Rockland

Orangetown Town Board member Michael Maturo has met with senior administration officials during a briefing at the Whote House on June 17.

The White House invited 150 members of the People For the American Way Foundation’s Young Elected Officials Network to discuss issues facing the nation and local communities. Maturo and Clarkstown Town Board member Stephanie Hausner joined the group from Rockland.

Maturo wrote in his statement that White House officials, including Austan Goolsbee, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers; Heather Zichal, deputy assistant on energy and climate change policy; Aneesh Chopra, chief technology officer; and Stephanie Cutter, deputy senior adviser attended the three-hour briefing.

Maturo stated that he was encouraged by White House officials’ core belief that high-quality, innovative education is key to the country’s future success.

“Despite a system that needs a lot of work to address the modern digital age, I’m confident that the administration is dedicated to solving it without breaking the bank,” Maturo wrote.

The briefing was followed by a reception in the East Wing, where President Obama spoke to the congregation.

“The President was surprisingly colloquial, giving young electeds credit for realizing that politics is ‘not to be somebody, but to do something,’” Maturo said. “I’ll remember his encouraging words and those moments foever.”

And he added: “And yes, we did shake hands.”

Photos courtesy of Michael Maturo.