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Chrissy Pearson, press secretary to Gov. Bev Perdue, is stepping up to the job of communications director.

Pearson has held the press secretary post since Perdue took office in January and has been her most visible spokesperson, often traveling along on trips across the state.

Prior to working in the governor's office, Pearson was communications director to then-Lt. Gov. Perdue starting in August 2008. Pearson also worked for eight years for the Department of Insurance, the last six as director of public information.

UPDATE: Pearson gets a raise from $81,000 to $115,200, which is the same salary as her predecessor, David Kochman, who is leaving the administration at the end of the month.

Gov. Beverly Perdue says there's a good reason why she didn't join most of the nation's other Democratic governors in signing a letter supporting health care reform.

Perdue says she was too busy with an economic development trip to consider the letter.

The letter was assembled by the Senate Majority Leader and the Democratic Governors Association, Talking Points Memo reports.

It's a standard letter addressed to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi and Minority Leader Boehner, telling them states "will only achieve the health care security and stability they need if we succeed in working together with the Congress and the President to achieve health care reform."

Perdue was one of six Democratic governors who did not sign the letter. Talking Points Memo and some bloggers have read the missing signatures as a sign of how tough the health care battle is.

In North Carolina's case, that may be overstating things. Perdue was given a copy of the letter Wednesday between meetings, Perdue spokeswoman Chrissy Pearson said.

"She didn't feel she had enough time to give it due consideration," Pearson said. "Her focus that day was the trip to New York City. It was a very grueling schedule."

Pearson said Perdue agrees with the points made in the letter.

Gov. Beverly Perdue has hired a new adviser on communications.

Pearse Edwards, currently chief spokesman for Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire, is slated to join Perdue's staff in September as senior communications and policy adviser.

No one is leaving the staff, according to Perdue's Deputy Communications Director, Tim Crowley. He said there is money in Perdue's office budget to cover Edwards' salary, but the exact salary figure will not be available until tomorrow. Edwards makes $125,000 working for Gregoire, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer web site. Perdue's office budget was cut this year along with other agencies.

Perdue's current communications lineup includes, in addition to Crowley, Communications Director David Kochman and Press Secretary Chrissy Pearson.

Edwards is a North Carolina native and has served as Gregoire's communications and external relations director since January 2008, according to the P-I. He previously worked for Microsoft and former Washington Gov. Gary Locke, who is now U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

The official story is State Highway Patrol Commander Walter J. Wilson Jr. decided to retire after a year on the job to spend more time with his family. That created the need for a successor, and Gov. Beverly Perdue appointed a lieutenant colonel, Randy Glover, to the post this week.

But Wilson's brother-in-law said in an interview that story is not true. Wilson was forced out, Michael Madras said, because Perdue had someone else in mind for the state's top cop.

Madras said he learned this from Wilson himself minutes after Wilson attended a meeting with Reuben Young, whom Perdue appointed to run the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety. Young told Wilson at that meeting June 22, just after Wilson returned from Disney World in Orlando with his family, that he needed to step down.

"He went on vacation and came back, and his boss says, the governor wants you gone," Madras said.

Wilson works at the patrol's headquarters, but he lives in Greenville, so during the workweek he often stays at the home of Madras and his wife, Penny, Wilson's sister. They live in Raleigh.

The alternative version of events leading to Glover's promotion raises questions that Perdue, Young, Wilson and Glover would not discuss. All declined through spokesmen to be interviewed.

Chrissy Pearson, Perdue's press secretary, would not say whether Perdue wanted Wilson out. Pearson also declined to say whether Perdue had sought to promote Glover into the job. (N&O)

Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger chastised Gov. Beverly Perdue Tuesday for using the state jet to fly across the state to rallies promoting her proposal to raise taxes by up to $1.5 billion.

"It is hard to believe Gov. Perdue is serious about cutting wasteful state spending," Berger said in a statement, "when she jets off on a taxpayer-funded, five-day 'Tax Hike Tour' in a state airplane."

Perdue's tax increase would burden families already suffering from the recession, he said.

Perdue led rallies encouraging public support for her proposal to raise taxes, saying the revenue is needed to avoid crippling cuts in education.

Perdue, "as all governors, has an obligation to travel the state and talk to citizens about the challenges confronting us, especially during these difficult economic times," said spokeswoman Chrissy Pearson. "The teachers and parents who would be affected (by cuts) deserve to hear that the governor is willing to stand up to protect the classroom."

