Luther Hodges | newsobserver.com projects

The history governor

Submitted by bniolet on October 1, 2009 - 9:46am.

Gov. Beverly Perdue is writing her own story.

Literally.

A new feature on Perdue's Web site includes a brief biography of each of North Carolina's governors.

"No North Carolina governor, with the exception of Zebulon B. Vance, has been as venerated as Charles Brantley Aycock (1859-1912), with whose term the Democratic Party inaugurated a seventy-two year hold on the office," reads the biography of Aycock, which also helps explain, by the way, where this weekend's Vance-Aycock dinner got its name.

It's notable, if not entirely unexpected, to find that the biography of the current governor is both longer and more boosterish than any other on the list.

Tarheel Democracy Dispatch

A blog by former U.S. Commerce Secretary Luther Hodges Jr. about his time in Iraq.

Hodges heading to Iraq

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on January 30, 2009 - 2:40pm.

Former U.S. Commerce Secretary Luther Hodges is leaving shortly for Iraq where he will both teach a business seminar and write a daily blog on his experiences.

Hodges will be a visiting professor at American University at Sulaimani for 10 days, lecturing an advanced course on business and ethics and law. He will also visit Dubai, Rob Christensen reports.

While he is in Iraq, Hodges will be writing a daily blog about what he learns in the town located in the Kurdish dominated north of Iraq. The blog, which will begin Feb. 4th, is called the Tarheel Democracy Dispatch. You can read it here.

"I'm teaching over there for the adventure," said Hodges, who is 72.

The program is being run by the Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC-Chapel Hill, where Hodges is an adjunct professor.

The blog was the idea of Joyce Kohn, a Raleigh public relations executive.

Hodges hopes to show the "new Iraq."

"If we can see a different Iraq that people are used to seeing," Hodges said, "it might improve all our perspectives."

Hodges is a retired banker and former deputy and acting commerce secretary under President Jimmy Carter. He was a U.S. Senate candidate in 1978. His father was governor of North Carolina and commerce secretary under President John F. Kennedy.

Hodges will arrive in Iraq on Saturday, Feb. 7.

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.

Thompson edges Giuliani in NC money

Submitted by bkrueger on October 15, 2007 - 3:07pm.

Fred Thompson is neck-and-neck with Rudy Giuliani in the race for money from North Carolina.

Thompson's campaign finance report for the third quarter shows that he has raised just over $106,000 from North Carolina contributors for his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. Giuliani raised just over $96,000 for the same period.

But Thompson's totals come with an asterisk - his report includes money raised in June. Giuliani's report only includes money raised in July, August and September.

Thompson's report lacks the star power of Giuliani's report, which included contributions from some NASCAR notables.

Check out some of Thompson's N.C. contributors after the jump.