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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><a name="_Hlk106046131"></a><a name="_Hlk62516701"></a><a name="_Hlk12439619"></a><a name="_Hlk62516609"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk12439619"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516701"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106046131"></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516609"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk12439619"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516701"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106046131"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><img width="118" height="132" style="width:1.2291in;height:1.375in" id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D8E53B.1FEDA9D0" alt="DCO_Shield_color"></span></span></span></span></span><a name="_Hlk503990985"></a><a name="_Hlk506281730"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106046131"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516701"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk12439619"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516609"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk506281730"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106046131"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516701"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk12439619"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516609"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk506281730"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106046131"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516701"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk12439619"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516609"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk506281730"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106046131"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516701"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk12439619"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516609"><a name="_Hlk2078108"><b><span style="font-size:48.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">NEWS
RELEASE</span></b></a></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk506281730"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106046131"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516701"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk12439619"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516609"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk2078108"><b><span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk506281730"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106046131"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516701"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk12439619"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516609"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk2078108"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk506281730"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106046131"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516701"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk12439619"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516609"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk2078108"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">For
Immediate Release Date: 10/21/2022<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk506281730"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106046131"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516701"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk12439619"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516609"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk2078108"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">Contact:
Public Information Office Phone: (919) 560-0000/Fax: (919) 560-0020<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:3.0in"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk506281730"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106046131"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516701"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk12439619"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516609"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk2078108"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">E-mail:
</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="mailto:publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk506281730"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106046131"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516701"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk12439619"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516609"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk2078108"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">publicinformationoffice@dconc.gov</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk506281730"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106046131"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516701"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk12439619"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516609"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk2078108"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk506281730"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106046131"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516701"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk12439619"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516609"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk2078108"><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk506281730"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106046131"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516701"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk12439619"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516609"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk2078108"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516609"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk506281730"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106046131"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516701"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk12439619"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk2078108"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk2078108"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk12439619"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62516701"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk106046131"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk503990985"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk506281730"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><a name="_Hlk62717647"><span lang="ES" style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p> </o:p></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><b><span lang="ES" style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Commissioner
Brenda Howerton Sworn In as Member of NCACC Board </span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><span lang="ES" style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><b><span lang="ES" style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif;color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Durham,
NC – </span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk62717647"></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">In kicking off the new term for the
</span><a href="https://www.ncacc.org/board-of-directors/"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) Board of Directors</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">,
Durham County<b> </b>Commissioner Chair Brenda Howerton<b> </b>attended the first board convening under the association’s 106th president, Washington County Commissioner Tracey Johnson. The first meeting of the new board term included a swearing in of Commissioner
Howerton and fellow members, among other Association business.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">“I am delighted to again serve as a member of the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Association
of County Commissioners,” shared Howerton. “Our role is to collectively develop policy and advocate for state and federal programs and services that respond to the ever-changing needs of our North Carolina residents.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">During the meeting, board members advanced the proposed NCACC legislative agenda as part of the Association’s
member-driven policy setting process. The board reviewed recommended goal proposals from the Legislative Goals Committee and discussed, revised, and approved proposed state and federal goals, core values, and guiding principles statements. All goal proposals
approved by the board receive a two-thirds majority vote, reflecting a unified, statewide set of advocacy priority proposals. The board gave final approval to the package of goal proposals, Association core values, and guiding principles that will be voted
on by the full membership at the Legislative Goals Conference in November.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">In addition, President Johnson presided over the inaugural meeting of the Connecting Counties Task
Force, appointed by the president as part of her presidential initiative on broadband access. “I am thrilled to begin working with my Connecting Counties task force members to expand broadband connectivity throughout North Carolina. We are passionate about
understanding the on-the-ground impacts of disconnection in counties and have a goal of helping counties work with partners on broadband expansion projects,” said President Johnson. Task force members explored the complexities and opportunities in expanding
broadband to unserved and underserved communities in North Carolina. The task force, co-chaired by Cabarrus County Board Chair Steve Morris and Bertie County Commissioner Ron Wesson, was given a briefing from experts at the NC Department of Information Technology.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">“I applaud President Johnson’s presidential initiative that focuses on Broadband Access,” Howerton
said. “Certainly, during the past few years of the pandemic, we came to fully understand the need for more and improved access for all of our residents from the mountains to the sea. Certainly, our quality of life depends on significant broadband expansion
and internet access.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">The board also welcomed guest Maurice Smith, Chief Executive Officer of the Local Government Federal
Credit Union (LGFCU). In recognition of Smith’s retirement, the board presented him with a resolution of appreciation for his leadership in the CEO role, as well as his commitment to the important partnership between the NCACC and the credit union.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">Board members also received a briefing on the financial status of the Association and approved its
annual audit report, as well as approved the appointments of members to the Oversight Committee of the North Carolina Property Tax Solution (NCPTS), which leads to the continual improvement of the NCPTS platform.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center;line-height:115%">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">###<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;text-align:justify;line-height:115%">
<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">About the NCACC</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;text-align:justify;line-height:115%">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">The
</span><span style="font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif"><a href="North%20Carolina%20Association%20of%20County%20Commissioners%20(NCACC)"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC)</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Avenir Next LT Pro",sans-serif">
is the official voice of all 100 counties on issues being considered by the General Assembly, Congress and federal and state agencies. The Association provides expertise to counties in the areas of advocacy, research, risk management and education and leadership
training.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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