98th Annual Conference
Association honors Wayne County’s Price, Reps. Carney and Justice

First Vice President Kitty Barnes and President Breeden Blackwell recognize Outstanding County Commissioner of the Year winner Atlas Price of Wayne County. (Photos by Jason King)

Wayne County Commissioner Atlas Price was named the Association’s Outstanding County Commissioner of the Year for 2004-05, while two former county commissioners turned state legislators – Reps. Becky Carney and Carolyn Justice – shared the inaugural Friend of the Counties Award. The awards were presented Aug. 26 during the 98th Annual Conference in Mecklenburg County.

Price was recognized for his tireless work on behalf of all of North Carolina’s 100 counties, particularly for his efforts in protecting the state’s military assets during the latest Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process. Price, who is in his fifth term as a member of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners, served as the co-chair of the Local Government Military Base Advisory Committee. He warned that the BRAC process is far from finished.

“BRAC is not over,” Price said. “And BRAC will not be over for a long time. When we finish this BRAC, there’ll be another one following. So, be cautious, be careful, and let’s protect one of our most important values in North Carolina – our military bases.”

Price has been heavily involved with the NCACC during his time as a commissioner, serving on numerous steering committees and as a member of the NCACC Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees for the NCACC’s Risk Management Pools.

Price has also been an active participant with the National Association of Counties (NACo), serving on various committees and task forces.

“It is hard to stand out in this type of competition, but each year, somebody does,” said NCACC President Breeden Blackwell in announcing the winner.

Rep. Becky Carney, who shared the inaugural Friend of the Counties Award with Rep. Carolyn Justice, is a former Mecklenburg County commissioner.

Reps. Carney (Mecklenburg) and Justice (Pender) received the inaugural Friend of the Counties Award for 2004-05. Initiated by Blackwell, the award is designed to encourage non-county persons and organizations to take significant actions that advance the interests of counties and the Association.

Both Carney, a former member of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners, and Justice, a former member of the Pender County Board of Commissioners, are in their second terms as members of the North Carolina House of Representatives.

Carney and Justice were honored for their work on behalf of North Carolina counties. The two served as co-chairs of the County Coalition, a group of all former county commissioners in the General Assembly that was formed this year to help advance county causes.

“It is my privilege to bestow this honor upon these two legislators and former commissioners,” Blackwell said. “Over the past three years, they have been tireless advocates for county issues in the General Assembly.

“Local officials like to joke that all state elected officials should be required to serve at the local level before running for state office. Becky and Carolyn are a prime example of why that local perspective is important. It’s easy for state officials to forget where they came from when they reach Raleigh. Becky and Carolyn have remained steadfast in their understanding of and support of county government interests.”

Justice was unable to attend the ceremony due to an illness, but Carney accepted the award on her behalf and urged members of her audience to join her in Raleigh.

“I say to each and every one of you – think about running,” she said. “It is imperative that we keep the local government voice alive.”