Benton won't hang around

Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dempsey Benton will not stick around for the administration of Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue.

Benton, a former Raleigh city manager, was named secretary in May 2007 and wound up dealing with the the debacle within the mental health system that was highlighted by a N&O series earlier this year. Legislators appreciated his management skills, and he was widely seen as a potential holdover into the incoming Perdue administration to continue straightening out the costly and fatal flaws in the mental health system.

"He indicated to us early on that he would be stepping down," said Perdue spokesman David Kochman.

Benton will stay on in some capacity for a brief time while Perdue searches for a successor, Kochman said.

Benton said he told the Perdue team he did not want to continue as secretary but that he would help with the transition.

"I'm trying to get out of the day to day management responsibilities that I've had for a number of years," he said. "I've done 40 years of public service, most of that being on the firing line management positions. I think I've completed that type of work."