Mayor Pat McCrory Speaks on Open Government, Infrastructure and Health Issues

Mayor Pat McCrory campaigning for North Carolina Governor 2008, graciously accepted our invitation to answer your questions.

March 6, 2008

COUNTY NC NEWS -- Charlotte's Mayor Pat McCrory is campaigning for North Carolina Governor 2008, and graciously accepted our invitation to answer your questions concerning North Carolina open government, infrastructure and health issues. Mayor McCrory responded with some interesting answers.

The questions were compiled from County NC News readers, and were sent via email to Mayor Pat McCrory's campaign staff on Friday, February 28, 2008, at approximately 2:00 P.M. Mayor McCrory, as with all GOP candidates, was given the choice to answer the questions in text or video. We asked that Mayor McCrory keep his answers brief (eight minutes). To read the combined News article click here

Please note that the McCrory Staff did offer County NC News a face-to-face interview. I declined, due to travel and time constraints, in order to release this information to as many Republican voters as possible before the primary election on May 6, 2008. Furthermore, Mayor Pat McCrory and staff are encouraged to add information to this site for you at anytime, before, during, and after the November 4, 2008 North Carolina election.

The following answers to your questions were received March 5, 2008:

Currently, many North Carolina County local government officials ignore sections of NC Statue 143-318.9 Public Meeting Law. The average citizen cannot take action against these violations do to the high legal costs of pursing such a legal endeavor.

QUESTION:
Mayor McCrory, if elected Governor, what could you do to assist individuals in enforcing this State statue, NC Statue 143-318.9 Public Meeting Law? Would you be willing to address this issue?

ANSWER:
As governor, as in my years as mayor, I swear an oath to obey the laws of North Carolina and the United States. I will follow those laws. Including the "public meeting laws." It has always been important to me to conduct the public's business in public. I have a twelve year track record, as mayor, of being accessible to both the public and the media and I will continue that practice whether it is required or not. Personnel matters and land transactions are, I believe, two reasonable exceptions to the law.

County NC News has been conducting a study across North Carolina on whether County Governments are complying with the North Carolina General Statue, 132 Public Records Law. Thus far, we have found several counties, including Washington County, which have a policy NOT to release Public Meeting Draft Minutes.

QUESTION:
Mayor McCrory, if elected Governor, what would you do to rectify this issue of compliance with NC Statue?

ANSWER:
See answer to Question 1.

QUESTION:
Mayor McCrory, if elected Governor, would you continue to use internet technologies to deliver timely press releases? Would you release News on a daily basis?

ANSWER:
Yes. I don't know if there will be a news release every day, but when news is released, it will be widely disseminated to all media outlets on file.

QUESTION:
North Carolina faces severe problems in financing its transportation, water, sewer and other infrastructure needs. To what extent do you think that privatization of these publicly owned systems could fulfill the state's long-term needs? Would improved planning of new infrastructure to accommodate growth be a more responsible solution?

ANSWER:
Privatization works best when the effort benefits both the public and private sectors equally. It is folly to assume that there are no state government services that can be effectively privatized to the public's benefit just as it is folly to assume that every aspect of government can be effectively privatized. The state has a duty to make sure that vital pieces of public infrastructure are built and maintained for the safety of our citizens. The concept of decentralizing government is an ongoing goal, but it must be accompanied Services that are suggested for potential privatization will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

The North Carolina Psychiatric Association has stated that it is clear that Mental Health Reform has not achieved the promised reductions in state hospital admissions of children, adolescents and adults. Yet NC continues to divest public sector clinicians and reduce the number of state hospital beds available. It is not unusual for severely mentally ill patients to sit in the Emergency Department for several DAYS waiting for a bed to open in a state psychiatric facility.

QUESTION:
Mayor McCrory, what are your thoughts about the effectiveness of North Carolina's attempt at mental health reform, and how do you propose to ensure that the state's population of severely and persistently mentally ill receive appropriate and prompt treatment?

ANSWER:
Current state efforts to deal with mental health issues have been woefully (if not criminally) inadequate. In 2001, the state began a plan to treat mental health patients in their own communities more often. Private business was supposed to step in but costs increased more quickly than anticipated and too many patients were left untreated. The further consequences of the state's actions have cost taxpayers $1 billion since 2006 (with $400 million estimated as wasted) and 82 questionable deaths. What is occurring today in this state, regarding the mental health debacle is inexcusable and cannot be condoned nor continued. Oversight needs to be returned to the treatment and care giving process and responsibility for these patients needs to be taken by the state. Ignoring the needs of these patients cannot be substituted for "care" by the state any longer and, as governor, I will not condone any more such behavior.

We would like to give special thanks to Trey Best, and the "Elect Pat McCrory Governor" campaign staff and volunteers for taking time to arrange for Mayor McCrory to answer our questions.

Finally, we wish Mayor Pat McCrory campaigning for North Carolina Governor 2008, the best of luck in the up and coming primary election. Additionally, we would like to thank him for indulging our reader's questions concerning North Carolina open government, infrastructure and health issues.