Longtime State Senator will step down

A week after he spoke to the Student Senate in Witherspoon Student Center, Sen. Tony Rand announced he intends to leave the State Senate.

Rand is accepting an appointment from Gov. Bev Perdue to work with the state parole commission, according to a press release from the Governor's office. Rand will assume his new role early next year.

Rand, who represents Bladen and Cumberland county, spoke in the Student Senate Chambers Oct. 28, discussing issues the University and state face and answering questions from student senators.

But Rand's visit to campus last week wasn't the first time he impacted the lives of one of the student senators. Sen. Stephen Kouba, a junior in political science, worked as a page in Rand's office during high school and said Rand became a mentor. Kouba said he didn't speak to Rand Wednesday, largely because he knew it would be a busy day for the outgoing senator. Kouba said he kept in touch with the senator after he left, and the two spoke regularly.

"They always say keep in touch. I decided to," Kouba said. "I would call his office and talk to him about issues that were happening downtown. We would talk about my life and what I was planning on doing."

According to Kouba, Rand was largely responsible for getting him involved with politics.

"[He was] instrumental in getting me involved in a lot of things – my internship and involved in government in general, which led me here, naturally," Kouba said.

Student Body President Jim Ceresnak worked with Rand at his office as well, and, along with Kouba, said he felt the 11-term senator was one of the hardest working men in the state legislature.

Ceresnak said the Student Senate was honored to have him speak, and said it served to educate all who attended the meeting about state politics.

"It was an incredible opportunity for anyone who was there to get that seasoned perspective about the challenges the state faces," he said. "I just appreciated that he was able to provide us with that insight."

Kouba said beyond how Rand inspired and encouraged him, he was just as valuable to the state, and that he would be missed on the Senate floor.

"Personally, I count him as a mentor first. I owe a lot to his guidance. I owe a lot to his wisdom," Kouba said. "The state of North Carolina suffered the loss of a great leader in the General Assembly."