newsobserver.com projects - Five Perdue appointments to watch - Comments

Re: Five Perdue appointments to watch-- A fresh face at DHHS

mbrock49 — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:17:01 -0500

I can't believe with the awful publicity of late in DDHS, particulary State Operated Services, that she won't clean house, starting at the top down. Dempsey Benton may have inherited a mess, but it's still a mess.

Re: Five Perdue appointments to watch

wolfpackalum — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:14:25 -0500

Word around the east is that Billy Sewell will get the Commerce job.

Re: Five Perdue appointments to watch

FFC1304 — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:00:59 -0500

People in Ashville are hoping that Mayor Terry Bellamy will be named to something to get her out of Asheville sooner...lol...she is such a sought after authority on many things, like hosting Kwami Kilpatrick to speak to the folks. Bellamy is a natural for 'democrat leadership' (an oxymoron) ...

Re: Five Perdue appointments to watch

j1c2kp — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:38:31 -0500

Bev's NCDENR choice will be interesting as I've always considered her a friend to industry but not environment. Prove me wrong Bev.

Five Perdue appointments to watch

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:21:09 -0500

Who will Beverly Perdue appoint?

The governor-elect will soon begin making decisions on her Cabinet and members of the nearly 400 state boards and commissions, but not all appointments were created equal.

Some of the posts will be more important because they hold more power, because of expectations created by Perdue during the campaign or because of issues in the news. Below, the top five.

CHIEF OF STAFF: As a longtime legislator and protege of Sen. Marc Basnight, Perdue could choose to go with a familiar face from the Senate or she could reach out. Her chief of staff will set the tone for how independent a route she chooses.

TRANSPORTATION: After two former Perdue fundraisers were forced to resign from the state Board of Transportation, she pledged to reform how state road contracts are awarded. Her appointments to the board and secretary of transportation will be a measure of that promise.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: Perdue prides herself on her expertise in health care and the ongoing problems with the state's mental health services have elevated the interest in this post. Will she choose to keep clean-up guy Dempsey Benton on board?

ENVIRONMENT: Perdue is still viewed with skepticism by some in the environmentalist community. Her head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the panel of experts she said would give her advice on offshore drilling will be key.

COMMERCE: The secretary of the state Department of Commerce is always a key indicator of the governor's approach to economic development and an indication of the balance she will strike between regulatory agencies (see Environment, above) and business.