A PUBLICATION OF THE NORTH CAROLINA LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES 10 TOWN & STATE DINNER LINKS STATE AND MUNICIPAL LEADERS 14 FAYETTEVILLE’S VOICE: MAYOR PRO TEM KATHY KEEFE JENSEN 24 HARMONIZING NOTES: HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER ROBERT REIVES 34 NCLM LAUNCHES FULL YEAR OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT EDUCATION Volume 75 / Number 2 / 2nd Quarter 2025 Another Year, Another Successful CityVision
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Southern City is a publication for and about North Carolina municipalities, published quarterly by the North Carolina League of Municipalities. Volume 75 Number 2 2nd Quarter 2025 Executive Director & Publisher: Rose Vaughn Williams Editor: Isabella Mormando Writers: Ben Brown, Jack Cassidy, Stephanie Hughes, Matt Lehrman, Scott Mooneyham, Isabella Mormando Photography: Ben Brown, Stephanie Hughes, Isabella Mormando, Town of Mars Hill, Town of Marshall nclm.org Southern City (USPS 827-280) is published quarterly for $25 per year ($2 per year to member municipalities, $1 for single copies) by the North Carolina League of Municipalities. Phone: 919-715-4000 Postmaster: Send address changes to: Southern City 434 Fayetteville Street, Suite 1900 Raleigh, NC 27601 Advertising & Design: Advertising Sales: Cathleen Corbin Design & Layout: Jon Cannon ©2025 NC League of Municipalities All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the publisher. PUBLISHED Summer 2025 14 FAYETTEVILLE’S VOICE: MAYOR PRO TEM KATHY KEEFE JENSEN SOUTHERN CITY
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 10 14 18 22 24 28 32 34 38 6 8 40 41 42 32 22 WRITERS THIS ISSUE ISABELLA MORMANDO Communications Associate MATT LEHRMAN Social Prosperity Partners JACK CASSIDY Learning and Development Program Manager BEN BROWN Communications & Multimedia Strategist STEPHANIE HUGHES Communications & Multimedia Strategist (ARP) SCOTT MOONEYHAM Political Communications Contractor Town & State Dinner Links State and Municipal Leaders More than 400 League members and state legislators attended the League’s Town & State Dinner, held in Raleigh in late February. The event provides a chance for state and local leaders to break bread and discuss policy issues, further strengthening their relationships. Fayetteville’s Voice: Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Keefe Jensen A product of Fayetteville herself, Kathy Keefe Jensen knows how great her hometown is. As a local leader, her tireless work is to make sure everyone else knows too. Another Year, Another Successful CityVision The progress made at CityVision has had material impacts on communities in the past, and this year’s edition seems no different. Hall, McLeod and Garimella to Lead NC League of Municipalities The NC League of Municipalities’ membership elects new leaders to its Board of Directors. Harmonizing Notes: House Democratic Leader Robert Reives Democratic Leader Robert Reives reflects on urban-rural divide, leadership, and communication balance across North Carolina’s evolving political landscape. In the Wake of Hurricane Helene What Hurricane Helene revealed about the power of community in small towns. Steering Toward Safety The League’s Risk Management Services team is rolling out a safe driving campaign to keep pool members informed on the importance of safe driving. NCLM Launches Full Year of Financial Management Education New training track features in-person courses, webinars, on-demand resources and hands-on workshops. Defending Civic Trust: The Responsibility of Local Leadership Government works best when people help shape solutions, not just oppose decisions. Board of Directors Speaking Out New Leadership, Shared Vision Taking the Field Five Key Takeaways from Our Time Together in Greenville In Memoriam Board of Trustees 5
PRESIDENT Martha Sue Hall Mayor Pro Tem, Albemarle SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT Satish Garimella Mayor Pro Tem, Morrisville FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT Jody McLeod Mayor, Clayton IMMEDIATE PAST-PRESIDENT Mark-Anthony Middleton Mayor Pro Tem, Durham Board of Directors 2025–2026 WORKING AS ONE. ADVANCING ALL. DISTRICT 1 Mayor Elizabeth Morey Southern Shores DISTRICT 11 Mayor Hayley Beaty Dallas CHARLOTTE Council Member Marjorie Molina DISTRICT 2 Mayor Sharon Harker Beaufort DURHAM Mayor Leonardo Williams DISTRICT 12 Mayor Zeb Smathers Canton DISTRICT 7 Council Member Mary Jo Adams Laurinburg MANAGER City Manager Michael Peoples Gastonia DISTRICT 8 Mayor Bill Dusch Concord CLERK City Clerk Brenda Blanco New Bern DISTRICT 9 Mayor Michael Horn Lewisville MANAGER City Manager Tasha Logan Ford High Point DISTRICT 6 Mayor Jessica Day Knightdale WINSTON-SALEM Council Member Robert Clark GREENSBORO Council Member Tammi Thurm ATTORNEY City Attorney Emanuel McGirt Greenville DISTRICT 10 Mayor Constantine Kutteh Statesville PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENT Mayor Brittany Barnhardt Granite Quarry PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENT Mayor Joe Gibbons Lenoir PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENT Mayor Neville Hall Eden MANAGER Town Manager Jonathan Russell Washington DISTRICT 3 Mayor Terry Mann Whiteville FAYETTEVILLE Mayor Mitch Colvin AT-LARGE Mayor Dennis Barber Newport AT-LARGE Mayor Dwight Lake Mayodan DISTRICT 5 Mayor Pro Tem TJ Walker Rocky Mount DISTRICT 4 Mayor PJ Connelly Greenville RALEIGH Mayor Pro Tem Stormie Forte AT-LARGE Council Member Ann Schneider Oak Ridge SOUTHERN CITY Quarter 2 2025 6
SPEAKING OUT New Leadership, Shared Vision Every year, the League’s annual CityVision conference gives members a place to gather and learn—from each other and from the subject matter experts and speakers on the program. And this year’s conference was just as exciting and invigorating as I knew it would be. Partially because of the time spent with you, but also because of the optimistic and downright celebratory feeling I got from the moment I stepped foot in Greenville. We were able to recognize the hard work and positive strides made by both the League’s Municipal Accounting Program, including its AIM mentorship program, and our colleagues in the cities and towns who have participated in these services. During the Business Meeting, I was so proud to share in the acknowledgement of the challenges and triumphs experienced in western North Carolina, including the gratitude for each of our communities that provided assistance to impacted communities in the wake of Hurricane Helene. This year also marked an exciting milestone for CityVision—for the first time, we were able to recognize municipal officials who have completed MARTHA SUE HALL NCLM President the Advancing Municipal Leader’s (AML) certificates of municipal achievement and excellence. For all of us who attended eligible pre-conference sessions and workshops throughout CityVision, we are well on our way to