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Perdue names go-to guy on stimulus

Gov. Beverly Perdue today announced the creation of the Office of Economic Recovery & Investment to coordinate and track North Carolina's federal stimulus funds.

Perdue named Dempsey Benton, former secretary of the state Health and Human Services Department, to lead the office and provide accountability for use of the funds, Leah Friedman reports.

Benton, 63, served as secretary of DHHS from August 2007 to January 2009. Benton, a former Raleigh city manager, wound up dealing with the debacle in the state's mental health system that was highlighted by a News & Observer series last year.

The federal stimulus package, expected to be signed into law today by President Barack Obama, provides about $6.1 billion in direct aid to North Carolina to create an estimated 105,000 jobs and rebuild the state’s infrastructure, including highways and schools.

This temporary office will be assisted by staff in the governor's office and representatives from the state agencies responsible for distributing the federal stimulus funds.

Benton will earn $98,500, according to the Governor's office.

More after the jump.

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The Governor's Economic Recovery and Investment Office will:

* Track all federal dollars flowing into state.

* Maximize the state's use of available federal stimulus funds.

* Identify the fastest ways to move the stimulus money into the economy.

* Establish lines of communication with federal and state agencies, local governments and North Carolina’s Congressional delegation to effectively use the federal stimulus funds.

* Keep the public informed about the status and progress of the funds, along with funding opportunities.

* Report to the General Assembly and the citizens on a regular basis about the status of the stimulus funds.

* Measure progress of the recovery effort by tracking the state’s economic condition.

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Re: Perdue names go-to guy on stimulus

Submitted by iluvmonica on February 17, 2009 - 11:28pm.

I thought the governor announced a job freeze over a week ago.

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To GrayJ: Working on it

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on February 17, 2009 - 9:04pm.

A fair point. I was just thinking that I should create one this afternoon. The profiles are done of major political figures, including all the members of the Cabinet, the Congressional delegation and the Council of State, key legislators and others. I add them when I have the time, but I'd have a couple dozen more if I had my way. The other folks, such as Mr. Bullock, were added as part of the election coverage.

Feel free to suggest others for Dome profiles, and I'll put them on a master list.

— RTB

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Re: Perdue names go-to guy on stimulus

Submitted by j1c2kp on February 17, 2009 - 8:38pm.

I am amazed that any governor even Governor Purdue would let him stay in state government. He was a complete failure as DHHS secretary. Make you wonder what he has on Governor Purdue? Cherry Hospital is in a mess, costing us $800,00 a month as north Carolina taxpayers. The new hospital at Butler is getting ready to loss federal funding. THIS IS A NEW JOB, WERE DOES MONEY COME FROM?

This quote was from another story about this 'created job'.

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Re: Perdue names go-to guy on stimulus

Submitted by GrayJ on February 17, 2009 - 5:46pm.

Dempsey Benton is a former Raleigh City Manager, former head of DHHS and now Stimulus Watcher and no Dome profile? But there is a profile for some guy named W. Landis Bullock who ran for Johnston County Board of Education?

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