Gov. Jim Hunt brought his passionate plea for public education to Moore County Monday.

The governor spoke when The Pilot hosted its annual Lighthouse Letters luncheon honoring outstanding writers of letters to the editor.

In his address at Mid Pines Resort, Hunt laid out his goal to make the public schools of North Carolina the best in America within the next decade.

Hunt then presented the Lighthouse Award for 1999 to Nancy Bookmyer of Pinehurst.

Bookmyer’s letter, bearing the headline “My Name is Pinehurst; Don’t Sue Me,” added a light touch to the Pinehurst name issue that dominated the pages of The Pilot and other newspapers during much of the year. Her letter was presented as if the writer were a horse named “Pinehurst” who was concerned about the name issue.

In his address to an audience of letter writers, guests and newspaper staff members, Hunt combined his message about public education with his respect for the free press in this country.

“I like your Lighthouse letters. I like it even more that you write them,” the governor said.

Hunt recalled a period when he and his wife, Carolyn, were living in Katmandu, Nepal, where the press was not so free. He said that on occasion their newspaper was not published because the editor had printed something displeasing to the king.

“I’ve always believed in a free press, although I have suffered under them,” he said in a light dig at the gathering of newspaper people.

Hunt emphasized his efforts to bring North Carolina public education up to the highest standards possible. He said that in the past decade, North Carolina has made progress, and he cited such examples as increases in test scores, improved quality of teachers and community involvement.

He outlined five goals: to set high standards by expecting students to be prepared for college and to become contributing members of society, by having children start school healthy and ready to learn (goals of Hunt’s Smart Start initiative), by providing safe, orderly and caring schools, by providing good teachers and administrators in every school, and by improving community involvement.

In declaring these goals, Hunt took time to elaborate on the issues involved.

“Not only do we want no guns and violence, but we want caring schools where every child ought to be cared for and known,” he said, adding that one way to accomplish this may be to provide smaller schools.

Noting that North Carolina started “near the bottom” on public education, the governor said that he and his wife want their eight grandchildren to have the best possible education.

“It is outrageous to consider that they won’t have the best teachers,” he said.

Hunt praised former Gov. Jim Holshouser, who was also present at the luncheon and introduced Hunt, for his dedication to public education. Hunt reminded his listeners that Holshouser was the governor who championed the cause of public kindergartens. Hunt said his wife grew up in Iowa, where she attended public school kindergarten years before North Carolina had such an advantage.

“Folks, we can do it,” Hunt said of his educational goals, noting that a committee is working on methods of achieving them goals.

“These schools belong to the people and they are entitled to know how things are run,” he said in reference to the provision for annual “report cards” on the schools.

In 1793, he said, the people of North Carolina decided there was a need for a state university, and what is now a sprawling university system was established by the wealthy families and churches of the state. Those were days when the state was without golf courses and was little more than pine trees and weeds, he said.

“The people of North Carolina were audacious to set up the first state university,” Hunt said. “It’s the best in the country. I’m proud of this state. Folks, we’re just getting started.”Hunt recalled the leadership of former Gov. Charles Aycock, known as the state’s first “education governor,” who recognized that “every child should have an opportunity for an education.

”Hunt said that the state should adopt as public policy the concept that the public schools should be “really good.” He decried efforts to downgrade the public schools by criticizing everything about public education and promoting such things as vouchers to enable children to attend private schools at taxpayer expense.

“God put it in us, and we have got to get it out and fan the flames of public education,” he said.He opened his remarks by revealing that he had read every one of the Lighthouse letters, something he called “a most rewarding experience.

”The governor admitted that he was amazed at “all the stuff you get” into The Pilot, everything from pictures of small children to editorials, columns and news.“You’re lucky to live here,” he said, waving toward the Mid Pines golf course with dogwoods, azaleas and green grass.

“This community is just so full of ideas and different perspectives. And except for some traffic circle issues, there’s a civility here that I really admire.

”After his address, Hunt accepted questions from his audience. He fielded questions on subjects including existence of the U.S. Department of Education (it’s helpful, but should not run state schools), a fulltime legislature (he prefers the present “citizen” legislature) and tenure for teachers (this practice has been amended).

Holshouser, in his introduction of Hunt, said it was his good fortune to have Hunt as his lieutenant governor. Holshouser, now a resident of Moore County, became the first Republican to serve as governor in the 20th century. A curiosity of his administration was that his lieutenant governor was a Democrat.

“We do not agree on everything, but we agree on many things,” Holshouser said of Hunt. “He has done a masterful job in the trusteeship of the public schools. What he’s done for the schools has been remarkable and has taken a great deal of courage.

”Hunt and Holshouser recently appeared together on television as panelists in the Emerging Issues Forum.Hunt paid back the compliments by comparing Holshouser to such great Republicans as Abraham Lincoln and Dwight D. Eisenhower.

“He’s my kind of Republican, but don’t you repeat it,” Hunt quipped.David Woronoff, publisher of The Pilot, presided at the luncheon and introduced special guests — including Dr. John Dempsey, president of Sandhills Community College; Holshouser; golf legend Peggy Kirk Bell; Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Hackney, parents of opinion editor Brent Hackney; fellow co-owners of the newspaper, Frank Daniels Jr. and Jack Andrews; and his wife, Fredanel Woronoff.

Woronoff said he judges the quality of a newspaper by the quality of the letters written to the editor. He said that this measure keeps newspapers accessible and accountable.

“Virtually anyone in our community can have access to our newspaper,” the publisher said to the letter writers. “We are devoted to community journalism. You keep us humble. You keep us honest.

”Hackney, who edits the letters to the editor, introduced Hunt and entertained his listeners with anecdotes about his experience as press secretary during Hunt’s first administration.

The Pilot assigns the Lighthouse designation to letters that are deemed outstanding in writing, ideas and overall quality. At the end of the year, the letters are evaluated, and one writer is singled out for submitting the best letter of the year.

In presenting the award to Nancy Bookmyer, Hunt read her winning letter aloud. He bellowed out the letter’s last two words, “neigh, neigh,” in a humorous horse bray.