NC Governor Pat McCrory Inaugural Address on Jan. 12, 2013 | UNC-TV

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE GOVERNOR OF NORTH CAROLINA.
[APPLAUSE] >> GOOD MORNING.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN NORTH CAROLINA. I'VE JUST DECIDED I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR MAC
WINSLOW FOR GOVERNOR.
HE'S A GREAT NEPHEW. GREW UP IN ROXBORO, NORTH CAROLINA.
AND IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE HIM DO A GREAT READING. LET ME TELL YOU WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY AT A
NEW LOCATION WITH A DIFFERENT VIEW.
WE'RE HERE ON HISTORIC GROUNDS WITH OUR MAJESTIC AND BEAUTIFUL
STATE CAPITOL BEHIND US LOOKING AT OUR CAPITAL CITY AND THE REST
OF OUR STATE. WE'RE AT THE INTERSECTION OF GOVERNMENT AND
MAIN STREET. WE'RE ALSO HERE TO RESPECT OUR RICH HISTORY
WITH MANY OF OUR PAST AND PRESENT LEADERS TO HELP US UNDERSTAND
THAT THE GOOD THINGS IN OUR STATE HAVEN'T HAPPENED BY ACCIDENT.
THEY HAPPEN THROUGH HARD WORK. SOME OF THOSE LEADERS ARE HERE WITH US TODAY.
OUR STATE LEGISLATURE, OUR COUNCIL OF STATE, AND MEMBERS OF
THE JUDICIARY ALONG WITH MEMBERS OF OUR FEDERAL DELEGATION.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. [APPLAUSE] I'D LIKE TO ALSO EXTEND A
SPECIAL WELCOME TO GOVERNOR BOB McDONNELL, ALTHOUGH HIS PLANE
GOT FOGGED IN THIS MORNING. BUT HE'S FROM THE GREAT STATE OF VIRGINIA.
HE BECAME A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, AND THEY SHARE A COMMON BORDER
AND RICH TRADITION AND HISTORY, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR AND AT TIMES COMPETING WITH HIM, TOO,
AND BEATING HIM. [LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE] AND I WELCOME MY FRIENDS,
MY FAMILY, THAT ARE HERE TODAY, ESPECIALLY MY
WIFE, ANN. AS THE NEWSPAPER SAID, SHE STOLE THE SHOW
LAST NIGHT. SHE'S GOING TO MAKE A GREAT FIRST LADY.
[APPLAUSE] I'D LIKE TO ALSO THANK GOVERNOR EASLEY AND GOVERNOR JIM MARTIN FOR BEING HERE.
Y'ALL PLEASE GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. THANK YOU, GOVERNORS.
[APPLAUSE] AND MY GOOD FRIEND FROM ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
JIM GARDNER, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND BEING A GREAT
EMCEE TO THIS EVENT.
PLEASE GIVE JIM GARDNER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [APPLAUSE] AND THE GOVERNOR BEVERLY PERDUE,
A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU, GOVERNOR. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANY YEARS OF PUBLIC
SERVICE TO THE STATE AND TO THE PEOPLE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
PLEASE STAND AND GIVE GOVERNOR PERDUE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO
THANK HER FOR HER PUBLIC SERVICE. [APPLAUSE] YOU KNOW, NOT TOO MANY YEARS
AGO, IT WAS MAIN STREETS JUST LIKE THIS THAT BROUGHT MY
PARENTS TO NORTH CAROLINA IN . WHEN OUR FAMILY MOVED TO GUILFORD COUNTY,
NORTH CAROLINA WAS POISED TO BE THE ROLE MODEL OF THE NEW
SOUTH FOR THE NEXT YEARS.
IT WAS A STATE WHERE CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS BECAME PIONEERS
FOR THEIR COURAGEOUS STANDS IN DURHAM AND GREENSBORO.
