Cary Council Member Jennifer Robinson is the new president of the North Carolina League of Municipalities in a freshly elected League Board of Directors, comprising new and continuing members. The election results were announced Thursday at the organization's annual business meeting, held in part-one of the CityVision 2020 virtual conference.
Robinson, a town council member since 1999 and who until Thursday was serving as the League's vice-president, acknowledged her new position as president comes amid a “most surreal and challenging time," with public health and economic concerns in the daily headlines, local to national, and without much precedent to follow. “We don't know how long this is going to last," she said. “We don't know when we should stop sheltering in place. Has it been too long? Is it too soon to stop? We don't know how far our economy will sink or when and how it will recover…. But, what we do know is that the League is looking out for our best interests. It understands the challenges that municipalities, their elected leaders, and citizens are facing. They are bringing us together with one collective voice."
Her words followed a tone similar to that set by Immediate Past President William Pitt of the Washington City Council, who frequently cited the energy of working in unison. “Having served this organization for almost a decade, I will treasure all the friendships and acts of kindness and love," Pitt remarked on the transition. “Even as the work over this issue or that fades, those personal acts will remain. It has truly been a great honor to be your president, and I thank you all." Pitt's perspective on navigating the pandemic as a local elected official is featured in the next issue of Southern City, the League's quarterly magazine.
Gov. Roy Cooper addressed Thursday's meeting attendees with an update on the state's COVID-19 response, which includes the newly activated Phase 2 of restrictions-easing, lifting the stay-home order and expanding business activities. As challenges remain, state officials are tracking activity and letting public health data guide decision-making.
League Associate Executive Director for Public and Government Affairs Rose Vaughn Williams presented on why revenue is so needed for cities and towns to help the state recover from the virus-related economic crisis. “Cities are the economic engines of the state," she said. “Data from the Great Recession from 2008 show that the longer cities go without help in a recession, the longer the recession will last for the state." Williams noted that cities are not in their current financial predicament because of mismanagement; it's the global pandemic, and municipalities will be advocating on the state and federal levels for revenue assistance.
League Executive Director Paul Meyer told the Board of Directors and other members that their response to the coronavirus “has been impressive and effective, and we see that in how the state is weathering the health threat caused by the virus. We see that in your active involvement in addressing the safety of your residents and the economic threats created by this virus."
All the same, Meyer said, the League is here and working on their behalf so cities and towns can come out of this pandemic in shape to help drive the state's economy. “We are working every day to ensure that you receive the resources needed to meet tomorrow's challenges," he said. “This pandemic has created its own challenges for our organization, but I am proud of member and staff efforts to continue our work, which has taken on even more importance."
The League Board of Directors elections results:
President: Jennifer Robinson, Council Member, Cary
Vice President: Karen Alexander, Mayor, Salisbury
Second Vice President: Scott Neisler, Mayor, Kings Mountain
District 1: Don Kingston, Mayor, Duck
District 3: Walter Eccard, Mayor, Shallotte
District 5: Carl Ferebee, Mayor Pro Tem, Roanoke Rapids
District 7: Soña Cooper, Alderwoman, Spring Lake
District 9: Neville Hall, Mayor, Eden
District 11: Stacy Thomas, Alderwoman, Dallas
Director at Large: Ian Baltutis, Mayor, Burlington
Director at Large: Doug Matheson, Councilmember, Blowing Rock
Large City Seat: Larken Egleston, Councilmember, Charlotte
Large City Seat: Mark Anthony Middleton, Councilmember, Durham
Large City Seat: Sharon Hightower, Councilmember, Greensboro
At Large Manager: Jeff Repp, Manager, Boiling Spring Lakes
At Large Municipal Attorney: Kim Rehberg, City Attorney, Durham
At Large Municipal Clerk: Melissa Capps, Clerk Goldsboro
Undesignated Affiliate: David Phlegar, Stormwater Manager from Greensboro who is representing the Stormwater Association of North Carolina.
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