W. TERRY SMITH
When Bill Bourne introduced Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue as “the next governor of North Carolina,” no one objected.
Bourne organized a get-together for the Democratic nominee and about two dozen people Wednesday at On the Square restaurant.
“I’m excited about Tarboro and its new Web site,” she said. “Cool. You are living the dream.”
Perdue, who was en route to a private fund-raiser in Rocky Mount, appeared confident. The latest Public Policy Poll has her ahead of Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, her Republican opponent, by five points.
Perdue asked questions and then answered them by saying what she would do if she is the first woman elected governor in North Carolina.
Edgecombe County Public Schools Superintendent Craig Witherspoon told her about the high schools getting laptop computers.
“That’s remarkable for the county to be so progressive,” she said. “The way you level the playing field in small North Carolina towns is with technology.”
Perdue reminisced about moving to New Bern years ago when there was no riverfront development.
“No one realized the water was resource,” she said.
Perdue promised more help with the former Main Street program that New Bern and Tarboro used successfully some 30 years ago.
“You have a plethora of wonderful historic homes,” she said. “The history here so rich. You need a governor that understands the Main Street program.”
Rusty Holderness told her Tarboro looked pretty but the county was losing population, as much as 10 percent since 2000. So many people who work in the county live elsewhere.
Bernice Pitt said the county’s biggest problem was its schools and the need for good teachers.
Witherspoon said most Edgecombe teachers live in Pitt and Nash counties.
Perdue said perhaps a program to pay teachers extra bonus money or trade paying for their education for years of service might be the solution.
“Like you do with doctors,” she said.
Perdue praised Edgecombe Community College President Deborah Lamm and ECC, “a good community college.”
“We need continued support,” Lamm said.
Perdue also said, “The future is really bright for agriculture.”
“You know what the challenges are,” she said. “You need help from the state with Main Street, infrastructure and help recruiting the right kind of industry.
“It sounds like you are on the right path,” she said.
Perdue praised state Rep. Joe Tolson, D-Edgecombe, and his work in promoting technology.
Tolson said, “I think she’ll make us an excellent governor.”
Tarboro Mayor Donald Morris predicted she would carry the county with 65 percent or more of the vote.
“I’d like 90 percent,” she said.
Perdue served in the state House of Representatives from 1986-90, and in the state Senate from 1990-2000. She became the first woman ever elected lieutenant governor in North Carolina.
On May 6, Perdue, 61, won the Democratic nomination for governor, defeating State Treasurer Richard H. Moore and Dennis Nielsen.
Prior to running for office, Perdue worked as a public school teacher, as director of geriatric services at a community hospital, and earned a Ph.D. in Education Administration.
”If a little girl from Appalachia (Grundy, Va.) like me can grow up and make it with hard work and education, any child can.”