earning our own AML certificates—maybe we will walk across the stage in Raleigh next year! Taking time to recognize and celebrate our individual and collective achievements is something I value very much. When I was young, I gained the confidence to work with others, to become a leader in my community, and ultimately to lead our organization now, all because people in my life saw something in me, encouraged me and helped me when I needed it most. Those simple acts changed the trajectory of my life, and I am forever grateful and humbled. It’s no secret that we are facing much uncertainty in our political world, but one thing that we can be certain of is our commitment to our cities and towns. The work we do every day as municipal officials is essential to the quality of life in our communities, and most of these services don’t care about political parties or allegiance. Unfortunately, not all of our state and federally elected leaders understand that basic tenant of local government. This is where we can really embody the League’s motto of “Working as one. Advancing all.” Now is the time for us as municipal officials to share with our elected officials about what we do and why. We must share how legislative actions will impact taxpayers and businesses at home. As the government closest to the people, we know better than anyone the needs of our residents and our cities and towns, and we must work to cultivate relationships with our own elected leaders to represent those needs. We can also use this time in our nation’s history to truly lead by example and demonstrate day in and day out the importance of working together. I was so heartened at CityVision to honor our colleagues from Garner, Franklin, Henderson, Huntersville, Leland and Winston-Salem on their achievement in completing the Commit to Civility certificate program and earning the City of Civility designation. Congratulations on taking action toward leading in a way that prioritizes working together with respect and consideration to see results that benefit your entire community. I am hopeful this AML program will continue to grow, especially in the wake of the divisiveness and negativity that can accompany public service. How wonderful it would be to have 20, 50 or even more municipalities from across North Carolina recognized at CityVision 2026 for becoming Cities of Civility! As I begin my term as your League president, I hope to encourage others to build strong relationships and become difference makers as our CityVision keynote, Austin Franklin, would say. We can make a difference in the way our elected officials see cities and towns by cultivating positive working relationships that fuel increased understanding of what cities and towns do. We can make a difference by focusing on relationships within our own boards at home and committing ourselves to be respectful despite differences. Who knows? You may help a colleague see something in themselves that changes the trajectory of their life, just as so many people in my life have done for me. It’s no secret that we are facing much uncertainty in our political world, but one thing that we can be certain of is our commitment to our cities and towns. The work we do every day as municipal officials is essential to the quality of life in our communities, and most of these services don’t care about political parties or allegiance. SOUTHERN CITY Quarter 2 2025 8
THANK YOU NCLM PREFERRED PARTNERS NCLM.ORG 9
Town & State Dinner Links State and Municipal Leaders SCOTT MOONEYHAM Political Communications Contractor MORE THAN 400 LEAGUE MEMBERS AND STATE LEGISLATORS ATTENDED THE LEAGUE’S TOWN & STATE DINNER, HELD IN RALEIGH IN LATE FEBRUARY. THE EVENT PROVIDES A CHANCE FOR STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS TO BREAK BREAD AND DISCUSS POLICY ISSUES, FURTHER STRENGTHENING THEIR RELATIONSHIPS. THE EVENT FEATURED Q&A SESSIONS WITH SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM PHIL BERGER AND SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER SYDNEY BATCH, AND HOUSE SPEAKER DESTIN HALL AND HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER ROBERT REIVES. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Town & State Dinner 2025 SOUTHERN CITY Quarter 2 2025 10
As in the past, this year's Town & State Dinner focused on a shared purpose of state and municipal officials cooperatively addressing the challenges faced in communities across the state. In his comments, then League President and Durham Mayor Pro Tem Mark-Anthony Middleton noted how much North Carolina has accomplished over the past few years through state and local cooperation and investment when it comes to addressing infrastructure needs. “We see it in water and wastewater investments that allow our cities and towns to grow. We see it in roads and streets that allow people to get to work and for commerce to flow. We see it in amenities, like parks, that make our cities and towns attractive places to live, raise families and open businesses,” he said. Middleton emphasized how the diversity of communities represented in the room provide a true strength in addressing policy issues and in making the economy strong. “As you look across the room tonight, our legislators represent large cities and small towns, and all those in between. It is the same for all the elected municipal officials here tonight,” he said. “From Murphy to Manteo, we represent large cities and small towns, suburbs and exurbs. Each of these communities is a reflection of the diverse visions that elected officials, acting on behalf of their residents, build to accommodate their needs. We have said it before. That diversity of vision is a strength. It allows us to learn from each other.” Attendees saw a video that featured municipal officials from around the state explaining how the League’s Municipal Accounting Services program had assisted their communities in improving financial and other operations. It made the point that the programs, made possible with an appropriation from the General Assembly, ultimately allow towns across the state to provide more efficient services to their residents. During the Q&A sessions, then League First Vice-President and Albemarle Mayor Pro Tem Martha Sue Hall and Second Vice President and Clayton Mayor Jody McLeod quizzed the legislative leaders about subjects ranging from Helene disaster assistance to predictions about the legislative session budget negotiations and length. Senate leader Berger discussed the need to assist communities devastated by Hurricane Helene but also for the state not to duplicate recovery efforts being provided by the federal government. All of the legislative leaders attending indicated that Helene recovery is a top priority. Other topics discussed included the state budget and a likely timetable for its approval, the state’s larger financial picture and land-use planning authority and housing. As always, the League thanks legislators and League members for their attendance at this important event promoting relationshipbuilding. continues on page 12 Legislative Update Rep. Erin Paré Sen. Phil Berger, then League Second Vice-President Jody McLeod and Sen. Sydney Batch House Speaker Destin Hall and Democratic Leader Robert Reives NCLM.ORG 11