IT WAS THE PLACE TO LOCATE NEW INDUSTRY, THAT BUILT THINGS,
DESIGNED NEW PRODUCTS, AND CREATED HIGH-TECH JOBS.
WE ALSO BECAME A FINANCIAL AND TRANSPORTATION HUB FOR THE
NATION AND EVEN THE WORLD. AND WE PROUDLY BUILT A UNIVERSITY SYSTEM THAT
ATTAINED A REPUTATION FOR QUALITY EDUCATION, RESEARCH,
AFFORDABILITY, AND A STRONG WORKFORCE. LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS FROM ACROSS THE NATION,
MY PARENTS REALIZED THAT NORTH CAROLINA WAS THE PLACE
TO LIVE, WORK, AND RAISE A FAMILY, AND BECAUSE OF THEIR DECISION
IN , I PROUDLY STAND HERE TODAY AND THANK MY PARENTS.
[APPLAUSE] MY DAD, MAC McCRORY, WROTE A DRAFT OF A BOOK CALLED "ANATOMY OF ACHIEVEMENT."
AND IT GUIDES ME TODAY. IN IT HE SAID, FOR SOCIETY THE REALITY IS
THAT MANKIND IS GOING TO SOLVE ITS PROBLEMS AND FULFILL THE COVENANT.
MY DAD TAUGHT ME THAT EACH ONE OF US HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE TALENT
AND ABILITY WITHIN OURSELVES. NOW IT'S EACH OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO FULFILL
OUR POTENTIAL.
AND MAIN STREETS FROM RALEIGH AND ACROSS THE STATE ARE SIMILAR
TODAY AS THEY WERE WHEN OUR FAMILY MOVED HERE. THEY ARE THE HEARTS AND SOULS OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PAIN RIGHT NOW IN THOSE
COMMUNITIES. TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE OUT OF WORK.
OUR STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT IS SADLY FIFTH HIGHEST IN THE
COUNTRY AND CAN STRUGGLE TO FIND SOLUTIONS WORKING TOGETHER.
BUT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THERE IS ANOTHER WAY.
AS I LOOK OUT TOWARD MAIN STREET, WITH GOVERNMENT AT OUR
BACK, I SEE UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITY. GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT AND CANNOT BE A BARRICADE
OR AN OBSTACLE TO PROGRESS.
[APPLAUSE] OUR FACE AND OUR APPROACH SHOULD BE OUTWARD, LIKE WE ARE TODAY, NOT INWARD.
WE MUST SHARE THAT PHILOSOPHY AND THAT APPROACH TO MAIN
STREETS ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA, FROM GREENSBORO, MY TOWN WHERE I
GREW UP IN, TO GOLDSBORO, FROM TARBORO TO CARRBORO, FROM
ASHEVILLE TO ELIZABETH CITY. WE KNOW THIS PHILOSOPHY WORKS BECAUSE WE HAVE
DONE IT BEFORE. MY PARENTS AND YOUR PARENTS.
NORTH CAROLINA WAS FILLED WITH UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITY. THAT'S WHY THEY CAME HERE.
OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY FOR THEM, BUT FOR THEIR KIDS TO GET A GOOD
EDUCATION, TO GET A JOB, TO FULFILL THEIR POTENTIAL.
IT IS TIME FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT NORTH CAROLINA FULFILLS AND
EVEN EXCEEDS ITS POTENTIAL ONCE MORE, AND IT STARTS TODAY.
[APPLAUSE] ONE THING IS CERTAIN. NORTH CAROLINA'S GREATEST STRENGTH AND ASSET
REMAINS ITS PEOPLE.
ON THOSE MAIN STREETS ACROSS THIS STATE, IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT
COUNT AND THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE. PEOPLE COME FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, BUT
SHARE A COMMON SET OF PRINCIPLES.
