Cameron Morrison

What does the Correction Secretary do?

ryanteaguebeckwith — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:01:47 -0500

Answer:

Oversees the state prison system and related programs.

As head of the N.C. Department of Correction, the governor-appointed secretary supervises the state's prisons as well as probation, parole and community supervision programs.

It is one of 10 Cabinet-level positions appointed by the governor to head state agencies. The annual salary in 2008-09 was $120,363.

The department employs more than 19,000 people, making it the largest in the Cabinet or the Council of State. With annual spending of more than $1 billion in state and federal money, it has one of the three largest budgets in the Cabinet.

It was created in 1925 during the administration of Gov. Cameron Morrison.

Aaron Johnson, who seved from 1985 to 1992, was the first black secretary of the department. Theodis Beck, who served from 1999 to the end of Gov. Mike Easley's administration, was the second. Current Secretary Al Keller, appointed in 2009, is the third.

No woman has ever headed the department.

The department was given its current name in 1974.

The department is outlined in general statutes under Article 6 of G.S. 143B.

Brief:

Oversees the state prison system and related programs.

What does the Revenue Secretary do?

ryanteaguebeckwith — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:21:36 -0500

Answer:

Oversees state tax collection.

As head of the N.C. Department of Revenue, the governor-appointed secretary supervises the administration and enforcement of state tax laws.

It is one of 10 Cabinet-level positions appointed by the governor to head state agencies.

The department was created by the state legislature in 1921 under the administration of Gov. Cameron Morrison.

Two women have been heads: Janice Faulkner and Betsy Justus, who served as Revenue secretaries in the 1990s. The department has also had two black heads: Reginald Hinton, who served from 2007 to 2008, and current secretary Kenneth Lay, who was appointed in 2009.

U.S. Rep. Howard Coble served as Revenue secretary under Gov. Jim Holshouser.

The department is outlined in general statutes under Article 4 of G.S. 143B.

Brief:

Oversees state tax collection.

Rob's answers to reader questions

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 19 May 2008 10:58:11 -0400

Rob Christensen recently took Dome reader questions on his new book, "The Paradox of Tar Heel Politics."

Here are his answers to a few of those questions:

Is the book you wrote the book you set out to write? If different, how so?

This is pretty much the book I set out to write. I wanted to write the book that I wanted to read: a book that connected the dots, that provided some context, and that involved some story-telling.

In reviewing the period covered, did you have any eureka moments? What were they?

A long the way, there were a number of surprises. Who knew that we almost had a governor lynched or that the first woman candidate for governor was a KGB agent, or that a North Carolina senator was a Nazi sympathizer? But what was most interesting to me is how the same issues play out time and time again. As Harry Truman once remarked, the only thing new in the world is the history you don't know.

Who was the most fascinating unheralded political figure you encountered or learned about?

Gov. O. Gardner, who was elected in 1928. He was a textile plant owner and a lawyer who pretty much invented state government as it exists today. After leaving office, he moved to Washington to become one of the first of the super lobbyists. But for 20 years he continued to run the state from his suite in the Mayflower Hotel.

Is there anyone who in your estimate should have but didn't achieve political success warranted by his or her ability? Who was the most memorable overachiever?

The memorable overachiever was two-term Sen. Robert Reynolds (1932-1944) who won election saying that the sitting senator, Cameron Morrison, a Charlotte plutocrat, ate fish eggs and red Russian fish eggs at that, and wasn't it time to elect a senator who didn't mind eating regular old North Carolina hen eggs.

What would be the subject of a book about N.C. politics that you have no intention of writing?

A boring history of the administration of each governor.

What is the Queen City Curse?

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:42:50 -0500

Answer:

A long-running losing streak for Charlotte mayors who seek statewide office.

Every person who's held the office since 1979 has lost a state campaign for governor or U.S. Senate in either the primary or general election.

The first was Eddie Knox, who lost to Rufus Edmisten in the Democratic gubernatorial primary in 1984. In 1990 and 1996, Harvey Gantt lost to U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms in the general election.

In 1992, Sue Myrick lost to Lauch Faircloth in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate.

In 1996, Richard Vinroot lost to Robin Hayes in the Republican gubernatorial primary. He won the nomination in 2000, but then lost to Gov. Mike Easley. In 2004, he again lost the gubernatorial primary.

In fact, the last candidate from Charlotte to win a statewide election for either senator or governor was Gov. Cameron Morrison in 1920. Some also point to Gov. Jim Martin, a former head of the Mecklenburg County commissioners who listed his address as Lake Norman in Iredell County.

The phrase "Queen City curse" has been in use since at least the mid-1990s.

In 2008, the curse was mentioned when longtime mayor Pat McCrory kicked off a bid for the Republican gubernatorial primary.