Wake County’s mayors were going to be discussing school-related issues. Wendell mayor Tim Hinnant was planning a meeting before that discussion to get feedback from local principals about the school landscape in eastern Wake County.

That’s a good way to go into a meeting with Wake County’s other mayors – who are generally a pretty sharp lot – and take a good participatory stand.

One of the knocks against Tim Hinnant during the recent campaign was that, when he served as mayor in his first term, he had not been very participatory. He sometimes missed meetings at which controversial topics were to be discussed. He was often a no-show at meetings of regional groups like the mayor’s association.

But it seems as if Hinnant has heard those concerns and acted accordingly. That’s good for him. It’s even better for Wendell.

Though the town remains a small fish in a pretty big pond, it’s important that the town keep its seat at the table and make noise on issues that are of importance locally.

And it’s important that someone be present when discussions take place that may only minimally affect Wendell, or eastern Wake County because even those small issues can put small towns like Wendell, Knightdale and Zebulon at a competitive disadvantage at some point down the road.

And you can bet, despite the odd bone thrown the east’s way, that leaders of places like Raleigh, Cary or Wake Forest will always be more concerned with taking care of their own. And, honestly, that’s how it probably should be.

Knightdale Mayor Russell Killen recently completed a term as chairman of the Wake County Mayor’s Asssociation. Zebulon mayor Bob Matheny is a constant and relentless advocate for Zebulon on the larger stage. And Hinnant’s predecessor, Harold Broadwell, recognized the advantages to Wendell in being involved in regional planning. WakeUp Wake County’s recognition of Broadwell, last month, is unique in that such organizations don’t always give a second thought to “former” anythings. That they recognized Broadwell’s leadership is clearly a clue to the value of regional involvement.

Hinnant now seems to be moving in that direction too, with his effort to educate himself on school issues. Just up the road, in Rolesville, Mayor Frank Eagles is a fixture at Wake County commissioners meeting, a fact that is not lost on the people who hold the pursestrings to a lot of money in Wake County.

There will be a gracious plenty opportunities over the next four years for Hinnant to further involve himself in the regional scene. CAMPO, or the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, oversees the budget for a lot of the roadbuilding exercises that take place in this region.

As Wendell battles to get the Old Battle Bridge Road bridge reopened –and as it seeks funding to someday build a second east-west thoroughfare through town – it will be especially important that Hinnant, the town’s chief spokesperson, be ever at the table spouting the Wendell line and working with his fellow eastern Wake mayors on issues that matter to everyone on this end of the county.