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JAMESTOWN - From regulatory changes to immigration reform and worker training, local business leaders have many suggestions for North Carolina's next governor.

Governor-elect Bev Perdue held a discussion with business leaders Friday morning at GTCC's Jamestown campus, asking them what is happening locally and what tangible suggestions they had for her administration.

With the economic recession, there was plenty to discuss.

Before this year, Olde South Homes President Frank Wiesner said his company had been building 100 to 125 houses per year.

This year, it's built about 35 .

A representative from Rex Oil said declines in industry hurt its business, which provides industrial lubricants.

Stewart Black , the vice president of sales at Bill Black Chevrolet Cadillac, said the automotive industry bailout being discussed in Washington would have an impact on the state.

A bankruptcy by one of the American automobile manufacturers could have a significant ripple effect in North Carolina, which is one of the leading states supplying auto parts, he said.

"My plea, as a GM dealer, is that bankruptcy is not an option," Black told the governor-elect.

Some business executives asked the governor to consider simplifying state regulations, which may vary in interpretation from county to county or be expensive to meet.

Perdue, who had pledged to be a "hands-on" governor, said she wanted to have someone on her core leadership team to help troubleshoot regulations.

"There's nothing more ridiculous than 50 sets of regulations," she said.

Education, from pre-K to higher education, was also a topic of concern.

"We can't forget vocation education," Wiesner said. "Not all our children are going to grow up to be computer nerds or bank presidents. I need electricians and plumbers."

Others said the educational system needed to be improved so workers would be better prepared.

"A lot of times, we educate them when they come to the business because they didn't get it at home or at school," said James "Smitty" Smith , a local McDonald's owner/operator.

Contact Lanita Withers at 373-7071 or lanita.withers@news-record.com