Legislative Update continued from page 11 From Murphy to Manteo, we represent large cities and small towns, suburbs and exurbs. Each of these communities is a reflection of the diverse visions that elected officials, acting on behalf of their residents, build to accommodate their needs. We have said it before. That diversity of vision is a strength. It allows us to learn from each other. » Mark-Anthony Middleton, then NCLM President, Durham President Pro Tem Then League President Mark-Anthony Middleton Wake Forest Mayor Vivian Jones with Sen. Dan Blue Sen. Lisa Grafstein with Fuquay-Varina Commissioner William Harris and Mayor Pro Tem Marilyn Gardner Troutman Mayor Teross Young and Rep. Jeff McNeely Apex Mayor Jacques Gilbert SOUTHERN CITY Quarter 2 2025 12
Legislative Update Sen. Michael Lazzara and then League President Mark-Anthony Middleton Sen. Jim Burgin Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell, Council Member Jonathan Lambert-Melton and Council Member Mitchell Silver Sen. Sydney Batch with Mayor Pro Tem Satish Garimella NCLM.ORG 13
Fayetteville’s Voice: Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Keefe Jensen A PRODUCT OF FAYETTEVILLE HERSELF, KATHY KEEFE JENSEN KNOWS HOW GREAT HER HOMETOWN IS. AS A LOCAL LEADER, HER TIRELESS WORK IS TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE ELSE KNOWS TOO. JACK CASSIDY NCLM Learning and Development Program Manager athy Keefe Jensen embodies her hometown—the City of Fayetteville—as much as any community member can. She is a part of a military family in a city that is the largest municipal partner to the largest military base in the world. She is a local business owner, and a nationally renowned one at that, earning widespread praise for her formal wear store that has been in business more than 20 years. She is a city council member, having been elected six times and presently serving as Mayor Pro Tem. And yet, she understands that the perception of her and the perception of Fayetteville do not align. She recalls a conversation she had with a stranger years ago at the Fayetteville Regional Airport. While waiting to board their plane, the person said to her, “I love your look. You must not be from around here.” “I will never forget that,” Jensen said. “Born and bred. I am Fayetteville.” It is that disconnect that motivates much of her public service work, for which she understands that going above-and-beyond is the only route to success. Already a dynamic, innovative community, Jensen is dedicated to raising Fayetteville’s status as high as possible, in the eyes of business, outsiders and residents alike. “I already know and love my community, and now it’s time others understand that too,” Jensen said. “Understanding the Fayetteville community means recognizing the richness of our culture, and depth of our history, and the strength of our unique identity as a community deeply connected to service. It’s just as important that we help others see what makes our city so special—from a vibrant downtown to exciting economic growth. Fayetteville is not just a place to live—it’s a place to thrive.” Jensen spent her entire upbringing in Fayetteville, briefly leaving to attend East Carolina University before returning to attend Methodist University and later to work for the family business, overseeing the property management and financial part of the company. When she met her husband Jerry, a soldier from Nebraska stationed at Fort Bragg, they traveled the country and the world following his career, living in numerous locations around the United States and Europe. They ultimately decided to return to Fayetteville to raise their family. Around this same time, Jensen started her own business, An Affair to Remember. K That status quo—plenty busy on its own with five children and a small business—remained until 2012, when Jensen attended a city council meeting. She was unhappy with how some problems had been addressed in her neighborhood, and in getting closer to the city’s leadership of the time, she determined that she could do better. “It was as simple as that,” Jensen said. “I went to some meetings and I said, ‘I’m running for council.’ And I did. And I won.” She was elected to her first term in 2013. Immediately, she appreciated the weight of the role. “I was the dog that caught the car,” Jensen said. “I didn’t realize how much it was. I didn’t realize how much impact local government has on day-to-day living. How much impact it has on our children. What I did realize, though, was that I liked it.” Jensen, as she describes it, comes from a family of politicians. Her father, John Keefe, served for years as a Cumberland County BOARD PROFILE SOUTHERN CITY Quarter 2 2025 14
Board Profile: Kathy Jensen commissioner, as did her brother Jimmy Keefe, who also served on the Fayetteville City Council. “I always stayed out of it,” Jensen said. “I wanted nothing to do with it. But the moment I got involved, I thought, ‘Oh yeah.’ I knew I liked it. I knew I could make an impact.” Jensen calls herself a systems person. She likes to see how the machine works and how everything fits together, and almost immediately upon joining elected office, the system of local government became clear. “I could see things moving, pieces moving, to get to where you needed to be,” Jensen said. She could also more clearly see Fayetteville’s place within the larger North Carolina landscape. It was an objection she had held for years, albeit not from a position of leadership. She recalled the field trips with her kids, the family outings, the conferences and meetings she attended—they were rarely, if ever, in Fayetteville. “Now seeing how things worked, I thought, “Why not Fayetteville? Why can’t these things be here? I saw that I could make a change there.” Elevating Fayetteville’s standing has been a central priority and theme of Jensen’s work, and she has found success through Going above-and-beyond is the only route to success. Already a dynamic, innovative community, Jensen is dedicated to raising Fayetteville’s status as high as possible, in the eyes of business, outsiders and residents alike. continues on page 16 NCLM.ORG 15
