Catching Up with Senator Mike Lazzara are nonpartisan. Obviously, there are some partisan issues we deal with but, fundamentally, I think when you take the (nonpartisan) approach, you can find more common ground with each other than not, and I think that’s a valuable tool. Is there anything that surprised you when you got to the legislature? ML: I think a good surprise has been the camaraderie between the caucus members and even those outside of the caucus has really been better than I would have expected. We work together, we work through obstacles to find solutions, the dialogue is really, really good. But really the willingness to help each other. Just recognize that you can call any of us and we work together on issues. You’re never alone. We do work together, and I think that’s really a strong suit of the caucus. Remind us why you were interested in moving from local government to the legislature to begin with. ML: I spent 15 years in local government, and during that time I was sort of a nerd. I like infrastructure, water and sewer advisory, transportation. I spent 12 years on transportation as a (local transportation body) chair. I just found policy work pretty much a passion of mine. And then of course when I had the opportunity to serve on the League and as the League president for several years, working with mayors across the state, I think that’s where I really grew my passion for policy work, and I was ready to do something a little different, and I think that when this opportunity came up I kind of felt like I was prepared for it, prepared for that next challenge. And to be able to offer the years of experience that I had in local government and really at the state level with the League, having worked with so many mayors across the state, from Franklin to Duck, and I think it’s just really valuable to know the different challenges that different cities have. You don’t live in a glass when you do that. But the basic challenges really are much the same. Is this a communication goal of yours? What do you think the feather in your cap is going to be in terms of where you come from and why you’re in the legislature now? ML: I think one asset that I have is being from a military community. We just enacted the exemption for military retirees and that’s going to be a huge economic driver for the state, being the fourth-largest military footprint in the country. Again, I think continues on page 21 We work together, we work through obstacles to find solutions, the dialogue is really, really good. But really the willingness to help each other. Just recognize that you can call any of us and we work together on issues. You’re never alone. We do work together, and I think that’s really a strong suit of the caucus. 19 NCLM.ORG
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