My day began light with a business meeting at the local athletic club, which I attend, and then moved on to more serious matters. During the campaign, I pledged to do my utmost to ensure accountability and efficiency in our state government. To me, that means restraining spending, allowing businesses to grow and people to invest. That means safeguarding our property rights and improving our schools.

Ultimately, the success of this agenda will depend on assembling a coalition of senators who share these goals. It’s vitally important that we never forget our first duty: to represent the people who elected us. After an hour of discussion, the Republican Senate Caucus agreed to nominate Senator Phil Berger for president pro tem. I went on to make the nomination for Senator Berger on the Senate floor. Here’s a quote from the Reidsville Free Press

“Members of the Republican Senate Caucus today nominated Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-District 26) for President Pro Tempore. Berger’s nomination was the first time Senate Republicans advanced a candidate in recent memory. Senator Fred Smith (R-District 12) nominated Berger and made the following statement: “I nominated Senator Berger because I think it was the right thing to do for North Carolina. Republican Senators represent their districts and expect their voices to be heard. The political process involves debate and, at times, disagreement. It is important for Republicans to take seriously their responsibility to articulate a vision that will empower people and change government as usual in our state.”

Later in the session, my young grandson was able to hold the Bible as I was sworn in as state Senator of North Carolina’s 12th district. I write this because my commitment to our future is personal, as well as vocational. My stake in better-performing schools is in watching my grandson graduate with the knowledge and skills he will need to one day provide for his family.

I know that I’m not alone in that hope, which is why I took the opportunity today to propose a bill that will raise the cap on charter schools from 100 to 125. In many ways, our public education system is failing many of our young people. Top-down bureaucracy stunts the ability to adapt to changes in our economy. The problem continues to be how to provide all the necessary tools for our students to compete in today’s global economy.

Our focus should be to create more competition in education. Raising the cap on charter schools is one way to accomplish this. Students and teachers must be held to higher standards that focus on excellence and individual achievement. The best value for North Carolina tax dollars is our community college system. I believe this is true because our community colleges have done an excellent job on making the student the customer. We must make this our top priority at all levels of education.

I remain committed to working towards a safer, more meaningful, and more family-oriented educational system in North Carolina. Thank you for placing your trust in me to represent the 12th district of our state.