Map of District 49
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Effective First Term in North Carolina House of Representatives
I was first elected to represent the people of District 49 in
the North Carolina House in 2002. During my first term as a
member of the North Carolina Legislature, I was a part of an
historic session. Leaders of our two major political parties
shared the office of Speaker of the House, which fostered a positive
level of cooperation and accommodation of diverse views.
I believe this bi-partisan environment is healthy and productive for
our state's governmental, economic, and political life.
Similar to my experience as Mayor of Louisburg, mutual respect and
working together have been important toward accomplishment of shared
goals.
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Digital Scrapbook of
My 1st Term
When you click the image link above, you will open my digital scrapbook
and see some of the photographs and newspaper clippings that are
part of my 1st Term Scrapbook.
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To the right is the press release from the non-partisan Center for Public Policy
Research, which made headlines in The Franklin Times (Louisburg, N. C.,
June 9, 2004). I was pleased to be among the 6 "freshmen"
lawmakers in the top half of effectiveness rankings in the N. C. House of
Representatives.
Citizens and Communities Working Together
One example of working together within the District has been the efforts to establish a
Northeast Regional Farmers' Market, long a goal of the Halifax Tourism
Authority. This market would be an outlet for North Carolina
agricultural products from across District 49.
I was pleased to bring together Lori Medlin, the Halifax Tourism
executive director, with the owner of a major East Coast truck stop at
the HWY 903 Exit on I-95, so that they could talk about including the Farmers'
Market in his project. They have obtained a $50,000 Golden Leaf
planning grant as a first step to making the project a reality.
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"Listen & Learn" Tour
In keeping with my philosophy that leadership listens, I have met with many groups and individuals from all parts of
District 49. I have listened to their opinions and am working
tirelessly as their legislator to be a thoughtful spokesperson for their welfare.
I began my first term of office by participating in a "listen and
learn" multi-county bus tour of the state. I was one of 16
freshmen House members who made some two dozen stops in our respective
districts over a 5-day period in August 2003. We each "paid
our own way." As part of our visit in Franklin County, we held a
breakfast and public forum in Louisburg.
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My House Committee Assignments
During my first term as your Representative, my committee assignments
provided an opportunity for me to participate in areas that
are vital to our District. I was selected to serve as
Vice-Chair of the House Committee on Local Government II, and I served on
the following House Committees:
- Committee on Appropriations
- Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation
- Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
- Committee on Insurance
- Committee on Local Government II
- Committee on Transportation
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From The Franklin Times, March 1, 2003
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Commissions and Special Committees
During the interim between the 2003 and the 2004 sessions, I served on
the following:
- House Select Committee on Domestic Violence
- House Blue
Ribbon Commission on Medical Malpractice
The work of the Committee on Domestic Violence produced landmark
legislation that seeks to prevent domestic violence by increasing
penalties for assaults and providing additional assistance to
victims. The bill was signed into law by Governor Mike Easley on
August 12, 2004.
Although no legislation resulted directly from the work of the Medical Malpractice
Study Commission, I did introduce House Bill
1765, "An Act to Establish a Study Commission on Promoting
Patient Safety." This bill was included in the
comprehensive Studies Bill passed in the 2004 session.
[The commission was not established, but I became a member
of a subsequent interim Select Committee on Health Care and
was named chair of a Subcommittee on Safety, Quality, and
Accountability in Health Care.] Working Hard
During the "long" and "short" sessions of
2003-2004, I worked hard to promote and protect the
priorities and values that are important to us in District
49. I introduced or co-sponsored 70 bills in the 2003-2004 session.
My first term got off to a quick and productive start.
In the 2003 session, 4 of the bills I introduced on behalf
of District 49 were adopted, and other legislation requests
were included as part of statewide bills or additions to
bills introduced by other legislators.
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In the 2004 short session, I introduced a bill to expand the police
jurisdiction of the Lake Royale Company Police and allow them to
purchase supplies and materials through state purchasing and contract.
House Bill 1728 passed the House and the Senate and is now state law.
As a sponsor of a bill to establish an Advanced Vehicle Research
Center, I worked with the other sponsors to successfully steer the
legislation through the House. The bill was still in the Senate
Finance Committee when the 2004 session adjourned. [In the 2005 budget,
7.5 million was included for establishment of this center.]
This Research Center will provide good jobs not only
for Northampton County, but also for the people of our District
49. It will attract other automotive businesses that wish to use its
testing and research facilities.
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Headlines on August 7, 2004
in The Franklin Times
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