Hertford County is doing the right thing.

Behind the leadership of veteran Commissioner DuPont L. Davis, the leaders of the county have renewed their fight for an office of the North Carolina Employment Security Commission within the county.

At a meeting earlier this week, the decision was made to proceed with plans to try to put a JobLink Center in the county, thereby not only giving citizens access to ESC services, but also to workforce development through the assistance of the community college and others.

It was a mistake for the state to remove the ESC office to begin with. There already was a lack of services being provided in Bertie, Gates and Northampton counties and now Hertford County citizens join that number.

Williamston’s office is close enough for Windsor and Elizabeth City is for Gates County and Roanoke Rapids is for Northampton County. Unfortunately the citizens of Hertford County and the Bertie County towns of Aulander, Kelford, Roxobel, Powellsville and Colerain are left in the dark.

Unfortunately in this day and age of skyrocketing unemployment, it places an undue hardship on those in need of ESC services to be forced to driver greater distances to obtain services.

Thanks to the leadership provided by Davis, Hertford County Manager Loria Williams and Mid-East Commission Workforce Development Director Walter Dorsey among many others in the county who have decided not to accept the loss, the citizens of the region may soon have another option.

We wish the leaders the best of luck as they tackle this endeavor. It is much-needed for the citizens.