Muriel Offerman

Women in the governor's Cabinet

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:23:22 -0500

Where will women serve in Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue's Cabinet?

Since the modern Cabinet came into being in the 1970s, it's not been unusual for women to be appointed, but there remains a glass ceiling in five of the 10 jobs.

There have been no female secretaries of Environment and Natural Resources, Transportation, Crime Control, Correction or Juvenile Justice (in fairness, that last post was created in 2000).

Is that evidence of sexism? Environment, Correction and Transportation tend to have the biggest staffs and largest budgets among Cabinet posts, while Crime Control, Correction and Juvenile Justice all deal with public safety.

Women have held two other important posts, however.

There have been two female Health and Human Services secretaries: Dr. Sarah Morrow in the 1970s and Carmen Hooker Buell (later Odom) in the 2000s.

And there's been one female Commerce secretary: Estell Lee, who served from 1989 to 1991.

Still, women have fared better in posts that don't have as much power or visibility, although they are important in keeping the state running.

Jane S. Patterson was appointed the first female secretary of Administration in 1979. In 1993, Katie Dorsett became the first black woman to hold any Cabinet post, and in 2000, Gwynn Swinson became the second.

And Betsy Justus, Janice Faulkner and Muriel Offerman served as Revenue secretaries in the 1990s.

But the most female-friendly Cabinet post also has the least power. Since the job was created in 1971, five of the six secretaries of Cultural Resources have been women, but the department has the smallest budget and staff.

North Carolina's superdelegates

ryanteaguebeckwith — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:57:05 -0400

The superdelegates in North Carolina mostly backed Barack.

Here's a breakdown of the state's 19 superdelegates in the Democratic presidential primary race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Clinton

Gov. Mike Easley
U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler
Susan Burgess, Charlotte Councilwoman

Obama

U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield
U.S. Rep. David Price
U.S. Rep. Mel Watt
U.S. Rep. Brad Miller
Jerry Meek, N.C. Democratic Party chair
Dannie Montgomery, N.C. Democratic Party vice chair
Everett Ward, former Democratic Party director
Joyce Brayboy, public policy lobbyist
Jeanette Council, Cumberland County commissioner
Muriel K. Offerman, Democratic National Committee
David Parker, Statesville attorney
U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge
U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre

Uncommitted

Carol Peterson, Buncombe County commissioner
Two delegates to be named at the state convention.

Offerman endorses Obama

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:00:00 -0400

Muriel Offerman of Raleigh was one of several superdelegates who endorsed Barack Obama Tuesday night after the final Democratic primary results were calculated.

"I said from the very beginning," Offerman told Dome, "the scheduled primaries needed to take place. I do believe it's time to bring the Democratic Party together."

Offerman, a deputy chairwoman of the state Employment Security Commission, had been heavily lobbied by both Hillary Clinton and Obama, Rob Christensen reports.

"The bottom line," Offerman said, "is we are ready to move on to defeat John McCain and having a real change in Washington."

Previously: The Hamlet Superdelegates

Offerman still waiting to endorse

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 28 May 2008 13:29:42 -0400

Muriel Offerman said she's still willing to wait.

The Democratic National Committeewoman, one of North Caroilna's five remaining undecided superdelegates, said that she won't make a final decision until after the primaries are over.

"I had said early on that I would not make a decision until after the last primary at least," she said. "It may be later in June."

Offerman said she received a lot of phone calls after last week's primaries from surrogates for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, but none recently.

The Hamlet Superdelegates

ryanteaguebeckwith — Fri, 09 May 2008 10:36:26 -0400

To endorse or not to endorse?

That's the question for the five remaining uncommitted superdelegates from North Carolina in the presidential primary contest between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Here's a roundup of them and our best guess on why they haven't decided yet.

U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre: Met with Clinton Thursday and his district went for her narrowly. Told AP that superdelegates should "let the process work." Translation: Does not want to be tied to Democratic nominee in conservative district.

U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge: Met with Obama Thursday and his district went for him substantially. Repeatedly says he has no plans for endorsement. Translation: Does not want to be tied to Democratic nominee in conservative district.

Carol Peterson, Buncombe County commissioner: County voted for Obama by double-digits. Willing to wait until the Democratic convention. Obama and Clinton have both called her personally. Translation: Enjoying the attention.

David Parker, Statesville attorney: Impressed with Obama; interested in economy. Concerned about racial inequality. Does not think superdelegates have to follow the wishes of voters. Willing to wait until convention. Translation: Enjoying the attention.

Muriel Offerman, Democratic National Committee: Concerned about racially lopsided victory of Obama in North Carolina. Met Clinton, Obama several times. Says she won't decide until all states have voted. Translation: Will announce after June 3.