Board Profile: Kathy Jensen her time in office. One example Jensen highlights is a recent success with Fayetteville Regional Airport, where the city was able to secure nearly $61 million in federal and state grants for the total renovation from 2017 to 2024. “For years, we said it was too big of a project, that we couldn’t get anything done. Well, we got it done.” Jensen was also instrumental in the passage and execution of a $35 million parks and recreation bond, which, from 2017 to 2023, allowed for the construction of several parks, sports complexes and senior centers, improved existing parks, built five splash pads around the city, and renovated the minor league baseball stadium. “When I came on council, we had one pool and one splash pad in the entire city,” Jensen said. “These things are important, to the city but also to our families.” Perhaps her greatest local pride is the Fayetteville-Cumberland Youth Council, which she helped create and charter in 2015. The Youth Council is a local civic group comprised of high schoolaged kids and younger. It serves as a development organization, allowing them access to the decision-making process and levers of local government; a community group, as the members engage in volunteerism across the city; and an advocacy organization, where the members of the Youth Council serve as the collective voice of the city’s under-18 population. “We have the best Youth Council in North Carolina,” Jensen said, adding that 100% of Fayetteville’s Youth Council members go on to college after their participation. “It changes lives.” Succeeding in these initiatives is challenging enough for Jensen and for Fayetteville, as it is for communities across North Carolina, given the financial, cultural and political navigation required of any decision. Here, though, the challenges are unique because Fayetteville is not just its own town—it is also the largest city partner to the largest military installation in the United States. Jensen, a military family member herself, understands the exceptional obligation of supporting the military base with each local government action, of serving a city of majority veterans and of providing services targeted to those veterans, such as housing support and mental health resources. “It’s a different life,” Jensen said. “The people here live a different life. And those outside of it, they don’t understand.” Jensen’s aspirations are purely local. She has no intention of state or federal office, but every intention of serving Fayetteville for as long as she can. So much of that work, as she puts it, is shining a light on the greatness that is already present and the potential of what the community can be. She won’t take no for an answer. “When people say something can’t be done, I say, ‘Why? Why can’t it be done? Why not Fayetteville?’ I’m going to say it, I’m going to do it, I’m going to find a way,” Jensen said. “We’ve come a long way, but we’re not finished yet.” continued from page 15 I was the dog that caught the car. I didn’t realize how much it was. I didn’t realize how much impact local government has on day-today living. How much impact it has on our children. What I did realize, though, was that I liked it. » Kathy Jensen, Fayetteville Mayor Pro Tem SOUTHERN CITY Quarter 2 2025 16
NCLM PODCAST TACKLES CYBERCRIME, TRANSPO IDEAS, DISASTER RECOVERY & MORE Municipal Equation, the League’s long-running podcast about cities and towns in dynamic times, continues its monthly rhythm with a great slate for 2025. Cybercrime, disaster recovery, use of American Rescue Plan dollars and new concepts in local transportation are a few of the conversation topics that host Ben Brown has discussed with knowledgeable guests in recent episodes, which you can find on your preferred podcast platform—Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart and all the rest. Just type Municipal Equation into the search field. Ever thought about making your city car optional? Maybe it sounds far-fetched, or just something that makes sense in the major urban centers, like New York City. But in Episode 89 of Municipal Equation, we learn that a North Carolina city is discussing it. GSO2040, the City of Greensboro’s comprehensive plan that was being finalized at the time of this writing, includes a car-optional vision as one of the document’s six “Big Ideas” in public demand. Car-optional doesn’t mean car-free, the city’s transportation director, Hanna Cockburn, clarified on the podcast. It’s more about options for everyone and the recognition that automobiles are far from passive in household budgets, she said. “You know, for most households, owning a car is one of the most expensive things that you invest in, when you add up the car itself, the insurance for the car, maintenance, gasoline or charging infrastructure,” Cockburn told Brown during the interview. “All of those things go together to make a really hefty financial commitment, so if we can take some of those burdens off of households, it allows households to have more flexibility to choose where they live and invest in other areas of interest, whether it be education, household needs, all of those kinds of things. It really is part of a larger idea of making Greensboro an affordable place to live.” Previously, in Episode 88, Brown talked with NCLM Cyber Security Advisor Erik Wells about the latest threats in the ever-evolving world of cybercrime and how to stay safe—not an insignificant task when it comes to government agencies and the sensitivities of their operations. They’re frequent targets. “The biggest concern is disruption to services, because, let’s face it, our municipalities, their number-one job is to deliver services for their population,” Wells told Brown on the show. “And if (criminals) disrupt their ability to do that, well, now we’ve impacted more than just the municipality. We’ve impacted systems and people and population, and that’s really what gets elected officials fired up. If a city can’t do their number-one job—deliver services—then we have a problem.” Ransomware, a cyber-criminal technology that can lock people or agencies out of their own computer systems until a ransom is paid, remains one of the major threats, he added. The episode goes into detail about today’s variety of risks and how to stay whole with know-how and access to trainings offered by the League. Like all episodes of Municipal Equation, it’s completely free to listen to and share with colleagues. Is there a topic you think would make for a good discussion on the show? An interesting municipal goal? A challenge on the horizon? A new public engagement idea? A creative solution to a common issue? The bottom line is learning and benefiting from one another’s experiences. Send Brown your ideas in an email to bbrown@nclm.org. There are all kinds of subjects, both historic and emerging, worthy of discussion in the municipal sphere. The podcast, also found at https://municipalequation.libsyn.com, will complete its 100th episode this year. LISTEN HERE: NCLM.ORG 17
LEAGUE UPDATE Another Year, Another Successful ! JACK CASSIDY Learning and Development Program Manager ISABELLA MORMANDO Communications Associate Governor Josh Stein at CityVision 2025 in Greenville SOUTHERN CITY Quarter 2 2025 18
