New, but experienced, representative Hughes settling in fast

Raleigh | The first two weeks of the legislative session have been a whirlwind of activity for new state Rep. Sandra Spaulding Hughes, D-New Hanover.

But luckily for Hughes, having a wide range of government experiences has eased her transition.

"I'm thankful having worked on city council," Hughes said. "I knew county government and I've worked for the federal government. I knew three different levels of government and that experience is valuable."

Another reason Hughes' first two weeks have gone smoothly is because she had met or knew many present members of the House.

"Building those relationships was very important," Hughes said. "It will help in the future when I'm seeking support for our issues. I'm glad I didn't have to come in here as a green person having known nothing about government operates."

Hughes, the mid-term replacement for disgraced former representative Thomas Wright of Wilmington, has impressed her new colleagues with her energy.

"Every time I see her, she's moving fast," Rep. Alma Adams, a Greensboro Democrat, said. "Unless you knew, you wouldn't know that she is new. She's very involved and she asks questions. I think she's doing everything right."

While Hughes leans on her previous government experience, she said her new position will be challenging.

"It's quite different," Hughes said. "There are many more people. It's a new learning experience. Even though being on city council for four years, this will be different. We're dealing with many more issues. The biggest subject matter is dealing with funding."

Hughes has been busy during her first two weeks taking on 10 bills as a primary sponsor, including three on which she will take the lead, and adding her name to numerous others as a secondary sponsor.

Hughes' said her attention will be focused on getting a meals tax referendum for Burgaw, starting a program in Pender and Brunswick counties to help keep youth at risk from getting into trouble, getting the state Department of Public Instruction to include lessons on the 1898 Wilmington race riots in the North Carolina history curriculum and extending the state ports tax credit, which directly affects Wilmington.

"I had only a few days to come up with my bills," Hughes said. "I'm having to learn a lot about the procedure to make the bills are done properly. You can't skip over any step. If you do you might have to start over and you might miss a deadline. The deadlines are so short in a short session."

Reps. Danny McComas, R-New Hanover, and Carolyn Justice, R-Pender, each praised Hughes' eagerness to jump right in and help advance issues important to Wilmington and the Cape Fear region.

"We're glad to be working with Rep. Hughes," Justice said. "She brings a lot to our delegation. We have a good group and it is good to be able to meet together again. Last year it became very uncomfortable."

Hughes said it was important to work together as a team with the rest of the local delegation.

"We met when we got here and we said it was important to keep meeting as a delegation," Hughes said. "We have regional issues that we have to deal with that political party has nothing to do with. Some of them will need a strong coalition to get big bucks for them."

Hughes said her strength within the delegation lies in her ability to listen and use her previous city council experience.

"I'm a community person and I don't make assumptions about needs," Hughes said. "I want the people (we represent) to tell us their needs. I'll use common sense to differentiate between needs and wants."

About the only thing Hughes has qualms about is sitting on the front row in the House chamber. New members usually are assigned seats near the back of the chamber, but because Hughes is finishing out Wright's unexpired term, she inherited his desk on the front row.

"I'd prefer to be a little farther back," Hughes said. "I have to turn around to see what is happening behind me and I don't like that."

Hughes likened her first two weeks to being the new kid in school. She made new friends. She's received a stack of homework. And she's still finding her way around the Legislative Building.

"I couldn't have asked for a better environment to come into as the new kid on the block," Hughes said.

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