'I have a lot of hope': In an interview, Gov. Roy Cooper talks NC's future, and his own

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Gov. Roy Cooper told ABC11 that he's never been more optimistic about North Carolina's future as it emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a one-on-one interview at the Executive Mansion in Raleigh, the governor offered a greatest-hits recap of the year, including major jobs announcements from Apple and Toyota worth more than $2 billion combined.

"I have a lot of hope because we are coming out of this pandemic," Cooper said. "It's still frustratingly gnawing at us as we continue to have sickness and death, but we have the way out with vaccines, and I'm optimistic about next year, and I'm looking forward to it."

Politically, the governor for the first time in office actually signed a comprehensive state budget after months of negotiations with the Republican-led General Assembly.

In another bipartisan achievement, North Carolina codified Cooper's clean energy ambitions in a major overhaul of how utilities will reduce carbon emissions in the future.

The wide-ranging conversation covered topics such as jobs, pandemic restrictions, the state's urban and rural divide, plus the governor's new role as Chair of the Democratic Governor's Association. Cooper, who cannot run for a third term as governor, was noncommittal about seeking higher office.

"Regardless of what I do, my main job is to be governor of this state, and I have done that for almost five years," Cooper said. "I will do that for three-plus years I have remaining on my term, and I'm going to work to be more effective than ever."