Thom Tillis, NC House Dist 98 leader, said the Lake towns will get more accomplished by working together rather than alone, with regard to State support for transportation enhancements.  Tillis spoke to the LNTC Board on October 7

“We have to become politically integrated with that crescent between here and Raleigh,” he added, in order to make a signifcant impact on the Legislature.

Tillis expressed frustration that the urban areas of our State have yet to assert their influence at the State level.  “there are 60 Democratic and Republican votes in the House along I-85,”  he stated.  The challenge for the LNTC is to unite these elected officials behind a more urban agenda, he added.

LNTC Executive Director Carroll Gray suggested someone or some association needs to ‘own’ the responsibility for organizing this geography for political action.  “Without a designated organizer, it won’t happen,” he said.