Gardner: Security's not political

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:10:29 -0500

Jim Gardner says that the lieutenant governor should have security.

The former lieutenant governor, who served from 1989 to 1992, said that he did not have security when he came into office, but he was assigned a Highway Patrol detail by Gov. Jim Martin sometime during the Gulf War.

His successors, Dennis Wicker and Beverly Perdue, have also received security.

In a report today, the state auditor's office noted that there are no "statutes, rules or regulations" to provide security, which is at the discretion of the governor. It also noted that Perdue had used state security while going to campaign events, for which she has reimbursed the patrol.

Gardner said he doesn't see the need for a distinction.

"I don't think the governor's ever made any distinction between when they were campaigning and when they were going to public events," he said.

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Gardner: Security's not political