Mike Taylor, guest speaker and Democratic congressional candidate for North Carolina's 8th District, comes to public service quite naturally, being a son of Southern Baptist missionaries, and grandson of a Baptist preacher. Although born in Arkansas, he has lived in N.C. thirty-two years. He was raised in Asheville and graduated from Chapel Hill in 1969 (Classics) and 1978 (Law). Between those degrees, he served as a Navy Ensign and field historian in Vietnam (decorated twice for meritorious service) and earned Masters and Doctors degrees from Harvard. Three books have come from his academic work, one on Athenian democracy, and two on America's civil war.
     For the last twenty-two years, he has lived in Albemarle (his wife Susan's home town), worked as attorney in a single-lawyer office, and has been active in the N.C. Baptist convention (parliamentarian), as well as classical and state history.
     So why, he began, should such a man get into politics? Answer: He got mad! Mad at the declining economic and human fortune of North Carolina's rural counties, including many in the 8th district. That includes Stanly, Moore, Hoke, Cumberland, Scotland, and Anson. Some counties have lost per-capita income during the '90s and have a majority of citizens with only a 10th grade education, poor health and dental care, and a large percentage of children living in poverty. Thirty percent of the population in some counties are functionally illiterate. Even Cumberland County's Fayetteville suffers from a lower per-capita income. Meanwhile Union and Cabarrus face urban sprawl from Charlotte, and Cabarrus is under threat of a fund cut-off from the Environmental Protection Agency.
     North Carolina's urbanization process, predicted earlier by Lewis Mumford, has concentrated wealth and economic development along Interstate Highways, specifically 1-85 and 1-40. The N.C. Rural Prosperity Task Force, led by Erskine Bowles, has tried to address these problems. Taylor's campaign stresses three important needs.
     1. INFRASTRUCTURE. Without improved infrastructure, these rural counties cannot attract development. District 8 has only 40 miles of Interstate Highway, concentrated in its western and northwest counties. Rural counties need four-lane divided highways to provide access to Interstates, but currently state road projects take eleven years to complete. Water and sewer systems and plants are aged and provide poor distribution for current needs, even though the district has an ample water supply. Government programs which formerly offered grant money to improve infrastructure have ended. But without such aid, rural counties cannot attract investments needed to grow their tax base.
     2. SCHOOLS. Many rural schools now in use were built in 1910, and are thus ninety years old. School construction bonds are needed urgently to update old structures and build new schools. Furthermore, a teacher shortage requires rural districts to import teachers from abroad. Good things do happen in the schools, but public support is needed to provide money for buildings and motivated and committed teachers for children.

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     3. BROADBAND. lust as railroads connected rural areas to urban centers in a previous era, broadband internet access through the fiber network is needed to bring the benefits of the internet to rural areas. Fortunately, cable fiber networks are planned for these rural counties, but until they are actually up and working through Roadrunner, for example, these populations cannot compete.
     And why should people in Charlotte be concerned about these surrounding counties? Because many leading Charlotteans are educated in these areas, and the city cannot isolate itself from its neighbors' needs.
     Q AND A: What are the federal solutions to these problems? Keep competition lively in service industries, especially telecom! Why don't individuals solve their personal problems by moving to where jobs are? As a Democrat, Taylor believes a government response is also required.
     President Worth presided, beginning the meeting with news, courtesy of Rick Jackson from WBT Radio, including good stock market reports. Andy Zoutewelle introduced visiting Rotarians (8) and guests (9). Special recognition was showered by President Worth on Past President Jim Barnhardt, Mary-Stuart Brooks, and Alan Barnhardt for their leadership handling last week's school awards program. Each received a coveted Rotary coffee mug to much applause.
     Tom Robertson gave a summary report of Rotary's Habitat for Humanity project, building a home for Rosaland Clinkscales' family in honor and memory of Ed Montague, a long-time Habitat volunteer. The Charlotte club contributed seventy work days, with Tom Burgess, Jim Haney and President Worth contributing multiple workdays. Seventeen percent of the volunteers were lady club members. Rex Welton, Mike Wilkinson and Chuck Lineberry's companies made special contributions of equipment and materials. A dedication program on May 13 climaxed the effort, which proved so successful it is likely to become an annual project.
     Harry Weatherly's Health and Happiness report noted that taxation with representation is not much better than without. After the pledge of allegiance, Howard Chadwick led singing of America the Beautiful, and John Rogers said grace. Others at the head table were William Rikard, who introduced Mike Taylor, Pam Syfert, Leon Jorgensen, Bob Thomas, and Tom Burgess, who volunteered four days on the Habitat project.

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