alling the League’s annual conference—a gathering of nearly 600 local leaders, an exchange of ideas regarding emerging issues and pressing topics, and a unique chance for all cities and towns to learn from one another—simply “successful” is selling it short. The progress made at CityVision has had material impacts on communities in the past, and this year’s edition seems no different. Taking place in Greenville from April 29–May 1, 2025, case studies took center stage in this year’s conference programming. Attendees learned from their fellow cities and towns about economic development efforts, housing solutions, zoning reforms, downtown revitalizations, transportation innovations, leadership initiatives and more. “It’s one thing to learn from an expert and to gain new knowledge on a topic,” said League President Martha Sue Hall. “It’s quite another to get that knowledge from your peers. When it’s one city talking to another, the solutions become more practical. These are successes that have been achieved in one municipality and can now be taken to another.” Attendees had the opportunity to explore our exhibit hall at CityVision to speak directly with more than 80 vendors and League partners. The League strives to invite industry professionals who are best suited to municipal needs with the goal of finding some common solutions to cities and towns’ challenges. State leadership also joined the engagement. CityVision was proud to host Governor Josh Stein who addressed the group during the business lunch meeting, speaking about the ongoing Hurricane Helene recovery and affordable housing. Additionally, State Auditor Dave Boliek and Attorney General Jeff Jackson each emphasized the importance of municipal leadership and spoke to the continuing partnerships between state and local government. On the final night of CityVision, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall joined members in Greenville to swear in the League’s new executive officers and board members. CityVision opened its pre-conference sessions with the League’s Advancing Municipal Leaders (AML) program’s most sought-after courses, ‘Commit to Civility’ and ‘Ethics for Municipal Officials.’ ‘Commit to Civility,’ allows a town’s governing board to learn together the importance of collaboration, listening and working across divides, while Ethics for Municipal Officials provides state-mandated training for elected officials. The first-ever CityVision AML Awards Ceremony recognized members who had completed AML’s certificates in municipal achievement and excellence. These awards celebrated the tireless pursuit of lifelong learning. It was a proud moment for many— and a reminder that strong leadership starts with a commitment to continuous growth. continues on page 21 It’s one thing to learn from an expert and to gain new knowledge on a topic. It’s quite another to get that knowledge from your peers. When it’s one city talking to another, the solutions become more practical. These are successes that have been achieved in one municipality and can now be taken to another. » Mark-Anthony Middleton, League Immediate Past-President, Durham Mayor Pro Tem C League Update Broadway Mayor Donald Andrews and NCLM Kathryn Hertel Town of Henderson recognized for completing AML's Commit to Civility program Immediate Past-President Mark-Anthony Middleton NCLM.ORG 19
League Update Parmele Mayor Jerry McCrary with Secretary of State Elaine Marshall SOUTHERN CITY Quarter 2 2025 20
continued from page 19 Greenville rose to the occasion as CityVision host city in 2025, not only by providing wonderful accommodations for the day’s sessions and events, but also by offering city-wide excursions. CityVision attendees embarked on a number of mobile tours, including a look at a local technology center, tours of local parks and greenways, the African American Cultural Trail and a behindthe-scenes look at MrBeast’s local studio. Through sharing your experiences, brainstorming solutions to pressing concerns and building out the network of municipal leadership in this state, you are supporting all cities and towns. The League’s motto is “Working as One, Advancing All.” Nowhere is that more true than at CityVision. The League wants to thank all CityVision attendees for their presence and involvement at our annual conference. Through sharing your experiences, brainstorming solutions to pressing concerns and building out the network of municipal leadership in this state, you are supporting all cities and towns. The League’s motto is “Working as One. Advancing All.” Nowhere is that more true than at CityVision. Save the date for CityVision 2026 in Raleigh, May 5–7, 2026! League Update Second Vice-President Satish Garimella NC Attorney General Jeff Jackson with Spencer Town Manager Peter Franzese East Spencer Mayor Barbara Mallett and Granite Quarry Mayor Brittany Barnhardt Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams Jacksonville Council Member Brian Jackson visiting the exhibit hall League Board Member Tammi Thurm on Greenville's mobile tour NCLM.ORG 21
Hall, McLeod and Garimella to Lead NC League of Municipalities ISABELLA MORMANDO Communications Associate lbemarle Mayor Pro Tem Martha Sue Hall will lead the North Carolina League of Municipalities as president over the next year. Hall was elected by representatives from cities and towns across North Carolina, with her selection announced Thursday, May 1, 2025, at the League’s annual conference, CityVision, held in Greenville, NC. Joining Hall as officers for the organization are Clayton Mayor Jody McLeod as first vice-president and Morrisville Mayor Pro Tem Satish Garimella as second vice-president. Durham Mayor Pro Tem Mark-Anthony Middleton will stay on the executive board as the immediate past president. CityVision is the League’s premier event, gathering more than 600 municipal leaders and staff for three days of learning and networking at the Greenville Convention Center. Sessions included presentations and discussions of local economic development efforts, affordable housing solutions, zoning reforms, downtown revitalizations, leadership initiatives and more. Hall’s selection as League president follows 22 years serving on the Albemarle City Council—as Mayor Pro Tem since 2015—and an additional six years of service on the Stanly County Board of Commissioners. During her elected public service tenure, Hall has held various leadership positions throughout the state, including serving on the Centralina Regional Council of Government Executive Board, the North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force, the League’s Board of Directors for three terms and the League’s Risk Management Board of Trustees. Before retiring from the public workforce in 2014, Hall worked at the State of North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts. In this role, she helped develop and implement many influential programs that led to her receiving the Order of the Longleaf Pine award. In her remarks at CityVision, Hall recounted her journey to where she is today. Including the pivotal relationships that encouraged her to lead and the various professional