SELF-STARTERS AND HARD WORKERS. AND AS I'VE TRAVELED THROUGHOUT THIS STATE,
THERE'S NO DOUBT TO ME THAT THE ULTIMATE SELF-STARTERS AND ENTREPRENEURS
ARE OUR FARMERS. GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THEM. [APPLAUSE] I MAY HAVE BEEN A MAYOR OF A
GREAT URBAN AREA. I LOVE AND RESPECT THOSE IN AGRICULTURE.
THEY KNOW THE WORKINGS OF MARKETS AND ECONOMY BETTER THAN
ANYONE ELSE, INCLUDING THOSE ON WALL STREET. [APPLAUSE] THEY'VE KEPT OUR STATE STRONG
FOR GENERATIONS, AND WE MUST CONTINUE TO GROW AS THEY
CONTINUE TO GROW. MANUFACTURING IS ALSO WHAT BROUGHT MY MOM
AND DAD HERE. AND WE KNOW IT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR
STATE'S ECONOMY. BUT, SADLY, MANY OF THOSE JOBS LEFT AS MANUFACTURING
AND COMPETITION CHANGED.
PEOPLE ACROSS THE GLOBE ARE LOOKING FOR QUALITY PRODUCTS,
AND WE NEED TO ONCE MORE SEE MADE IN NORTH CAROLINA LABELS
ACROSS THE GLOBE. [APPLAUSE] BUT THOSE PRODUCTS CAN'T BE
DELIVERED WITHOUT A STRONG AND TRAINED WORKFORCE MATCHED TO THE
SKILLS REQUIRED BY EMPLOYERS. AND I'M CONVINCED NORTH CAROLINA CAN BE A
LEADER IN MANUFACTURING ONCE AGAIN.
[APPLAUSE] IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT GOODS CAN BE ABLE
TO TRAVEL THROUGH OUR STATE LIKE NO OTHER IN THE COUNTRY
AND THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY CAN CONTINUE TO THRIVE.
AND WE PLAN TO DO THAT WITH A -YEAR INFRASTRUCTURE AND
TRANSPORTATION PLAN FOR NORTH CAROLINA. [APPLAUSE] NORTH CAROLINA'S ALSO BEEN A
PILLAR IN FINANCE, ESPECIALLY IN MY HOMETOWN OF CHARLOTTE.
BUT THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS HAVE BROUGHT SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES
FOR THIS INDUSTRY. WE HAVE ALL FELT THE PAIN AND WE'RE CONTINUING
TO FEEL IT TODAY.
AND WE ARE, OF COURSE, KNOWN AS THE FRIENDLIEST STATE FOR THE
MILITARY. WE HONOR THEIR SERVICE MORE THAN ANYBODY.
[APPLAUSE] AND WHEN OUR SOLDIERS COME HOME FROM AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ AND FROM THROUGHOUT
THE WORLD, THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND TALENT WILL HELP US
EVEN MORE GROW OUR ECONOMY RIGHT HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.
[APPLAUSE] EVEN TRAVEL AND TOURISM IN OUR BEAUTIFUL STATE THAT ONCE THRIVED HAS FELT
THE PRESSURE FROM COMPETITION DUE TO THE RECESSION AND
FROM COMPETITION FROM OTHER STATES.
IT'S TIME TO POLISH UP OUR BRAND AND ONCE MORE SAY COME CHECK OUT
NORTH CAROLINA. SEE OUR BEAUTY AND SPEND YOUR MONEY RIGHT
HERE. [APPLAUSE] AGRICULTURE, MANUFACTURING,
TRANSPORTATION, FINANCE, THE MILITARY, TRAVEL AND TOURISM,
AND MANY MORE SUCCESSFUL INDUSTRIES. WE'VE HAD GREAT SUCCESSES.
