Who will Beverly Perdue appoint?
The governor-elect will soon begin making decisions on her Cabinet and members of the nearly 400 state boards and commissions, but not all appointments were created equal.
Some of the posts will be more important because they hold more power, because of expectations created by Perdue during the campaign or because of issues in the news. Below, the top five.
CHIEF OF STAFF: As a longtime legislator and protege of Sen. Marc Basnight, Perdue could choose to go with a familiar face from the Senate or she could reach out. Her chief of staff will set the tone for how independent a route she chooses.
TRANSPORTATION: After two former Perdue fundraisers were forced to resign from the state Board of Transportation, she pledged to reform how state road contracts are awarded. Her appointments to the board and secretary of transportation will be a measure of that promise.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: Perdue prides herself on her expertise in health care and the ongoing problems with the state's mental health services have elevated the interest in this post. Will she choose to keep clean-up guy Dempsey Benton on board?
ENVIRONMENT: Perdue is still viewed with skepticism by some in the environmentalist community. Her head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the panel of experts she said would give her advice on offshore drilling will be key.
COMMERCE: The secretary of the state Department of Commerce is always a key indicator of the governor's approach to economic development and an indication of the balance she will strike between regulatory agencies (see Environment, above) and business.
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Re: Five Perdue appointments to watch-- A fresh face at DHHS
I can't believe with the awful publicity of late in DDHS, particulary State Operated Services, that she won't clean house, starting at the top down. Dempsey Benton may have inherited a mess, but it's still a mess.