The Eastern Coastal Chapter of the North Carolina Police Benevolent Association has officially endorsed Don Davis in his bid for re-election as the Senator for the NC 5th District.

“Senator Don Davis is truly a supporter of law enforcement officers and our issues, his dedication he has shown to the law enforcement community is genuine. He is determined to improve the careers of law enforcement officers and make our communities safer.” – Michael Perkins, President of the Eastern Coastal Chapter of the NC Police Benevolent Association

(Raleigh, North Carolina)–Senator Don Davis hailed this week’s announcement that North Carolina will receive approximately $400 million in federal Race to the Top grant money.  The award will fund important school reform efforts including recruiting and retaining quality teachers and administrators, a comprehensive turnaround plan for low performing schools, and 21st century technology for assessing students’ needs.

“Our state is changing and the old ways of doing things won’t work.  That’s why the Race to the Top award is so important,” Davis said.  The funds, half of which will go directly to local school districts over the next four years, will not replace existing education funding, but will be used in addition to it to reform our schools, improve student performance, and increase the high school graduation rate.

“To turn around our state’s low-performing schools and reach a new profile of student, we have to do a better job of training our teachers and integrating technology in the classrooms,” Davis added.  “We cannot tolerate failing schools and must make sure all students receive a quality education.”

Only eleven states and the District of Columbia have won Race to the Top funds.

Davis is a co-chairman of the North Carolina Joint Legislative Commission on Dropout Prevention and High School Graduation.  He is also a member of the North Carolina Senate Education/Higher Education and Appropriations on Education/Higher Education Committees.  Davis graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and earned a doctorate in Educational Leadership from East Carolina University.

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(Snow Hill, North Carolina)—North Carolina Senator Don Davis, 38, announced today that he plans to seek a second term in the State Senate representing parts of Pitt and Wayne counties and all of Greene County.

Davis said:

“When I first ran for this office two years ago, I made a pledge to provide a voice for ordinary people in Raleigh. There is so much work left to be done and the stakes are even higher as many families and small businesses are still struggling. After speaking with several residents who are unemployed, I am convinced that we must devote our energy to helping those actively seeking employment get back to work. Today, I am announcing that I am seeking a second term in the Senate to help create jobs, develop a strong and skilled workforce, and to improve the public schools.

“We must embrace the business community. I would like to see us work with our chambers of commerce to become much more aggressive with our efforts to assist small business owners. With the level of layoffs that we have experienced, retraining and retooling will be even more critical over the next couple of years.

“During these difficult times, I have relied on listening, praying, and standing firm on my Christian values. I plan to continue doing so and providing a voice for ordinary people in Raleigh. I have worked with Democrats and Republicans to address the needs of our time. There are no quick, overnight fixes. There is only hard work and determination. I am optimistic and determined that we will get through this together.”

During his first term, Davis has developed a reputation as a talented, policy leader in the Senate. He took the lead on several key issues for this district including pyrotechnic safety, puppy mill operations, timber theft, and funding for military business centers. Davis has also focused much of his attention on helping students succeed in our global economy by fighting the dropout rate in our public schools, protecting our teachers, and advocating for Career and Technical Education. Along with education, enhancing our worker training programs at community colleges and protecting the middle class from home foreclosures topped the agenda.

Davis has been known for his ability to reach across the aisle in order to get things done. In fact, the John W. Pope Civitas Institute, a conservative research and public policy organization, ranked Davis the fourth most conservative Democrat in the Senate (www.civitasaction.org/all-legislators/2009/).

Davis is the former mayor of Snow Hill. He is a graduate of East Carolina University and the United States Air Force Academy. Davis served eight years in the United States Air Force.

Filing for the 2010 elections opens Feb 8. The primary election is May 4.

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