BUT, FRANKLY, SOME OF THE WOUNDS HAVE BEEN CAMOUFLAGED WERE
UNCOVERED AND EXPOSED DURING THE RECESSION. WE FACE CHALLENGES AS A STATE, AND TODAY WE
ARE SETTING A NEW STRATEGY AND VISION, A NEW STRATEGY AND VISION,
TO UNLEASH THE STRENGTH OF OUR INDUSTRIES AND THE ENTREPRENEURIAL
TALENT AND ENERGY OF OUR CITIZENS.
WE WILL LEAD THE WAY ONCE AGAIN RIGHT HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.
[APPLAUSE] NOW, I NEED TO LET THE CITIZENS OF NORTH CAROLINA KNOW ONE THING, AND THAT
IS GOVERNMENT CANNOT SOLVE ALL THESE PROBLEMS ALONE, BECAUSE,
FRANKLY, THERE'S NO NEW MONEY FALLING OUT OF THE SKY.
LIKE STRUGGLING FAMILIES ACROSS OUR STATE, GOVERNMENT HAS TO
LIVE WITHIN ITS MEANS. WE SHOULD NOT ASK FOR MORE MONEY FROM YOU
BECAUSE THE RESULT WILL BE MORE PAIN TO FAMILIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES
ON MAIN STREET. [APPLAUSE] INSTEAD, GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO
PAY ITS BILLS, MOVING AWAY FROM BORROWED TIME AND BORROWED
MONEY. [APPLAUSE] LET ME TELL YOU WHAT WE CAN DO
IN GOVERNMENT. WE WILL WORK WITH YOU TO FORM PARTNERSHIPS,
ENCOURAGE ENTREPRENEURSHIPS AND PROMOTE AND ENVIRONMENT
THAT PROMOTES GROWTH, INNOVATION, RESEARCH AND INTELLECTUAL
CURIOSITY. GOVERNMENT MUST WORK WITH BUSINESSES AS PARTNERS,
NOT AGAINST THEM AS ADVERSARIES, TO ELIMINATE
SOME TAXES, RULES, REGULATIONS THAT STIFLE OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH.
[APPLAUSE] WHILE STATES AROUND US DURING THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS HAVE CREATED JOBS AND
FUNDAMENTALLY REFORMED THE WAY THEIR GOVERNMENTS OPERATES,
WE HAVE TOO OFTEN RELIED ON SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS TO
VERY COMPLEX LONG-TERM PROBLEMS.
FOR TOO LONG OUR STATE'S DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES HAVE
OPERATED IN SILOS, OFTEN IGNORING THE NEEDS OF THE VERY
PEOPLE WE SERVE IN CREATING INEFFICIENCIES WITH YOUR TAX
DOLLARS. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFORM OUR CULTURE
OF GOVERNMENT THROUGH A TOP-TO-BOTTOM ASSESSMENT
OF EFFICIENCY, EFFECTIVENESS, AND, MORE THAN
ANYTHING, A CULTURE OF CUSTOMER SERVICE.
[APPLAUSE] WE WILL FIND EFFICIENCIES AND WORK TOGETHER AS GOVERNMENT COLLABORATING
AND SHARING RESOURCES ACROSS DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.
WE WILL INSTITUTE THE HIGHEST ETHICAL STANDARDS FOR ALL WHO
SERVE IN GOVERNMENT. THROUGH OUR ACTIONS, YOU WILL KNOW THAT WE
UNDERSTAND THIS IS YOUR GOVERNMENT.
[APPLAUSE] I'M VERY PROUD THAT -- OF THE CABINET THAT WE HAVE SELECTED.
THEY ARE A GREAT TEAM. AND MY CABINET IS ALREADY WORKING TO IDENTIFY
THESE EFFICIENCIES AND FIND WAYS TO COLLABORATE,
SHARE RESOURCES AND BE MORE EFFECTIVE.
ONE THING I LEARNED AS MAYOR OF CHARLOTTE. I EMPHASIZED TEAMWORK AND WE GOT THINGS DONE.
