Two top Perdue strategists leaving for new jobs

Stephen Neuman, senior adviser to Gov. Bev Perdue, is leaving that post Friday to work for a federal PAC started by the governor of Maryland.

The Washington Post reported that Neuman will be senior adviser to the O Say Can You See PAC that Gov. Martin O'Malley started. O'Malley is chairman of the Democratic Governors Association. Politicians often start federal PACs when they're considering runs for national office.

Neuman was North Carolina chief of staff for Barack Obama's winning North Carolina campaign in 2008.

Jon Romano, Perdue's communications director, is leaving to work for the "Fix the Debt" campaign founded by Erskine Bowles and former GOP Sen. Alan Simpson.
Bowles worked in the White House for former President Bill Clinton as his chief of staff and later served as president of the UNC system.

Romano will be the campaign's vice president for communications.

The campaign seeks to build support for a plan to curb the national debt. The co-chairmen are former GOP Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire and former Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania.

Neuman has worked for Perdue since mid-2011. Romano joined her office in late 2011.

"Steve and I have been honored to work for this governor who has worked so hard to improve opportunities for children in North Carolina and who has dedicated herself to preserving and enhancing North Carolina's well-earned reputation as among the best states in the country to live, invest, and grow a business," Romano said.