Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2014 10:45:59 -0400
From: virginia penley
Subject: Showing Up Matters
I had the opportunity to visit the Democratic Club in the Carolina Perserve this week.
It was an interesting presentation by Sen. Valerie Foushee, Rep. Robert Reives and Democratic State Chairman, Randy Voller.
County Commissioner, Jim Elza, was the emcee and there were Democrats, Unaffiliates and even a Republican in attendance.
After the meeting Commissioner Elza chatted with us about his work on the metropolitan planing organization. He attends the meetings and this year the group set aside approximately $34,000 for Chatham County.
These regional relationships matter and they yield opportunity and funding. Commissioner Stewart acknowledged at the forum in Pittsboro that she failed to attend the meetings and told the public that the planning group could contact her if there was an issue that was Chatham related.
We don’t live in a vacuum and funding for our community is not given to empty chairs.
Kudos to Jim Elza, but let’s not forget that Chatham County lost an opportunity to further relationships and gain a lot more funding for projects when our GOP leaders failed to be present.
Hales, Crawford and Howard pledge to be present and accounted for at regional planning meetings just like Jim Elza did, representing all Chatham County citizens.