Residents of Richmond County visited with U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan and her staff at Leath Library Wednesday to voice their concerns and look for help.

“Conversations with Kay” is a series of meet-and-greets with voters Hagan is hoping to bring to every county in the state. A similar event was held earlier this week at Fort Bragg.

“What I’m trying to do is go out in communities across North Carolina to meet with people so they can see first-hand their Senator at work, and tell me one-on-one their concerns with the federal government,” Hagan said. “Today has been a lot of veteran issues.”

She also said she met with several education officials from around the county, and discussed the passage of a bill funding federal Medicaid and education assistance for North Carolina.

“That was a big plus for this area, and for the state,” Hagan said. “It provided about $640 million for North Carolina, with $300 million of that going toward education.”

Richmond County Board of Education Chairman Ken Goodman was one of those who discussed the recent legislation with Hagan.

“We were very appreciative for that, and it’s going to save some teaching jobs in Richmond County I think,” Goodman said.

Maxine Brown, vice president of the Richmond County chapter of the North Carolina Association of Educators teacher’s union, was also on-hand to thank Hagan for her support of the funding.

She said school funding will take a major hit when federal stimulus money expires next year.

“That’s why it’s so important to have people like Sen. Hagan that will help support education to make sure some of our important programs are not cut,” Brown said.

Richmond County commissioners Pam Dillman and Peggy Covington were also among the area politicians in attendance.

Sitting at a table with Hagan staff Director of Grants and Economic Development Christopher Sgro, Dillman discussed the need for development in Tier I counties like Richmond.

“This really means a lot, because seeing and conversing face-to-face is so much different than just talking on the phone or sending a letter,” Dillman said.

“Meetings like this really help us to work with rural infrastructure needs and rural economic development,” Sgro said. “This is something we’re dedicated to, and I work closely with Sen. Burr’s staff to accomplish it, because we don’t see economic development as a partisan issue.”

Covington said she met with Hagan primarily to discuss youth issues, but also got into the general political landscape of the country.

“I talked with her about money that would provide programs for the young people,” Covington said.

She said one particular piece of legislation that would’ve provided $1.2 billion for youth employment made it through the Senate, but was killed in the House of Representatives, “and also to see what else we can do.”

“I also talked to her about the bad press Democrats have been getting,” Covington said. “It seems like the Republican strategy of going against everything is really captivating audiences. As far as I’m concerned, the Democrats have done a great job, and we need to do more to get that message out there because otherwise this is going to be a one-term president who has worked very hard.”

Rockingham Police Chief Robert Voorhees said he used his audience with Hagan to emphasize the need for law enforcement funding.

A grant for more than $10,000 was received by his department last week.

“This was just an opportunity to introduce ourselves,” Richmond Community College President Dr. Dale McInnis said. “We’re certainly excited to have Sen. Hagan here in Rockingham, and we’re excited for her to have this great opportunity to see our needs first-hand.”

He said the college extended an open invitation to Hagan to visit the campus and see its economic and workforce development efforts, and her staff was working to make the trip possible.

Richmond County Schools Superintendent Dr. George Norris also said he had “no particular ax to grind,” but looked forward to introducing himself to Hagan and expressing appreciation for her visit.

June Mabry, chairwoman of the North Carolina Democratic Party’s 8th District, said that while this was Hagan’s first visit to Richmond County since being elected in 2008, her presence has been felt throughout the district.

The 8th District extends from eastern Mecklenburg County to Cumberland County.

“She is physically out and about throughout the district, and her staff is ever-present,” Mabry said. “They are very accessible.”

She pointed to the issue of relicensing dams along the Yadkin River as one Hagan was particularly involved with.

“That’s one of the great things about Kay,” Mabry said. “She not only wants to hear about issues - she wants to learn about issues.”

Hagan said she will be meeting with citizens throughout the state until the Senate reconvenes next month.

Staff Writer Philip D. Brown can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 32, or by e-mail at pbrown@yourdailyjournal.com.