Gov. Pat McCrory made an appointment to the state Industrial Commission on Thursday. Andrew T. Heath, a Wilmington attorney who has defended cases brought before the commission.
Heath, if confirmed by the General Assembly, will replace Staci Meyer, a longtime, upper-level state worker who was close to Democratic former governors Bev Perdue and Mike Easley. Her term ends April 30.
Like several other important state panels, the six-member Industrial Commission is caught up in a GOP effort to streamline and replace all current members with their appointments. The General Assembly is also considering reducing their terms.
The commission hears cases involving injured workers. A series in The N&O last year showed the commission failed to take action against a large number of companies that failed to carry workers’ compensation insurance.