roles she held in the Office of the Courts, which gave her the expertise she needed. “I stand here tonight in complete awe. I am so humbled, so appreciative, so blessed and so excited about the next 12 months serving as League President. What an opportunity to see, thank, encourage, challenge and work with a great board while enhancing and empowering our more than 540 towns, cities and villages in our great state,” said Hall in her remarks. The League’s Executive Director, Rose Vaughn Williams, said, “Martha Sue Hall has deep roots in her community. She has the distinction of having served her community as both a county commissioner and a municipal elected official. She will be a great statewide leader for the League.” A In addition to League officers, newly-elected members of the Board of Directors, chosen for either a first term or an additional second term, are: • Sharon Harker, Mayor, Beaufort, District 2 • P.J. Connelly, Mayor, Greenville, District 4 • Jessica Day, Mayor, Knightdale, District 6 • William Dusch, Mayor, Concord, District 8 • Constantine Kutteh, Mayor, Statesville, District 10 • Hayley Beaty, Mayor, Dallas, District 11 • Zeb Smathers, Mayor, Canton, District 12 • Mitch Colvin, Mayor, Fayetteville, Large City Seat • Stormie Forte, Mayor Pro Tem, Raleigh, Large City Seat • Robert Clark, Council Member, Winston-Salem, Large City Seat • Ann Schneider, Council Member, Oak Ridge, At-Large • Michael Peoples, Gastonia, Municipal Manager • Jonathan Russell, Washington, Municipal Manager BOARD OF DIRECTORS SOUTHERN CITY Quarter 2 2025 22
Board of Directors I stand here tonight in complete awe. I am so humbled, so appreciative, so blessed and so excited about the next 12 months serving as League President. What an opportunity to see, thank, encourage, challenge and work with a great board while enhancing and empowering our more than 540 towns, cities and villages in our great state. » Martha Sue Hall, NCLM President, Albermarle Mayor Pro Tem League First Vice-President Jody McLeod League President Martha Sue Hall League Second Vice-President Satish Garimella NCLM.ORG 23
Harmonizing Notes: House Democratic Leader Robert Reives BEN BROWN Communications and Multimedia Strategist It’s not uncommon for a state legislative session to carry a theme of sorts, or a buzz focus that might dominate conversations and news narratives. Anyone involved in North Carolina politics roughly 10 years ago probably remembers the oft-noted “urban-rural divide” that spotlighted the dynamics of the state’s populations, growth trends and needs. Rep. Robert Reives remembers it well, having entered legislative office in 2014 with a lifetime spent in a region that essentially sat evenly in the dichotomy. Rep. Reives represents Chatham and Randolph counties in his District 54 and lives in Goldston with wife Cynthia and children Brianna and Robert III. Having grown up in the nearby Sanford area (in Lee County), where he still works as an attorney, Rep. Reives has long been a quick car trip from the much more populous capital city of Raleigh, where he’s currently serving as democratic leader of the state House and sharing his experiences with growth, balance, history and preparation. As a chamber leader, he’s also primed on the considerations of communication and harmony—the latter incidentally a sort of continuation of skills he developed much earlier in life, with an aptitude for musical instruments and the articulation that’s so involved with their playing. Southern City recently sat down with Democratic Leader Reives to learn more about his background and how it applies to his work in public office. You grew up in the Sanford area. Can you tell us what life was like and what interested you? RR: Yeah, I loved it. I loved it. It’s funny, you know, when you talk now because there’s so much discussion about rural and urban and all that kind of stuff. And, really, I just kind of felt like I had the best of both worlds in the sense that I got a nice hometown place where everybody knew everybody. But at the same time, you know, when we wanted to do things, we could pop up to Raleigh in a little bit of time and do dinner and movies and things like that. But it was really rather idyllic. It was funny. I was actually having a discussion with somebody recently about that, and I think we really kind of hit a sweet spot with my age group, and it was because I was born in 1970. My mom’s little sister and little brother had a chance to go to an integrated high school, but they got moved mid-high school. I was the first person to go to an integrated school from kindergarten through 12th grade. And I think with a lot of the kids, it was a good time. We got a chance to really delve in, get to know each other. You got to interact with people in a different way. And I think that even helped adults in town in a sense. Just everything was kind of unique with Sanford. We had a police force that was very reflective of the community— and still got the same police chief from when I was younger. But it was just a really good time and a lot of those folks that I grew up with, we still are friends today. Obviously, you don’t keep up with everybody in the same way, but a lot of them are there, like I my campaign manager is a friend that I met in fourth grade. The folks teaching at schools now, all my high school classmates and schoolmates. Music was a big thing to me. I loved to play sports. But music was my number one. You played in the school band, didn’t you? RR: Yeah, played marching band, played concert band. I actually had a couple of house bands when I was in high school. And it’s funny how it all really started is that I decided to pick up sax in middle school. And at the same time, my dad found this old antique piano. And so, we had moved what became our first piano into my house when I was in third grade. There was a guy that down the street from us happened to be a piano tuner. And so, I taught myself piano from there, and that was a wrap. Like I really enjoyed sax, I was really good at saxophone, but that piano did it. LEGISLATOR Q&A SOUTHERN CITY Quarter 2 2025 24