A TEAM EFFORT AND PHILOSOPHY TO SUCCEED IS WHAT WE'RE BRINGING
TO STATE GOVERNMENT AND WE NEED YOUR HELP. [APPLAUSE] AS OUR TEAM COMPETES FOR JOBS IN
A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE PLAYING FIELD, QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL
STUDENTS, TRADITIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL ALIKE, IS A KEY
TO OUR SUCCESS. THERE'S A BASIC DISCONNECT TODAY BETWEEN THE
NEEDS OF EMPLOYERS AND THE SKILL SETS OF THE UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED.
AS I HAVE SAID, WE HAVE THE FIFTH HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
IN THE COUNTRY. AND YET, AS I TRAVEL THE STATE, BUSINESSES
CONTINUALLY TELL ME THEY CANNOT FIND QUALIFIED APPLICANTS TO FILL
THEIR OPEN JOBS.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AN EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT WORKS
SO OUR STUDENTS ARE ACHIEVING BETTER RESULTS AND SO OUR
STUDENTS CAN GET JOBS WHEN THEY GRADUATE. [APPLAUSE] WE CAN DO BETTER.
WE MUST DO BETTER. WE WILL DO BETTER IN THIS AREA.
THIS PAST THURSDAY I HAD THE HONOR TO MEET WITH GOVERNOR HUNT
IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ABOUT EDUCATION MATTERS. AND EVEN THOUGH HE IS NOT HERE TODAY, I WANT
TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE FOCUS ON EDUCATION IS HERE.
AND THE DIFFERENCE NOW IS TECHNOLOGY. TECHNOLOGY IS A GAME-CHANGER IN EDUCATION.
WE HAVE AT OUR FINGERTIPS THE TECHNOLOGY THAT OPENS UP A WORLD
OF KNOWLEDGE AT THE CLICK OF A BUTTON AND A CONNECTION TO THE
INTERNET. BY EMBRACING AND EMPLOYING NEW TECHNOLOGY,
WE CAN CONNECT, WE CAN CONNECT OUR STUDENTS WITH THE BEST TEACHERS
AND PROFESSORS, AND THE BEST INFORMATION THROUGHOUT
NORTH CAROLINA AND EVEN AROUND THE WORLD.
THERE'S NO LIMIT TO WHAT EVERY STUDENT IN NORTH CAROLINA CAN
LEARN AND ACHIEVE, AND THIS LEADS TO MORE EFFICIENCIES AS
WELL AS SAVING THE TAX DOLLARS OF NORTH CAROLINA. WE MUST IMPLEMENT THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE. THIS TECHNOLOGY HAS NO BOUNDARIES.
IT REACHES AND TEACHES THE POOR, THE RICH, THE URBAN AND THE
RURAL. IT PROVIDES A WIDE OPEN OPPORTUNITY THAT IS
RESTRICTED ONLY BY OUR OWN CREATIVITY.
LET'S UNLEASH THIS TECHNOLOGY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. LET'S ENCOURAGE OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STUDENTS
TO USE IT. LET'S DO IT.
LET'S LEAD THE EFFORT RIGHT HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA ON TECHNOLOGY,
WORKING TOGETHER WITH OUR TEACHERS AND WITH EDUCATION.
[APPLAUSE] YOU KNOW, WE ALSO MUST IMPROVE FEEDBACK WITH OUR BUSINESSES.
MATCHING THE LEARNING SKILLS TO THE NEEDS OF THE MARKETPLACE.
THERE'S NO EXCUSE THEN IF WE DO NOT GET PEOPLE OFF UNEMPLOYMENT
AND GET THEM IN GOOD JOBS. IF WE CONNECT THE TWO TOGETHER, WE WILL HAVE
FEWER UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE AND MORE PEOPLE WORKING.
IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, TWO- AND FOUR-YEAR SCHOOLS, WE WILL
PROVIDE MULTIPLE PATHWAYS THROUGH BOTH VOCATIONAL AND
EDUCATION. MY SAD ALWAYS SAID THIS.
