the 2016 presidential election’s results behind them. “People did work very hard then, but it didn’t work out our way. So, we’re just going to continue and try to work harder,” she said.

The organization will begin a voter-registration initiative, Holstein said. “We’re going to have the (Beaufort County) Board of Elections come talk to us,” she said.

Other officers expressed similar views. “It is time for us, as Democrats, to, at last, move forward. We can only move forward together. So, let’s get busy,” said Marlene McCabe, the group’s recording secretary.

The organization is a member club of the Democratic Women of Beaufort County. DWBC’s goals are to support the principles of the Democratic Party, promote and secure the elections of Democratic candidates, further develop of the Democratic Party in Beaufort County as a dynamic force in the community, implement programs and projects on behalf of the Democratic Party and encourage women to seek public office and take part in party activities.

The group’s other new officers are Mary Ellen Tyrrell, vice president; Florence Lodge, corresponding secretary; Margaret Ryan, treasurer; Jean Tucker, membership; Mavis Burns, greeter. The new slate of officers was installed Thursday evening at the Beaufort County Courthouse.

For more information about the Democratic Women of Beaufort County, contact Jean Tucker at jean.tucker2@gmail.com or by calling 252-946-4077. All DWBC events are open to the public and will be announced in the Washington Daily News’ Community Calendar, according to a news release.