Pearse Edwards, Gov. Beverly Perdue's newly hired senior communications and policy adviser, will be paid $136,000 a year.
Edwards is slated to start Sept. 14 but will not join the communications staff.
He "will be advising not only communications but policy and government relations," said Tim Crowley, Perdue's deputy communications director.
Edwards' job is a new position, but Crowley said the salary still fits within the budget for the governor's office, which was trimmed this year along with other agencies. The new hire and six-figure salary, however, come a week after the legislature approved a budget that raised $1 billion in new taxes and trimmed spending to at least minimize layoffs of teachers.
Edwards, a North Carolina native, currently serves as chief spokesman for Gov. Christine Gregoire, of Washington. Gregoire and Perdue are both Democrats.
Edwards, the new communications adviser, did not return a phone call to Dome Wednesday evening.
Comments
Re: New Perdue adviser: $136,000
August 14, 2009 - 7:00am — hrlady56When will it end? Agencies can't hire prison guards or nurses and are ordered to prepare lists of employees who will be RIF'd, while non-state employee Friends of Bev get put into newly created big salary jobs like Wellness Coordinator and Senior Communication and Policy Advisor. While the N&O is investigating, why don't you take a look at the wives of legislators and cabinet secretaries occupying nice new six-figure positions. Oooh it smells so bad.
Re: New Perdue adviser: $136,000
August 13, 2009 - 10:06pm — concerned53How come the N&O only reports the inappropriate hiring of Beverly's communications director via Under the Dome (not even in the political section of the N&O website) while it's pasted everywhere that her numbers have perhaps bottomed out at awful. It appears that the $136,000 has been well spent already by Beverly. More "blowing smoke up ..." to come.
Re: New Perdue adviser: $136,000
August 13, 2009 - 8:20pm — ziggypopYou have GOT to be kidding me? Perdue freezes State hiring, makes 735 hardworking State employees lose their jobs who have families to support & cuts over 1000 vacant State positions, freezes all State promotions or raises for 2 yrs, raises the sales tax on taxpayers who are already struggling, and imposes a 2-3% surcharge on middle income taxpayers state income tax, all during which NC has one of it's highest unemployment rates ever & has the NERVE to hire an "advisor" at 6 figures? I'm at a loss for words. I really don't understand why the people of NC have not marched on the Capital or her "executive mansion" yet & demanded she be removed. When is enough going to be enough?
Re: New Perdue adviser: $136,000
August 13, 2009 - 6:29pm — PaulTerrellHey wait, where is gigglebox and his sarcasm about Perdue? Oh okay it is only if a republican does something that he or she gets onerous.
Re: New Perdue adviser: $136,000
August 13, 2009 - 5:51pm — concerned53Heck, if you can't govern, you might as well spend the taxpayers' money trying to make people believe you are.
This is rich
August 13, 2009 - 3:19pm — PoliticalJunkiewhy didn't she just ax the other three stooges on her communications staff and start over?
Second question, how do you pronounce his name? Per se, Pearce, Percy?
He could go by all three and easily replace the three stooges routine of Tim, David and Chrissy.
Re: New Perdue adviser: $136,000
August 13, 2009 - 2:51pm — uncertainHow sickening...that would have been saving 4 or 5 regular state jobs instead of removing them.
Why should the agencies trim their budgets and adhere to stricter guidelines when our Governor has to constantly add to her own staff that make six figures a year!!
She is a real disgrace and I really hope somebody can put a stop to this overspending bull!
Re: New Perdue adviser: $136,000
August 13, 2009 - 1:58pm — concerned53Beverly said, "I think that I will spend another $136,000 of the taxpayers' money, not counting benefits, for a new advisor because my children hate me. I want to make them love me!"
She has no clue what her children are experiencing these days, particulary small business people. We can't afford to make mistakes, much less spend more money to cover them up.
Re: New Perdue adviser: $136,000
August 13, 2009 - 1:44pm — PercyKutionThe TRUTH is an absolute defense.
Re: New Perdue adviser: $136,000
August 13, 2009 - 1:43pm — PercyKutionThe TRUTH is an absolute defense.
Re: New Perdue adviser: $136,000
August 13, 2009 - 1:28pm — Kingixolibwell..maybe he knows a little something to help Bev in the garden.
It just gets more amazing with each passing day, doesn't it?
Re: New Perdue adviser: $136,000
August 13, 2009 - 12:32pm — markjohnson (author)Comment deleted for inappropriate language. MJ
Re: New Perdue adviser: $136,000
August 13, 2009 - 12:10pm — Brice_TrentPercyKution with yet another incredibly insightful addition to the public debate.
Very impressive dialogue here.
Re: New Perdue adviser: $136,000
August 13, 2009 - 11:07am — robdarichall's well in the land of odds.