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Council Member Watkins has been appointed to the National League of Cities (NLC) 2012 Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Advocacy Committee. This Committee has the lead responsibility for developing NLC federal policy positions on issues involving crime prevention, corrections, substance abuse, municipal fire policy, juvenile justice, disaster preparedness and relief, homeland security, domestic terrorism, court systems, and gun control. The appointment was announced by NLC President Ted Ellis, Mayor, Bluffton, Ind.“I am honored to have been appointed to the 2012 Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Advocacy Committee. The issues addressed by this Committee are important to the citizens of Rocky Mount, to the operation of our government, and to me personally and professionally. Our court system needs overhauling, and too many of our children are dying from gun violence due to the lack of gun control. I will work earnestly together with other Committee members to address some of these issues,” stated Ms. Watkins.As a member of the committee, Ms. Watkins will play a key role in shaping NLC’s policy positions, while advocating on behalf of America’s cities and towns on Capitol Hill, with the Administration, and at home.Mayor David Combs said, “We congratulate Council Member Watkins, and it is an honor and much work on her part to serve on this committee. Reduction in crime is a priority for Rocky Mount City Council. With Ms. Watkins being a part of this committee, not only will she bring back best practices from other communities, she will be able to help others in what we have done in Rocky Mount to reduce crime. We are very proud of her, and know she will do a great job representing Rocky Mount and our state.”The National League of Cities is the nation’s oldest and largest organization devoted to strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.