Gwynn Swinson | newsobserver.com projects

The diversity question and Perdue's Cabinet

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on December 9, 2008 - 11:52am.

How diverse will Beverly Perdue's Cabinet be?

As the governor-elect makes her decisions about the top 10 appointments to her administration, many observers will be looking at its diversity.

Gov. Mike Easley's original Cabinet from 2001 was described at the time by an N&O reporter as "perhaps the most diverse Cabinet in North Carolina history."

That group of 10 included three women (Administration Secretary Gwynn Swinson, Cultural Resources Secretary Libba Evans and Health and Human Services Secretary Carmen Hooker Buell) and three black appointees (Swinson, Correction Secretary Theodis Beck and Crime Control Secretary Bryan Beatty).

Only five appointees were white men.

After a handful of personnel changes, Easley's Cabinet became a little less diverse by the end of his second term. It now has one woman (Evans) and three black appointees (Beck, Beatty and Revenue Secretary Reginald Hinton).

Six appointees are now white men.

As the first female governor, Perdue may face higher expectations for the number of female appointees, although her campaign team had fewer women than primary rival Richard Moore's. After criticism of the lack of diversity on her transition team, she added new members.

What does the Administration Secretary do?

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on December 5, 2008 - 1:49pm.

Answer:

Supervises the behind-the-scenes business of state government.

As head of the N.C. Department of Administration, the governor-appointed secretary acts as the business manager for the state.

The secretary oversees building contruction, purchasing and contracting, managing state vehicles and acquiring and disposing of real estate. Other functions include handling surplus property, maintaining state grounds and providing police security for state buildings in Wake County.

In 2008, the department had 849 employees and an annual budget of $175.8 million. The secretary's salary was $120,363.

The department was created in 1957 under the administration of Gov. Luther Hodges. It is one of 10 Cabinet-level positions appointed by the governor to head state agencies.

The first female secretary of Administration was Jane S. Patterson, who served as acting secretary from 1979 to 1980 and as secretary from 1981 to 1985.

In 1993, Gov. Jim Hunt named Katie Dorsett of Greensboro, the first black woman to hold a Cabinet position in North Carolina. She served through 2000.

Another black woman, Gwynn Swinson, served under Gov. Mike Easley.

In 2009, Gov. Beverly Perdue announced that she would reappoint Britt Cobb as secretary, the only member of Easley's Cabinet to remain.

The department is outlined in general statutes under Article 9 of G.S. 143B.

Brief:

Supervises the behind-the-scenes business of state government.