For the second year in a row, law enforcement leaders, elected officials, and advocates met to discuss key issues affecting public safety with the goal of working toward concrete solutions.
The event, called “Meet in the Middle,” was organized by Western North Carolina DWI Taskforce leader Ellen Pitt and was cohosted by state Reps. Anna Ferguson (R-Swain) and Eric Ager (D-Buncombe). During the two-hour roundtable, held the afternoon of Sept. 13 at Maggie Valley’s town hall pavilion, each participant had the chance to discuss two issues they considered important to the evolving world of public safety.
Along with Ager and Ferguson, other elected leaders and candidates showed up, including Republican NC-11 nominee Jennifer Balkcom (R-Henderson), Buncombe County Sheriff candidate Gary Parris, and District Attorney-Elect for Rutherford and McDowell counties, David Norris. Also present were representatives from various aspects of law enforcement, including North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) troopers.