I was having to teach myself on that. I’d always loved Prince; Purple Rain was out, so that was one of the first songbooks I bought. And it was great. We really had a good childhood. With music standing out as an interest and a potential direction for you in life, how did government come into focus? RR; My mother is really the person that got both me and my father (Robert Reives Sr., the first black person elected to the Lee County Board of Commissioners) into politics. He got elected in 1990, when I was in college. Lee County was really interesting in the way that it went, and I don’t think it was dissimilar than a lot of places. So, the city of Sanford dominates Lee County, but Lee County also has Broadway, Tramway, Lemon Springs, all these places. And so, the outside of the county was still very—you just didn’t have a lot of African Americans in the county itself, but a lot of African Americans bought homes in the city. And so, what happened is that the city was a heavily minority community, but the county as a whole wouldn’t necessarily be. What happened is, and it was really kind of odd, because my father was definitely not into politics, but he was very focused about social ills. A lot with his background and how he grew up. And so, they ended up suing the county, because of our commissioner districts. Because what the districts did is almost perfectly divided all of the African American community in each of these districts, so that there was no way for African Americans to really ever elect somebody, elect a candidate of their choice, which became the term used later. Department of Justice jumps in, and they’re just like, yeah, this violates constitutional law, and made the county redraw the districts. And so, one of the districts ended up being kind of a city district. I think anybody who knew my father at that time would know he was kind of like, “Cool, I’m done.” My mother, in a parallel track, had been getting very active in the Democratic Party. And so, she did a stint as chairperson of the Democratic women’s group, which was a really powerful organization when I was growing up. And just stayed really active. She was active, and in the church, things like that. And so, a lot of people were approaching my father and saying we think you’d be the right person to run for this seat. And it wasn’t even a consideration for him. One of the most significant points in my life that I think later guided me about public service is she had a sit down with him. I happened to be there for it. She made a very good argument. And Legislator Q&A: Robert Reives continues on page 26 It’s really good when you’ve got people who can see that the job I’ve got isn’t for the now; the job I’ve got is to set us up for the next five, 10, 15 years. » Robert Reives, North Carolina House Democratic Leader House Democratic Leader Robert Reives at Town & State Dinner 2025 NCLM.ORG 25
by the end of that argument, she’s just like, “So, if it’s not you, then who would it be?” So, he said, fine, he’d run. He always has been a real spiffy dresser, and especially during that time in his life, and so he literally had his blue suede shoes on when he walked the whole district, to make sure everybody knew him. This isn’t something he took lightly. He knocked on every door and has been serving ever since. This is year 35. I think what that did for me is it set in my mind that you’ve got to give back. We weren’t wealthy, but we were happy. And of course, my parents as a generation had it better than my grandparents did. So, their position was, I have that because of my community, and we’ve got to give back. And so, I joined the county party. (Much later, when the House seat came available,) I had a Republican call, Democrat call, Republican call, Democrat call, and they were all like, you know, you really ought to consider it. So, I was like, OK, that makes sense to me. Your district again is situated more on the growing rural side but essentially in the mix of the urban Triangle region. How have you seen those dynamics change or evolve over time and what comes to mind when it comes to understanding your local communities’ visions? RR; It’s really good when you’ve got people who can see that the job I’ve got isn’t for the now; the job I’ve got is to set us up for the next five, 10, 15 years. I think our business community did a good job getting behind that. Simultaneously, you had some real pushes, like the Lee County Education Foundation, where I got a chance to meet a whole lot of business leaders that I never would have had a chance to meet, was very good and very active. So, I was very proud understanding what your goal should be in government. In my mind, it’s trying to figure out how to raise the standard of living for everybody. I think there are two schools of thought that you see—if I raise the standard of living for the upper 1% or 2%, they’ll make sure everybody else is taken care of; and then there’s a school of thought that says if I raise the standard of living for everybody, then everybody moves up a spot, it’s literally the rising tide. I mean, I think it’s easy to think of in terms of a business. When businesses decide where they’re going to locate, they look and say, “Can this population afford our product?” And so, the more successful the average person is in that community, the better the businesses are there in the community, as far as retail, as far as restaurants, things of that sort. And so that makes it pretty easy, because their thing is, if most of you can’t afford to come here, I can’t locate here. And so, I think that that is what has made me happy. Because, as you know, I’m co-chair of the (Legislative) Life Sciences Caucus, and that became a big deal. Lee County really leaned into the life sciences area. Pfizer made a huge investment, and at the same time Chatham County leaned into really heavy economic development. And so, they ended up getting VinFast and then, ultimately, the big dog was Wolfspeed (both in Chatham County). Now, because I’ve got Randolph County, I’ve also got Toyota. But it’s got the electric car battery plant, which makes us kind of a clean energy silo. And that’s good, because that’s where we’re headed. And so, I think that what it requires is everybody working together. And so for instance, even after I lost Lee County as part of my district (with legislative redistricting), we had such great bonds between the two counties, and I’d like to think I was part of that, to help set up so that when Chatham County suddenly needed water, Sanford, which had actually over-invested in water years ago … in the late 60s, (was able to provide it). And so now, of course, Sanford is selling water left and right. And if not for Sanford, Siler City would not have water, Pittsboro would not have water, we would not have the expansion that we’ve got now. That’s the part of government I love, being able to set up a situation so that everybody does well. Same thing when investing in our community college … and there could be some synergy. I remember when they got Caterpillar into Sanford. Caterpillar immediately entered into a partnership with the community college, and suddenly people had opportunities they did not normally have. Pfizer did their expansion and immediately got with the community college. And that helped get people into the workforce. And when the Great Recession hit in ‘08, you had adults in their late 30s, 40s suddenly having to figure out another career after 20 years, and they were immediately able to go to the community college and turn something around. To me, that’s what we ought to be doing. And at the same time, we did it without being divisive. So, I think Sanford has done a good job as a city staying there. I think Chatham has done an excellent job of staying in