Offerman leans to Obama?

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:52:51 -0400

Put Muriel Offerman in the leans Obama category.

The North Carolina superdelegate tells News 14 Carolina's Tim Boyum that she is still undecided, but Barack Obama's recent win in North Carolina is notable.

"I will say that I'm probably leaning more toward a decision now after the vote has been taken in North Carolina because that definitely tells me which candidate this state is backing," she said.

Offerman said she will not announce her decision until after June 3 — when every other state has voted — but she did not say exactly when.

An employee at the state Employment Security Commission, she has met with both candidates in person and had conversations with their surrogates.

Meek endorses Obama

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 07 May 2008 14:53:56 -0400

Jerry Meek has endorsed Barack Obama.

The Democratic Party chairman, a superdelegate, said this afternoon that he had decided to support Obama months ago but did not want to interfere with the state's primary.

"Over the past year, I've watched as Barack Obama has drawn countless new people to the political process," he said in a statement. "Although my position as State Chair has led me to remain neutral through the primary, I've quietly celebrated as Barack Obama offered new hope to millions of Americans who have lost faith in the American dream after years of disastrous Republican policies."

The announcement is balanced by U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler's decision to support the winner of his Congressional District, Hillary Clinton.

The two decisions leave North Carolina with three superdelegates for Clinton and eight for Obama.

U.S. Reps. Mike McIntyre, Bob Etheridge and Brad Miller; Buncombe County Commissioner Carol Peterson; Statesville attorney David Parker; Democratic National Committeewoman Muriel Offerman remain neutral. (Though Miller may be leaning towards Obama.)

Meek will also have the opportunity to sway two more delegates. As state party chairman, he will submit four names for two delegate slots to be filled at the state party convention on June 21.

It is not known whether Meek will choose to name Obama supporters for those positions.

After the jump, his full statement.

Obama to announce two N.C. superdelegates

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:48:31 -0400

Barack Obama has snagged two North Carolina superdelegates.

Campaign manager David Plouffe will hold a conference call with reporters this afternoon to announce two new endorsements.

Charlotte City Councilwoman Susan Burgess has already endorsed Hillary Clinton, while U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, former Democratic Party director Everett Ward, party vice chair Dannie Montgomery and lobbyist Joyce Brayboy have endorsed Obama.

That leaves 14 more superdelegates. Two are add-ons who will be named at the state convention. One is party chairman Jerry Meek, who has said he will remain neutral.

That leaves Gov. Mike Easley; Reps. Heath Shuler, Mike McIntyre, Brad Miller, Bob Etheridge, David Price and Mel Watt; Buncombe County Commissioner Carol Peterson; Statesville attorney David Parker; Employment Security Commission employee Muriel K. Offerman and Cumberland County Commissioner Jeanette Council.

Obama will be in Raleigh and Greenville tomorrow, so today's announcement is likely strategically timed to give him a "momentum" story just as he comes to town.

On the guest list at Wake Tech

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:48:54 -0400

The guest list at the Hillary Clinton event at Wake Tech includes a few notables.

State Sen. Vern Malone, Reps. Tricia Cotham and Ronnie Sutton, former Ambassador Jeanette Hyde, Raleigh City Councilwoman Mary Ann Baldwin and Wake County Commissioner Lindy Brown.

Also on the list: Raleigh attorneys Bruce Thompson and Michael Petty, Raleigh public relations executive Joyce Fitzpatrick and former N.C. Industrial Commission chairman Buck Lattimore.

The most interesting name: Muriel Offerman.

Offerman is a still offically undecided superdelegate to the Democratic Convention. As we reported last week, Clinton personally called Offerman's work phone.

Maybe she's not so undecided after all...

Update: Dome also spotted Garner Mayor Ronnie Williams among the honored guests.

Please call H. Clinton

ryanteaguebeckwith — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:00:00 -0400

On slow days, Harry Payne often chips in to answer the phones.

The chairman of the Employment Security Commission and former state labor commissioner picked up the phone at work last Thursday and got a surprise.

On the other end was Hillary Clinton.

"As soon as I heard her, I recognized the voice," he said.

Clinton was calling for Muriel Offerman, a deputy chairman at the commission and, more importantly to Clinton, an undecided Democratic superdelegate.

Payne took the message and thanked Clinton for her husband's work in North Carolina after Hurricane Floyd. He briefly considered lobbying for an ambassadorship to the Bahamas, but decided against it.

"That was my 15-second brush with greatness," he told Dome.

Payne, who is married to N&O columnist Ruth Sheehan, said he would not interpet the call as a signal that Offerman is leaning toward Clinton.

"I think she gets calls from lots of people," he said.