ONLY ON 3: New Hanover to send 4, including lame duck commissioner to conference

NEW HANOVER COUNTY. NC (WWAY) — Questions have been raised after a New Hanover County commissioner, who was not re-elected, plans to fly across the country for a national counties conference.

New Hanover County Commission Chair Beth Dawson said she is attending the National Association of Counties’ annual conference. This year it will be held in Long Beach, California.

Dawson was voted out of office back in March. Commissioner Woody White, Patricia Kusek, and Derek Hickey are set to face off for the open commission seats in November.

Despite this, Dawson said her job isn’t done yet as a county commissioner.

“It’s absolutely appropriate and customary to have a delegation attend this national meeting,” said Dawson. “I have been a leader in this county. I am familiar with a lot of the issues that are important and can bring a lot to the table.”

Commissioner Rob Zapple, County Manager Chris Coudriet, and Chief Information Officer Leslie Chaney will also be attending the conference with Dawson.

A county spokeswoman said all the arrangements haven’t been made but WWAY looked at what it might cost to attend the conference.

A county spokeswoman said the registration fee is $490 per person, totaling about $1,500 because Chaney will attend only a portion of the conference and get in free.

According to Travelocity.com, a flight from Wilmington to Los Angeles is around $540. If they fly into Long Beach, however, that price could go up about $100.

What looks like the cheapest hotel near the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center appears to be the Queen Mary. It costs $179 a night. Three nights, including taxes turns out to be about $617 per room. Registration fee, flight, and hotel prices add up to around $1,600 per person. This total does not include food, taxis or incidentals.

Commissioner Jonathan Barfield said conferences are a learning opportunity for commissioners.

“You don’t get this stuff by osmosis. You get this by putting your hands into the pot and learning,” said Barfield.

He said it’s not uncommon for a commissioner who has been voted out of office, to attend conferences like these in his or her last term.

Commissioner Woody White said he doesn’t think it’s necessary for anyone to go.

“There is no direct value to taxpayers or citizens in general, for us to send four people to the west coast for a conference,” said White.

White said however if anyone should go, it should just be Zapple.