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In addition to building relationships across party lines, Gov. Josh Stein is creating spaces for cross-partisan cooperation to happen.
Stein in his inaugural address said, “North Carolina strong also means working together across our differences to get things done. And so to the members of the General Assembly, I say let’s work together.”
At his State of the State address, Stein went further:
When we — Republicans and Democrats — come together, that’s when we make a difference for our people.
We’ve made big things happen before, and we can do it again.
We can help western North Carolina recover from the most damaging storm in our history.
We can grow our economy and make it work for more people.
We can make sure that our workforce meets the needs of our people and our businesses.
We can keep our communities safe, and we can put our kids first, every time.
That’s because the state of our state is strong — North Carolina Strong.
Our teachers make us strong. Our law enforcement officers make us strong. Our small business owners, farmers, vets, child care workers, and community college students make us strong.
You, the people of North Carolina, make us strong.
So let’s come together and keep North Carolina strong.
Gov. Josh Stein
Last week, the NC Tribune reported, “Gov. Josh Stein’s approach to dealing with legislators is winning praise from the top Republicans in both chambers of the General Assembly.”
According to the Tribune, Destin Hall and Phil Berger — who respectively lead the N.C. House and N.C. Senate — said Stein has been reaching out and getting to know the members of the legislature one by one.
The Tribune’s reporting quotes Berger as saying the governor’s approach is “productive and helpful on those things where there’s [a] possibility of finding common ground.”
Stein is also creating committees, task forces, and councils where groups of leaders can come together and work across difference on the issues facing North Carolina.
One of his first executive orders established the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Western North Carolina Recovery. Sen. Kevin Corbin, R-Macon, is a co-chair.
In early March 2025, Stein announced the creation of a new bipartisan task force on child care and early education at Kate’s Korner Learning Center in Durham. Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt, a Democrat, and Sen. Jim Burgin, R-Harnett, serve as co-chairs.
Later in March 2025, Stein established the Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships, chaired by Secretary of Commerce Lee Lilley, State Sen. Eddie Settle, and N.C. Community Colleges President Dr. Jeff Cox.
And yesterday, on April 7, 2025, by executive order, Stein established his Advisory Council on Student Safety and Well-Being.
The mission of the council is “to propose and further implement solutions to promote school safety and improve student physical, social, and emotional wellbeing.”
Stein announced the council at Moore Square Magnet Middle School in Raleigh, according to a press release.
The council will be co-chaired by Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch, Deputy Secretary William “Billy” Lassiter of the Department of Public Safety, and the 2024 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year Heather Smith.
“I am proud to establish this council of educators, mental health professionals, and law enforcement to identify ways to better keep our classrooms safe and our children healthy,” said Stein.
“Our commitment to giving students the best,” said Smith, “starts with looking out for their safety and well-being, and I am eager to jump into this work.”
The press release says, “Governor Stein’s advisory council will work across state agencies and with both state and local leaders to propose and implement policies and solutions that will improve student safety and wellbeing. It will advance recommendations, provide guidance to state agencies, work with local communities, and share best practices. The council’s first priority will be working with the General Assembly to support school systems in implementing policies that will make classrooms cell phone-free.”
The members of the Governor’s Advisory Council Student Safety and Well-being
- Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch (co-chair)
- William L. Lassiter, Deputy Secretary for the Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Public Safety (co-chair)
- Heather Smith, 2024 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year (co-chair)
- Senator David W. Craven, Jr.
- Representative Brian Biggs
- Representative Lindsey Prather
- Alan Duncan, Vice-Chair of the State Board of Education
- Bettina Umstead, Board of Education Member, Durham Public Schools
- Sharon Bell, Deputy Director, Division of Child and Family Wellbeing, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
- Natalia Botella, Director, Public Protection Section, North Carolina Department of Justice
- Dr. Ellen Essick, Section Chief for NC Healthy Schools, Department of Public Instruction
- Karen Fairley, Executive Director of Center for Safer Schools, A Division of the State Bureau of Investigation
- Anne Goldberg, School Counselor, Alamance-Burlington School System
- Tara Hardy, School Social Worker, Craven County Schools
- Roger “Chip” Hawley, Director of The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation
- Emma Hodson, In-House Counsel, Pitt County Schools
- Kristie Howell, Chief Court Counselor-District 8, Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, North Carolina Department of Public Safety
- Melissa Lassen, BSN, RN, NCSN, Lead School Nurse, Chatham County Schools
- Mark McHugh, Director of Safety, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
- Dr. Shaneeka Moore-Brown, President, North Carolina Parent Teacher Association
- Asia Prince, Director of Court Programs, North Carolina Administrative Offices of the Courts
- Deputy Rhyne Rankins, School Resource Officer, Iredell County Sheriff’s Office
- Dr. Paul Smokowski, Executive Director, North Carolina Youth Violence Prevention Center
- Beckie Spears, Principal, Wilkesboro Elementary School & 2024 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year
- Mary Katherine Stiles, M.A./S.S.P., School Psychologist, Cumberland County Schools
- Justice Warren, Assistant Legal Counsel, North Carolina School Boards Association
- Julie Cecelia Werry, Scholar Advisor, Morehead-Cain Foundation
- Dr. Freddie Williamson, Superintendent of Public Schools of Robeson County