The next time a Gulf Coast hurricane cuts down the flow of fuel to North Carolina, our governor might have new powers to decide who gets precious gas — and who doesn't.

The Senate approved and sent to the House today a bill authorizing the governor to ration fuel supplies in times of disasters and other emergencies when markets are disrupted, Bruce Siceloff reports.

The measure would expand on the state’s power to combat gasoline price gouging in similar situations. Last September, Hurricane Ike closed some refineries and pinched the pipeline flow of gasoline to North Carolina, causing prolonged shortages in several cities. Several retailers were fined for gouging after they sold regular gas for as much as $5.49 a gallon.

Gov. Beverly Perdue has not decided whether she wants new authority to ration fuel supplies.

"Governor Perdue wants to make sure North Carolina citizens can get the fuel they need during a time of crisis," said Chrissy Pearson, her press secretary. "She is reviewing this legislation as it continues through the legislative process."

Someone at the governor's mansion never got their wine.

Amid the list of everyday oenophiles who never got their shipments from the now-bankrupt Carolina Wine Co. in Raleigh is this name:

M EASLEY
200 NORTH BLOUNT ST
RALEIGH, NC 27601

That would be the address of the governor's mansion, but the initial leaves open three possibilities: Former Gov. Mike Easley, his wife Mary or their son, Mike Jr., Sue Stock reports.

Chrissy Pearson, spokeswoman for current Gov. Beverly Perdue, said that all wine purchases at the governor's mansion are personal and not through state funds.

"They have no record and no way of knowing who would have made that purchase," she said.

The Easleys could not be reached for comment. Whichever member of the family it was can take comfort that they have good taste. Also listed on the filing was noted violinist Itzhak Perlman.

The company filed for bankruptcy Friday.

A number of top state Democrats are at Camp Lejeune.

Gov. Beverly Perdue, Speaker Joe Hackney and Secretary of State Elaine Marshall just arrived for a speech on the military by President Obama.

Perdue's chief lobbyist, Andy Willis, and spokeswoman, Chrissy Pearson, came with the group. U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan and Rep. David Price came separately.

The speech will be held at the Goettge Memorial Field House, which Marines use to play basketball, but there's not going to be a chance for the hoops-loving president to take any shots today.

Several hundred Marines are in folding chairs on the court floor, awaiting the president.

Update: U.S. Reps. Mike McIntyre, Brad Miller and Larry Kissell; Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin; Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand; and state Reps. Russell Tucker, Grier Martin and Alice Underhill are also here.

Second Update: Defense Secretary Robert Gates, National Security Adviser James L. Jones, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, Lt. Gen. Dennis Hejlik of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force and senior Obama advisor David Axelrod were also at the event.

"When the governor leaves the state and the lieutenant governor becomes 'acting governor' is there any official notification given?" Dome reader Chris Hayes

Under Article III, Section 3 of the state constitution, the lieutenant governor serves as "acting governor" at the following times: "during the absence of the Governor from the State, or during the physical or mental incapacity of the Governor to perform the duties of his office."

In the case of physical incapacity, the governor may file a written statement with the attorney general declaring when she is not able to serve and when she's ready to return.

The legislature has to determine mental incapacity by a two-thirds vote of all the members of both chambers after hearing from the governor, though only a majority is required to declare that she is capable again.

But neither the constitution nor state law spells out the procedures for the governor to declare when she's away.

Chrissy Pearson, a spokeswoman for Gov. Beverly Perdue, said that the governor's staff notifies the lieutenant governor when she is out of state.

"There is no official protocol to do it by email or by phone," she said.

Incidentally, succession after the lieutenant governor is spelled out by state law: Senate president, Speaker of the House, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, schools superintendent, attorney general, and the commissioners of agriculture, labor and insurance.

And while the lieutenant governor is in charge, he is paid the governor's salary, too.

Gov. Beverly Perdue's office said she was pleased so far with the stimulus package.

In a statement, Perdue spokeswoman Chrissy Pearson said that they were "encouraged" that the final version of the economic stimulus bill restores some funding for infrastructure projects and new schools.

She said staffers will continue to look at the final details of the bill as they are made available, but noted it would not solve the $2 billion budget shortfall.

"With this final package, one thing is clear, however: Federal money will not be the magic bullet North Carolina needs to balance our state budget," Pearson said.

Perdue remains on vacation at an undisclosed location.