SOUTHERN CITY Quarter 1 2023 18 Legislative Leaders Address Crowded Town & State Dinner Event: United Hundreds of Municipal Officials & Lawmakers NCLM STAFF More than 500 elected and staff government officials filled the Raleigh Convention Center on Wednesday, Feb. 22, for the fifth installment of the League’s popular Town & State Dinner, uniting municipal and legislative leaders for relationship-building, the talking-through of various timely issues, and to hear updates and perspective from House and Senate majority and minority leaders on the shape of North Carolina. Over a meal, and following a networking social, attendees from areas across the state utilized the occasion to strengthen intergovernmental connections as the General Assembly carries out its annual lawmaking session, which speakers noted can include a wide variety of issues, making ongoing communication between local and state officials essential. “We may not always agree on the exact path, but we all do this to try to make our state better,” said event emcee William Harris, the commissioner from Fuquay-Varina and NCLM Board of Directors first vice-president. Commissioner Harris introduced question- and-answer panels featured over the evening, starting with House Speaker Tim Moore and House Democratic Leader Rep. Robert Reives, moderated by NCLM President and Kings Mountain Mayor Scott Neisler. Mayor Neisler, with Speaker Moore and Rep. Reives seated to his sides, noted the sizable responsibility of public service. “We want to thank you so much for your sacrifice … leaving your families, leaving your businesses, to come up here and serve,” Mayor Neisler said. But during his conversation with the legislative leaders, the importance of sustained ties and fruitful communication between local officials and their lawmakers received as much emphasis. IT WAS ALL ABOUT CONNECTING, COMMUNICATING, AND CELEBRATING THE MANY GREAT OUTCOMES NORTH CAROLINA HAS EXPERIENCED WITH LOCAL-STATE TEAMWORK. continues on page 20
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTY1NDIzOQ==