Lobbyists urge coordinated support of Cherry Point
Coordinated community support could be the key to Cherry Point and Fleet Readiness Center East’s future, Craven commissioners were advised Tuesday in a briefing by the county’s Washington, D.C. lobbyists.
Representatives from Cassidy and Associates told officials from Craven County and the cities of Havelock and New Bern that the firm’s independent analysis of the largest employer east of I-95 shows $1.7 billion annually is at stake in the effort to defend the ongoing mission of the Marine air station and FRC East.
The firm was hired late last summer after Congress began questioning continued development of Joint Strike Fighter F-35B, the short takeoff, vertical landing Marine Corps version destined for basing at Cherry Point.
The Defense Department decided to rethink all work commitments related JSF repairs, including the vertical lift fan assigned to FRC East. A decision expected Oct. 31, 2011, was delayed or eliminated.
Cassidy spokesman Shawn Edwards said the firm’s strategy, including aggressive public outreach to all levels of government to make sure they have the most up-to-date information, appears to have worked and will continue.
"We are very, very happy with the success of many voices but one message" from individuals and groups in the area supporting the F-35B and Cherry Point," said Terry Paul, a retired Marine Corps general who works with the lobbying firm.
Edwards said North Carolina’s political position that has it as a "toss-up" state in 2012 presidential election is also a good thing.
The lobbyists, coordinated from the local area by James Norment of Ward and Smith, said they feel their results so far leave FRC East with work on the Joint Strike Fighter and positioned for success.
But it’s not a sure thing, and at least one resident is still concerned.
"The F-35B is not the only issue," Champ Mitchell said during a question-and-answer period. "If we do not have the F-35B, we will not have Cherry Point, but we can get the F-35 and could still lose."
Mitchell is a retired business executive who specialized in turning around Fortune 500 companies.
McKnight said his firm was brought in with a priority list.
"We are going to be very aggressive in seeking workload for FRC East," he said.
Scott Dacey, vice chairman of the Craven County Board of Commissioners, also works as a lobbyist.
"We have to be hungry about this," he said. "We may be at the back end of the train at getting those fighters at Cherry Point, and if something happens and the train doesn’t get here, we have to have a plan."
Havelock Commissioner Will Lewis called for synergy and collaboration among local officials.
"Everybody locally needs to work together," he said.
New Bern Alderman Bernard White, who works at FRC East, stressed how vital the jobs are at the base and how much better depot employees do in the very specialized repairs than contract companies.
"We don’t have a lot of time," Mitchell said. "I really think that is something that has to be emphasized."
Norment said Allies for Cherry Point’s Tomorrow, a base lobby group, is aware of the time constraints between now and a possible 2015 Base Realignment and Closure review and hopes FRC East unions and executives weigh in to Washington officials and politicians on the base’s value to the area and the nation.
