Raleigh city council member to go on China junket

Reports the News & Observer:

City Council member Mary Ann Baldwin used $1,800 of her campaign war chest to pay for a forthcoming trip to China with the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce.

Baldwin said the trip offers chances to learn about the Chinese economy and she viewed it as an extension of her council duties.

The trip, scheduled for Oct. 24 to Nov. 1, includes nine days of sightseeing, with stops at China’s Great Wall and Tiananmen Square. Harvey Schmitt, the chamber’s president, said the trip is being billed as a way for participants to familiarize themselves with China to gain a better understanding of the nation’s economy and people.