Republican candidate for governor Pat McCrory made a campaign stop in Roanoke Rapids today, attending a rally for his candidacy at david’s restaurant.

Former Roanoke Rapids mayor and Halifax County commissioner Gene Minton welcomed McCrory, who was mayor of Charlotte while Minton was mayor of Roanoke Rapids. “He did a great job,” Minton said. “He was a pro-business mayor.”

Before getting into the meat of his campaign, McCrory talked about his love of the architecture of Roanoke Rapids High School, praising the school system for preserving a historic building and promising if he gets elected he would recommend the school to the state film office. “I think it would be a great place for films.”

McCrory told the packed restaurant that his parents chose to come to North Carolina because of job availability.

McCrory greets J.R. Whichard.

Over the past decade, however, “North Carolina is going through tough times. We have to recognize we are having a problem.”

With high unemployment, McCrory said the state has to recognize it is in a competitive world. “North Carolina has to have strong leadership.”

Virginia, for instance, is welcoming business and making it more affordable to compete. “We need a governor who recognizes we’re competing against neighboring states and the world.”

He said it has been a long time since there has been an economic plan for the entire state. “If Governor Chris Christie can streamline in New Jersey, we can do it in North Carolina.”

McCrory said he wants to get North Carolina in the energy business through offshore drilling and inline methods. “It’s an opportunity to bring jobs. We’ve been sitting on the sidelines as others move ahead of us. There’s no excuse. There is a sense of urgency because people are hurting.”

Greeting more supporters.

One of five high school seniors is not graduating, McCrory said. “We have got to change that.”

The problem, he said, is that the pattern has changed from the days he attended school. He said there should be a college track and vocational track. “We have to have people who want to build and make things. We’ve got this elitism where everybody has to go to college.”

The state’s tax rates, he said, are not competitive. The state has seen increases in income, sales, gas and corporate taxes, McCrory said. “Virginia and South Carolina have lower taxes and businesses see that. We have to be more competitive.”

While he believes there has to be regulations in business, McCrory said they have to be applied with common sense — not like one business that was fined for not having a tissue dispenser installed.

Answering a question about the possible tolling of Interstate 95, he said, “You should not be punished for a highway going through your district.”

He said federal funds should be applied for repairs to the interstate system, instead of using state funds, which take away from local improvement projects. “You have been punished by having I-95.”