After serving in office for one week, Gov. Pat McCrory was publicly inaugurated on the south side of the State Capitol, the first Republican governor to serve the people of North Carolina in 20 years.
McCrory, who was sworn in as North Carolina’s 74th Governor, gave insight on future reforms in education, spoke about business, agriculture and North Carolina’s history as the cornerstones to the state’s success.
“[Farmers] know the workings of markets and the economy better than anyone else, including those on Wall Street,” McCrory said.
McCrory said farmers, as the original backbone to the state’s economy, play an important role, as do manufacturers, who he says have job openings, despite high unemployment.
“I am convinced North Carolina can be a leader in manufacturing once again,” McCrory said.
A focus in manufacturing comes with what McCrory said was a necessary reform in technical and vocational education, specifically community college programs.
“We also must improve feedback with businesses, matching learning skills to the needs of the marketplace,” McCrory said. “Let’s show our young people that public service is an honorable profession.”
Paul Mott, senior in political science and vice chairman of N.C. State’s College Republicans, said he is in favor of McCrory’s educational reforms.
“I feel like we need to return to doing what you do best for your life instead of seeing four year college as a definite thing,” Mott said.
Mott said McCrory’s pro-business stance, that would train willing North Carolinians to be part of the blue-collar workforce, is better for businesses and better for potential workers.
“He wants to make the government a tool for the people instead of making the people a tool of the government,” Mott said.
Mott said he is confident in McCrory’s ability to lead North Carolina.
Raising education as an important goal, McCrory said students obtaining four- and two-year degrees, as well as grade schoolers, are crucial to North Carolina’s success. He also explained the importance of technology in educating everyone.
“By embracing and employing new technologies, we can connect our students with the best teachers and professors and the best information throughout North Carolina and around the world.”
McCrory noted several times that North Carolina has the fifth highest unemployment rate in the United States and that it is a fact he would like to help eradicate.
“As governor, my approach will be to expand agricultural exports, unleash our energy resources, harness new technology in education, create a climate for existing businesses to expand and new businesses to locate and grow jobs while rebuilding our brand,” McCrory said.
The new governor has a tall order, but said his cabinet, including former Wake County Superintendent Tony Tata, has already begun to address the issues the state faces.
“Government must work with business as partners -— not against them as adversaries — to identify and eliminate burdensome taxes, rules and regulations that stifle economic growth,” McCrory said.
Mott said it is McCrory’s ambitious attitude and his positive track record in Charlotte that makes him confident in McCrory’s role as governor.
“I’m excited to see the enthusiasm that he showed during his campaign and all of the years that he spent in Charlotte come into the Governor’s mansion,” Mott said.
As McCrory drew his inauguration speech to a close, he expressed his love for the state in which several generations of his family are from.
“One thing is certain: North Carolina’s greatest strength and asset remains its people,” McCrory said. “On those main streets across this state, it’s the people that count and that make a difference.”
Photo by Joannah Irvin. Steve Troxler, agriculture commissioner, and sen. Brent Johnson ride in a motorized shopping cart during the inauguration parade in downtown Raleigh on Saturday Jan 12.
