Transylvania County Board of Commissioners Chairman Larry Chapman attended the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners’ 2017 Legislative Goals Conference, which was held at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley January 12-13.

The Legislative Goals Conference represents the culmination of a thorough, deliberate and inclusive process to set the Association’s legislative agenda for the 2017-18 Legislative Biennium. The complete set of Association legislative goals is available at http://www.ncacc.org/620/2017-18-Legislative-Goals. All counties have the opportunity to send a voting delegate, and many others attend this important event for the Association. More than 200 county officials from across North Carolina attended the event.

“I have had the opportunity to attend three legislative goals conferences,” Chapman stated. “The focus and the goals of the conference continue to be very specific regarding key regulatory issues that impact counties across North Carolina. Overall the process is very thorough and allows counties’ voices to be heard. It was a pleasure and an honor to represent Transylvania County.”

Commissioner Chapman participated in the process by serving as the District 16 Director on the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners’ Board of Directors for the past four years which allowed him to be directly involved in finalizing a package of goals to be presented and voted on by the voting delegates at the conference. He was also elected by his fellow Commissioners to serve as a voting delegate. He essentially saw the process through from beginning to end.

“I feel the process of selecting the goals was very fair and represented all 100 counties in North Carolina,” said Chapman. “All the goals are very important as they could have a direct impact to counties in terms of regulations and costs. The Association will now be able to inform legislators of specific issues that they need to make as legislative priorities to fully support our individual counties and our citizens”.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper addressed commissioners during lunch on the opening day of the conference. “It’s great to be in a room full of public servants… people who deal with constituents about real-life things every day affecting their lives.” Governor Cooper spoke with the group about his commitment to finding ways to help with issues important to counties including school construction, internet access and economic development. He commented that he considers counties to be “an integral partner” and that he will listen to county officials about what is important at the local level.

Conference attendees also heard from North Carolina Free Enterprise Foundation Executive Director, Joe Stewart, on the 2016 elections and voting trends across the state, and NCACC Research Director, Linda Millsaps, on an economic outlook for North Carolina.

For information on the NCACC legislative goals process, go to www.ncacc.org/legislativegoals.

 

The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) is the official voice of all 100 counties on issues being considered by the General Assembly, Congress and federal and state agencies. The Association provides expertise to counties in the areas of lobbying, fiscal and legal research, communications, intergovernmental relations, information technology, field visits and risk management services.

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Editors: Print quality photos may be downloaded from https://ncacc.smugmug.com/2017-Legislative-Goals/. Photo should be credited as follows: Photo courtesy Chris Baucom/NCACC. Governor Cooper’s luncheon address may be downloaded from https://youtu.be/GhDvSTAi2U8.