HERTFORD — U.S. Rep. Don Davis sidestepped questions about President Joe Biden’s performance in Thursday’s presidential debate with presumptive Republican nominee former President Donald Trump after a town hall in Hertford on Friday.
Saying he was attending the town hall “in an official capacity to focus on the issues relevant to constituents’ concerns,” Davis declined to discuss Biden’s debate performance which included the president speaking in a raspy and halting voice, at times giving meandering answers, and several times seeming to lose his train of thought.
According to published reports, Biden’s uneven performance during the debate has prompted fresh concerns among Democrats about his age, ability to compete in November’s election against Trump, and serve another four years if elected.
A number of national Democratic officeholders have declined to discuss Biden’s debate performance. Davis, who is facing a challenge from Republican Laurie Buckhout in a new First Congressional District drawn by GOP lawmakers to be more Republican-friendly, said he’s focused on issues back home.
“I believe what’s most important back home is they just want to know that we’re fighting for them,” he told The Associated Press in a statement.
Davis instead highlighted his work on several national and international issues during the hour-long town hall at the Perquimans County Courthouse Friday attended by elected Democratic officials from Winfall, Hertford, Perquimans County and Elizabeth City. He told the audience “we are doing our homework” on issues like continuing military support for Ukraine against Russian aggression, defending democracy around the world, and securing the southern border.
Davis also discussed several issues of concern to the local Democrats in attendance, including development of the riverfront in Hertford. He also said he’s aware of Hertford officials’ ongoing desire for infrastructure improvements and affordable housing options.
Regionally, he also talked about the challenges the elderly in Perquimans and neighboring counties face getting specialized care they need that may not always be available in their community. He also talked about continuing efforts to expand broadband internet in the region.
Addressing some of those challenges will take time, he acknowledged. But efforts are underway to address them, he said.
“I’ve had individual conversations concerning housing issues,” Davis said. “We need to make sure broadband makes it across the community .... What we’ve done is put in place a district capital improvement plan (to address these matters and) work with agencies to get out there and continue to push the issues.”
As he has in previous town halls he’s held across the region, Davis also discussed the challenge every rural community faces: convincing more young people to stay in their home community to live and work.
“I went to every county and talked with young people,” Davis said. “Many of us are trying to figure out why so many are leaving and what we can do to help.
“We have to roll up our sleeves to give young people an opportunity to make it here, tell them they can make it here. With the right education and skills earned at colleges and universities in this district they can even create jobs here.”
Davis said one way his office can help some young people get a good start on a great career after high school is through appointment to one of the military service academies.
“I want to see a young person from Perquimans County nominated for a (U.S.) service academy,” said Davis, who grew up in Snow Hill and attended the U.S. Air Force Academy. “I would love to support them or another nominee from this district” for an appointment.
According to Davis’ office, the congressman can, like all other members of Congress and U.S. senators, submit the names of graduating high school seniors to four of the nation’s five service academies each year. Those academies are the U.S. Military Academy, the Air Force Academy, the Naval Academy, and the Merchant Marine Academy. The Coast Guard Academy does not require a congressional appointment to attend.
Under current rules, Davis can have a maximum of five cadets or midshipmen at each service academy over a four-year period, meaning about one cadet per academy is appointed each year.
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