Published 12:00 am Friday, September 16, 2011

SALISBURY — Mayor Susan Kluttz was among 10 North Carolina mayors who signed a letter to federal leaders supporting an initiative to create jobs.
The letter is dated Sept. 12 and addressed to President Obama, the state’s two senators and its 13 delegates to the U.S. House.
The 10 who signed the letter represent the N.C. Metropolitan Mayors Coalition and also include Concord Mayor Scott Padgett.
Here’s the letter’s text:
“Dear Mr. President and Honorable Members of the N.C. Congressional Delegation:
As mayors of some of the largest economic engines of our great state, and representing a bipartisan Coalition, we are closely following the debate in Washington over job creation. Each of our city councils are doing all we can to build vibrant communities, which creates the foundation for job growth — but we cannot do it alone. We need bipartisan leadership from each of you to build on our local efforts.
We were pleased last night to hear the President propose his “American Jobs Act” as many of the pieces fit well with our local efforts to improve our infrastructure, invest in our youth, and put our residents back to work.
We were pleased with the reaction from elected officials on both sides of the aisle of serious consideration of the President’s proposals. We applaud those who indicated a willingness to work together to find a compromise that will put Americans back to work. We encourage you to continue your tone of civility. Seize this moment. Put our country ahead of political rhetoric and work together to pass a compromise package of initiatives that will get our economy on solid ground once again.
We stand ready to partner in any way we can to return North Carolina’s economy to full steam ahead.”