http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/16447120.htm

Posted on Fri, Jan. 12, 2007

Learn English, Cabarrus commish insists
VICTORIA CHERRIE
vcherrie@charlotteobserver.com

If Hispanic residents want to live and work in Cabarrus County, they should learn English, Commissioner Coy Privette says.

He is pushing for the county board of commissioners to adopt a resolution recognizing English as the county's official language.

The board agreed to discuss it at its next regular meeting Jan. 22.

But the proposal isn't getting a warm response.

"I believe our county residents are smart and intelligent enough to know that English is the primary language of Cabarrus County," Commissioner Joni Juba said.

She's concerned about the kind of message a resolution like Privette's would send to the community, she said.

Privette defended the measure: "It's not discriminatory to these Hispanics at all to ask them to learn English so they can take advantage of the economic opportunities here. It is their civic duty."

The proposed resolution calls for all ordinances, programs and policies adopted by Cabarrus County to be done in English. In addition, it says all documents, regulations, orders, transactions, proceedings, meetings and publications should be in English.

His proposal is similar to those proposed in Mint Hill, a town in southeast Mecklenburg County, and Landis, just across the Rowan County line north of Kannapolis.