Rep. Mel Watt sat behind a sewing machine Wednesday morning at Carolina Safety Sport (CSS) and listened to Sherry Dawkins’ instructions very carefully before threading his first bright yellow vest. After spending a few minutes under Dawkins’ watchful eye, Watt concluded a brief sewing career and spent the rest of his time touring CSS’ facility on Sunrise Center Drive, listening to owners Philip Young and Tammy Joyce express their concerns about the future of the country’s economy and the struggles they and other small business owners are facing during the current national recession.

“I’m extremely impressed by this whole operation,” Watt said. “They employ local people and are preserving an industry that has been vital to this community for years. I want to understand more of the diversity in the district I represent. ”

Watt stopped in Thomasville Wednesday as part of his “Trading Places” tour, where the democrat visits various businesses throughout his 12th district, including stops in parts of Davidson, Forsyth, Rowan and Mecklenburg county. During his stay at CSS, Watt heard concerns ranging from unemployment benefits to health care, and the effect each has on small business owners who are trying to stay afloat.

“Identifying some of their challenges and talking about them, from health care to property protection, is what this is all about,” said Watt. “For me, understanding the challenges businesses and entities are having and trying to figure out ways to address them in the legislative process is the purpose of a visit like this. I get a chance to talk one-on-one with individual owners of companies about what they’re doing to meet their challenges and how I can help. This helps us become better involved on how this all fits together and how we can smooth that fit.”

Young and Joyce said they were glad Watt chose to visit their company and relished the chance to make their voices heard. Young had several topics he wanted to discuss with Watt, including why the Department of Corrections is using inmates to manufacture a product CSS could easily make right here in Thomasville, allowing his company to employ more tax-paying citizens instead of convicts who have no future in the world of sewing. CCS manufactures high visibility safety apparel and is also partnering with Thomasville HiToms general manager Greg Suire on a new line of athletic sports apparel.

“We appreciate (Watts) taking the time out to do these types of things,” Young said. “He seemed to take a real interest in what we’re doing. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Democrat or what, there comes a time when you just have to do what’s right. We don’t need any more obstacles. We need solutions to help us so we can do what we need to do. We don’t need any more hoops to jump through.”

Watt said many of the problems in Washington, D.C., stem from an inability to put political positioning aside by elected officials. Many of the bills the House of Representatives already has passed are still floating around the Senate, a situation that has become all too common on Capitol Hill.

“This is a tremendous example of working together,” said Watt of CCS. “If we can figure out a way to be helpful with any of their concerns, I need to know about it.”

Staff Writer Eliot Duke can be reached at 888-3578, or duke@tvilletimes.com.