that space of understanding that we don’t get anywhere unless our Republicans and our Democrats understand we’re working to make Chatham better. What are your thoughts on achieving that? What does successful, healthy communication in this space look like today? RR; What you’ve got to understand is that comes from leadership. That’s why I’m giving (House) Speaker (Destin) Hall credit at this point. I think what he understands is the stuff that we differ about. Let me be real clear. I know government shouldn’t tell me as a small business owner who I should hire, how I should hire, and what my workforce should look like, ever. I am a strong believer that the government doesn’t need to be in my bedroom. The government does not need to be in my personal life. The government doesn’t need to tell me how I practice my faith. Those are social factors that, you know, I think that society polices. But the thing that folks higher up than all of us recognize is the more chaos there is, the more division there is, the better chance they’ve got to stay in power, because then people can’t focus on what’s really happening. I’ve said this since I got in, in 2014, when you see these incredibly continued from page 25 Legislator Q&A: Robert Reives Rep. Reives at the 2025 Town & State Dinner Rep. Reives at the Pinehurst 2024 Town & State Dinner SOUTHERN CITY Quarter 2 2025 26
divisive social issues come up that, ultimately, when you look at them, they don’t change anything about your life. They don’t raise your wages, they don’t foster economic development, they don’t do anything to make houses more affordable, they don’t do anything to make your school education any better, they don’t do anything to help your healthcare. So, if you’re not covering those five things, why are we running that bill? … It’s sad, but it’s a hard thing to do because this divisiveness plays on emotion, and that is the hardest thing for human beings to regulate. It is so, so hard once we get emotionally invested in something to pull ourselves back and say, “What should be the goals of this particular institution?” Like, I’ve got one institution I want to help me get closer to God. That’s my church, or whatever church I go to. I feel like they’re more qualified. I don’t think I’m ever going trust anybody who tells me, “Vote for me because we both believe in God.” Nah, I need to see what you do. I’m an attorney. If I need plumbing done, let the plumber do it. I’m not so unintelligent that I can’t figure something out, but I’m betting he knows some stuff that I don’t know. So let people who do their thing stay in their lane, and when you look at government, this hyper-partisanism starts because we make every single thing partisan. The first thing the folks that founded this country realized is we need our independence. We can’t keep sending our tax money and all of our wealth overseas and not being able to put it in our communities. The second thing they recognized is our folks have got to get educated, and we can’t make education just a province of the wealthy. We’ve got to make education accessible to everybody, because remember, that’s what they left when they left Europe. In Europe, it was hard to get educated, and in some of these second- and third-world countries it was fatal to get educated. And so, what they recognized was we’re going to make sure everybody here gets educated, and we’re going to make sure we pay for it because it pays for itself, because the better educated our population is, the better prepared they are to do the jobs that we need to move forward as a community. That’s a simple concept, but suddenly, with this hyper-partisanism, it’s not a simple concept. Suddenly, there’s a hint of maybe everybody shouldn’t be educated, or at least be educated the same way. The things that I think have made us a world leader, the things that I may think have made this state amazing, are basic and they’re not based on party. They are based on an ideal that we are here to make sure that we take care of everybody or provide them the opportunity to have their best lives, whatever that is. You know, nothing wrong being a ditch digger if that’s what you want to be. But if you’ve got the ability to cure cancer, why wouldn’t I want to encourage that? Your role as democratic leader in the House is on top of your general role as a legislator, which is on top of your professional life as an attorney and your family commitments. Do you ever unplug? Or revisit your music? How do you balance all this? RR: Yeah, it’s a freight train all the time. The number one space that I keep open is for my family and my kids, and so that causes me not to be able to do some of the stuff I love to do. Like, I actually got on (an app that teaches users how to play different musical instruments), and I’ve been stuck on the first chapter of the piano side for three years. Because it’s most important to me that I invest that time with my kids. And the problem with politics, especially now: … everybody is so angry now. And that’s what’s so different than when I grew up in Sanford. I couldn’t tell you the political affiliation of one person that I was in high school with. I wouldn’t have known their political affiliations until now, when it became so important. … What I most hope is not Democrats getting control, or anybody else gets control of anything. What I most hope is that we can somehow get our voting population back to a point where they understand what defines you is not your party. In fact, that should be so far down your list that it should be a happenstance. What defines you is the family person you are, and that doesn’t necessarily mean being married, having kids or anything like that, but you as a family member. What defines you is your relationship with your faith, whatever that is. Because, to me, faith is about how you treat others who aren’t in your family, who aren’t your friends, who you do not know. What should define you is your ability to contribute to a successful society and a successful community, because civilization, great civilizations, don’t happen by happenstance. … But, you know, hopefully we’ll get back to that time. I know that there are people who believe, like I do, all across the political spectrum, but I don’t ever want what my children have seen with government to be how they view government going forward. I want them to know the greatness that can come from a great government. Legislator Q&A: Robert Reives What defines you is your relationship with your faith, whatever that is. Because, to me, faith is about how you treat others who aren’t in your family, who aren’t your friends, who you do not know. What should define you is your ability to contribute to a successful society and a successful community, because civilization, great civilizations, don’t happen by happenstance. » Robert Reives, North Carolina House Democratic Leader NCLM.ORG 27
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