Below is a listing of our Governmental Affairs team members, along with contact information and a brief description of roles within the Governmental Affairs team.
Name: Kelli Kukura
Title: Director of Governmental Affairs
Email: kkukura@nclm.org
Phone: (919) 715-3942
Cell: (919) 889-9040
Kelli directs the League’s overall advocacy efforts, leading the League's Government Affairs team and serving as the primary state legislative lobbyist. She oversees the League's policy development process. She directs efforts to engage members in the legislative process and is responsible for member communications on legislative matters. She is directly involved in the lobbying effort for all priority League issues.
Name: Karl Knapp
Title: Director of Research & Policy Analysis
Email: kknapp@nclm.org
Phone: (919) 715-9768
Karl oversees the League’s research activities, which support legislative advocacy efforts, and provides municipal government comparative data and information to League members. He works with General Assembly and Department of Revenue staff on matters of tax and finance. His other areas of expertise include annexation, ABC reform, state and local budgeting and forecasting, municipal broadband and cable television. Karl serves as lead staff to the Tax & Finance Legislative Action Committee. He is the League’s liaison to the N.C. Government Finance Officers Association and the N.C. Local Government Budget Association.
Name: Paul Meyer
Title: Chief Legislative Counsel
Email: pmeyer@nclm.org
Phone: (919) 715-3930
Cell: (919) 413-2901
Paul advocates on behalf of the League at the General Assembly, provides legislative legal counsel to the League’s Government Affairs team, and oversees the League’s regulatory work. He works extensively in the areas of transportation, municipal broadband, land use, zoning and environment (air, water, wastewater, solid waste). Paul assists in the development of overall League legislative strategy. He serves as lead staff to the General Government Legislative Action Committee. He also coordinates legislative matters for the N.C. Association of Municipal Attorneys.
Name: Lori Moye
Title: Staff Associate
Email: lmoye@nclm.org
Phone: (919) 715-0950
Lori provides administrative support to the Department of Governmental Affairs. She has primary responsibility for coordinating the three Legislative Action Committees and the Regulatory Advisory Committee. Lori also facilitates the department's arrangements for League member events such as the Advocacy Goals Conference, Town Hall Day, Annual Conference, and District Tour visits, in addition to supporting the department's communications and grassroots efforts.
Name: Chris Nida
Title: Research Analyst
Email: cnida@nclm.org
Phone: (919) 715-3945
Chris supports the League’s advocacy efforts through fiscal analysis of proposed legislation and the collection and analysis of municipal data. He coordinates the League’s annual water/wastewater rates and budget/tax rates surveys and has primary responsibility for the quadrennial solid waste practices and finances survey. Chris also serves as staff to the Tax & Finance Legislative Action Committee and General Government Legislative Action Committee.
Name: Shenise Oakley
Title: Staff Associate
Email: soakley@nclm.org
Phone: (919) 715-3935
Shenise provides administrative support to the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and Director of the N.C. Metropolitan Mayors Coalition, an affiliate organization of the League.
Name: Jennifer Webb
Title: Grassroots Coordinator/Legislative Assistant
Email: jwebb@nclm.org
Phone: (919) 715-1726
Cell: (919) 609-0181
Jennifer leads League LINC, the League’s grassroots initiative. She facilitates communication, legislative visits and other grassroots activities by the members. Jennifer also manages all legislative communications and bill tracking processes. She interacts with General Assembly members and staff to coordinate daily advocacy operations for the Director of Governmental Affairs.
Name: Julie White
Title: Director, N.C. Metropolitan Mayors Coalition
Email: jwhite@nclm.org
Phone: (919) 715-7895
Cell: (919) 800-1518
Julie provides policy advice and assistance to the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the N.C. Metropolitan Mayors Coalition, an affiliate organization of the League. Julie coordinates all operations of the coalition and represents the coalition on state and federal legislative and administrative agency matters.
Name: Erin Wynia
Title: Policy Analyst
Email: ewynia@nclm.org
Phone: (919) 715-4126
Cell: (919) 413-7975
Erin serves as the League’s chief representative to state regulators. She advocates throughout the regulatory process, representing League members’ interests with a variety of state agencies and appointed boards. Her primary area of focus is environmental issues. She also serves as lead staff to the Regulatory Advisory Committee, as staff to the Planning & Environment Legislative Action Committee, and as the League liaison to the American Public Works Association (N.C. chapter) and the Joint Regional Forum.