EMPAC, the political arm of the State Employees Association of North Carolina, presented Rep. Pat Hurley (R-Randolph) with the Lisa B. Mitchell Legislator of the Year award Saturday for advocating for state employees and retirees during the recent legislative short session.

EMPAC also presented Sen. Erica Smith-Ingram (D-Northampton) with the Lisa B. Mitchell Freshman Legislator of the Year award. Hurley and Smith-Ingram accepted the awards in front of 660 delegates at the 33rd Annual SEANC Convention in Greensboro.

Hurley stood up for state retirees in May when a bill that would have taken away the ability to deduct SEANC dues, insurance premiums and PAC donations from pension checks began moving in both chambers. She successfully fought to have the troubling language removed as a member of the House Pensions and Retirement Committee as more than 50 SEANC retirees packed the meeting room and hallway. In addition, she fought for the House’s budget proposal that would have given state employees a 2-percent pay increase and retirees a cost-of-living adjustments.

Smith-Ingram also stood up for state employees and retirees during budget negotiations this summer, even offering an amendment that would have given raises and COLAs. Another senator gutted her amendment in favor of a pet project, and she called him to task on the Senate floor. Smith-Ingram gave a memorable speech at the convention Saturday, calling on delegates to “shake off the attacks and keep fighting.”

SEANC delegates also heard speeches from EMPAC-Endorsed statewide candidates Roy Cooper (Governor), Dale Folwell (state Treasurer) and Linda Coleman (Lt. Governor), elected new officers and voted on important bylaws changes to move the association forward, and contributed more than $14,000 to the two Make-A-Wish Foundations in North Carolina, among other business at the annual event.

Rep. Pat Hurley accepts the Lisa B. Mitchell Legislator of the Year award from EMPAC Statewide Chairman Tony Smith Saturday at the 33^rd Annual SEANC Convention in Greensboro.

Sen. Erica Smith-Ingram was named the Lisa B. Mitchell Freshman Legislator of the Year by EMPAC, SEANC’s political arm, Saturday at the 33^rd Annual SEANC Convention in Greensboro.