Raleigh comes to Vance County
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Was that the state’s top business recruiter in Vance County on Thursday? And, at the same time, was that the statewide community college leader here at the VGCC Civic Center?
Indeed they both were in town — for the fifth annual Seventh Senatorial District Public Forum hosted by N.C. Sen. Doug Berger, N.C. Rep. Lucy Allen and N.C. Rep. Michael Wray.
Our multiple-county legislative team — which also includes N.C. Rep. Jim Crawford, who was not in attendance apparently because of the high-speed rail meeting in Durham on the same day — is to be commended for organizing this event that has become a powerful program.
Tackling the topic of “Job Creation and Economic Growth: Moving Past the Recession,” state Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco and North Carolina Community College System President Dr. Scott Ralls were keynote speakers for an impressive audience of governmental leaders, business representatives and members of the general public.
They were joined on the program by Billy Ray Hall of the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center and Norlina native Charles Hayes of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership.
Our local legislators have done a great job — through this forum and other efforts — to engage Tri-County citizenry in the process of state government.
Previous forums have dealt with topics like mental health reform, internet crime and gangs. In 2007, North Carolina School Board Chairman Howard Lee was a guest speaker.
Besides addressing topical issues, the forum allows the public an opportunity to share their concerns with the local legislative delegation for upcoming General Assembly sessions.
Will the forums and these speakers change our world? Perhaps not immediately. But it’s refreshing to know that Commerce Secretary Crisco knows we’re here and he knows that we are concerned about bringing jobs to our community. It’s refreshing to know, too, that Dr. Ralls and Secretary Crisco have an appreciation for the strength of our community college and its ability to train our local workforce.
And it’s just good to know that we — the public — are invited to the table and we get a chance to be heard.