GREENSBORO – EMPAC, the political arm of the State Employees Association of North Carolina, presented Sen. Bob Steinburg with its Lisa B. Mitchell Legislator of the Year award on Saturday at the 36^th Annual SEANC Convention in Greensboro.

In presenting the award, EMPAC Chairman Mark Dearmon highlighted Steinburg’s efforts to shine a light on the dangers facing correctional officers and staff at the state’s prisons.

Steinburg’s district contains the two prisons where five correctional personnel were murdered in 2017 in separate attacks by inmates. He is currently chair of the Senate’s Select Committee on Prison Safety.

Senator Steinburg served three terms in the House before he ran for the Senate and won in 2018. Following the 2017 attacks, he has made it his mission to demand that correctional personnel pay, safety and respect be put at the top of the list of legislative priorities.

“It wasn’t always popular with the crowd in Raleigh, but he showed incredible leadership and courage - steadfastly refusing to stop speaking up for employees in North Carolina’s prisons,” said Dearmon. “His commitment to us as state employees is unwavering.”

Steinburg, of Edenton, was unable to accept the award in person because of ongoing recovery efforts following Hurricane Dorian’s landfall in his district. In a recorded message, he thanked delegates for the honor.

“This is a great honor,” he said. “I take it with sincere gratitude and humility. It has been an absolute delight to work with SEANC over the last few years.”