While Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue hasn't had a lot of time just yet to check out her new home, she's already kicking around a few changes to the governor's mansion.
She said Wednesday there's an office in the downtown Raleigh home that's a tad too masculine in decor for her taste. So she's thinking about lightening it up, perhaps with a coat or two of paint, Samantha Thompson Smith reports.
Perdue also has asked the groundskeeper at the mansion to put a swing set on the grounds for when her grandchildren and the children of her staff come to visit.
"It just reflects her family values," said Chrissy Pearson, one of Perdue's staff members.
Perdue said Wednesday she hopes to walk through the house with a friend on Sunday after she takes office to see what needs to be done or changed for her personal taste.

Comments
Re: Perdue ponders changes to mansion
January 9, 2009 - 2:24pm — mountainmanHum, lets see new curtains or people unemployed, losing their home, children hungry, govering the state, Hum, I think pink would be nice
Re: Perdue ponders changes to mansion
January 8, 2009 - 7:27pm — MarcelloLabor may be done by inmates but you still have to buy supplies. And you can bet those supplies will be paid for with tax payers money.
Meanwhile, DHHS programs are in a shambles, our roads are so outdated and filled or not "filled" with potholes, unemployement continues to rise, insurance cost rise, just look at the State Health Plan(oh but State employees can handle the increased deductables and cost since I am sure they will get a whooper of a raise this year, NOT)
But hey I'm glad she has her priorities in order.
Re: Perdue ponders changes to mansion
January 8, 2009 - 6:08pm — WhoKnowsNot all labor at the Governor's Mansion is performed by "convicts". Most maintenance is performed by the staff of Facility Management under the Department of Administration or via contractors under their or State Construction oversight. Yes, the Mansion was build mostly by inmate labor, but there was skilled labor hired at that time and during it's entire history. Many of the day to day operations are conducted via inmate labor currently under the guidance paid staff.
Re: Perdue ponders changes to mansion
January 8, 2009 - 4:47pm — radiomanOne must remember: ALL OF THE LABOR AT THE MANSION IS DONE BY CONVICTS. Only the cost of the paint will have to be paid for. The whole thing was built by convicts MANY years ago.
Re: Perdue ponders changes to mansion
January 8, 2009 - 4:15pm — Notsurewhere_NCAnyone know how much time Gov. Easy actually spent there? Seems like he was mostly awol to the beach working on pressing state business. Bev's planning on 4 offices statewide, assume the mansion is #5. I hope the others don't need painting.
Re: Perdue ponders changes to mansion
January 8, 2009 - 2:26pm — cato08The previous posts are on target. Governor elect Purdue needs to be mindful of the current state of the economy. I'd respect her more if she bit the bullet like the rest of us. Like all elected officials, she needs to understand that she works for us, we don't work for her. She should immediately chastise her staff member for spouting the "family values" nonsense as an excuse for wasting tax dollars. If you want to display your family values during these hard times, then save and scrimp like the rest of us families are. If she wants a swing set for her grandchildren, she can pay for it herself like other grandparents.
Re: Perdue ponders changes to mansion
January 8, 2009 - 2:15pm — worz4uncI agree with Jan Dr Love; don't spend a dime on "sprucing up" anything until the state has an excess.
Re: Perdue ponders changes to mansion
January 8, 2009 - 2:13pm — mbrooksAh, whiners -- doncha love 'em!
Re: Perdue ponders changes to mansion
January 8, 2009 - 1:23pm — jandrloveBy all means, please spend as much tax payer money to spruce up the MANSION to your tastes. The peasants can live with needed road improvements, high taxes, crooked poiliticians and wasteful government spending. They always have....