HE SAID THERE ARE TWO BASIC FUNCTIONS OF EDUCATION. HE USED TO REMIND ME THIS WHEN I'D CUT ON
THE TV AND NOT DO MY HOMEWORK.
HE'D SAY GO EXERCISE YOUR BRAINS. THAT'S ONE OF THE FUNCTIONS OF EDUCATION.
WE MUST EXERCISE AND THEN USE OUR BRAINS AND IGNITE THE SPARK
OF POTENTIAL THAT EACH OF US HAVE THAT WILL LEAD TO OUR
SUCCESS. AND DURING THIS PAST WEEK, WHILE VISITING
ASHEVILLE, GREENSBORO, NEW BERN, CHARLOTTE, AND BEING HERE TODAY
IN RALEIGH, OUR NEW HOME, WE HAVE STARTED A CONVERSATION FOR SOLUTIONS.
A DIALOGUE FOR THE FUTURE CHALLENGING OURSELVES TO THINK
BOLDLY, WILLING TO ASK WHY, AND TAKING THE RIGHT STEPS TOGETHER
AS A TEAM. THROUGH OUR ACTIONS, LET'S SHOW OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE, LET'S SHOW OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT PUBLIC SERVICE, WHETHER
YOU'RE RUNNING FOR SCHOOL BOARD, WHETHER YOU'RE RUNNING FOR
CITY COUNCIL OR COUNTY COMMISSION OR STATE LEGISLATURE OR,
YES, EVEN GOVERNOR, LET'S SHOW THEM THAT IT IS AN HONORABLE
PROFESSION, DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN, INDEPENDENT, IT MAKES
NO DIFFERENCE.
WHEN COUPLED WITH CIVILITY, RESPECTING THE RIGHTS AND
OPINIONS OF OTHERS TO AGREE AND DISAGREE, WE MAKE BETTER
DECISIONS AND GET EVEN BETTER RESULTS. [APPLAUSE] AS GOVERNOR, MY APPROACH WILL BE
TO EXPAND AGRICULTURE EXPORTS. UNLEASH OUR ENERGY RESOURCES.
HARNESS NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR EDUCATION. CREATE A CLIMATE FOR EXISTING BUSINESSES TO
EXPAND EXISTING BUSINESSES AND RECRUIT NEW BUSINESSES TO LOCATE
AND GROW JOBS WHILE REBUILDING THE BRAND OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH CAROLINA.
WE WILL PUT NORTH CAROLINA ON A BETTER ROAD TO RECOVERY.
WE WILL GRASP OUR POTENTIAL FROM EVERY MAIN STREET THROUGHOUT
NORTH CAROLINA. WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE NORTH CAROLINA
THE PLACE OF UNLIMITED POTENTIAL WHERE ANYONE WHO STUDIES
HARD, WHO WORKS HARD, WHO LIVES A LIFE WITH HIGH VALUES, ANY
OF THESE FACTORS, ALL OF THESE THREE FACTORS PUT TOGETHER, THEN
ANYONE CAN FULFILL AND EVEN EXCEED THEIR POTENTIAL, AND
THAT MEANS NORTH CAROLINA WILL EXCEED ITS POTENTIAL.
[APPLAUSE] THIS IS QUITE AN HONOR FOR ME TODAY.
I'M OVERWHELMED, AND I'M HONORED TO BE ON THE MAIN STREET OF OUR
BEAUTIFUL CAPITAL CITY. LET'S LEAVE HERE TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND MAKE
NORTH CAROLINA AN EVEN BETTER PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE, WORK,
AND RAISE A FAMILY. MAY GOD BLESS EACH ONE OF YOU AND MAY GOD
CONTINUE TO BLESS THE GREAT STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.
>> IS THIS NOT A GREAT DAY IN NORTH CAROLINA? I'M EVEN UP HERE CLAPPING FOR JIM HUNT.
[LAUGHTER]