Andy Willis is a finance guy, not a lawyer.
That makes Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue's newly appointed legislative liaison something of an anomaly in recent gubernatorial history. At least since the administration of Gov. Jim Hunt, his predecessors have held law degrees.
But Willis, who has a master's of public administration from UNC-Chapel Hill and worked as a legislative budget analyst for years, said Perdue told him his experience was more in demand right now.
"She said, 'I think we need you to concentrate on fiscal policy, and that's one reason why I've gone after you,'" he told Dome.
With the state facing a recession-related drop in tax revenue, Willis said he expects he'll spend most of his time this year working on the state budget, just as he did as a lobbyist for the University of North Carolina system.
"It's not going to be pleasant," he said. "We're going to have to find the balance, and there will be (spending) reductions. ... We're all going to be working on it together."
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Willis a solid guy. Good choice. Wish he was Governor
Andy Willis is a solid guy. Perdue is going to need A NOT MORE like him. Better leadership. Right now.... BEVERLY IS PROVING TO BE TOTALLY OVERWELMED- ALREADY. ----SHE HAS NEVER BEEN A CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF ANYTHING OTHER THAN A 7-PERSON STAFF IN THE LT. GOVERNORS OFFICE. A STAFF OF SECOND-TIER FOLK WHO WERE REJECTS FROM THE GOV'S OFFICE, THE SENATE AND HOUSE LEADERSHIP. THESE SECOND-RATERS ARE NOW RUNNING THE WHOLE MATCH. EXTREMELY SCARY..... AND BEV PERDUE HAS PROVEN THUS FAR TOO INSECURE TO SURROUND HERSELF WITH COMPETENT PEOPLE WHICH SHE DEARLY NEEDS. I'M AFRAID HER ADMNISTRATION IS ON THE CUSP OF BEING -AS BIG A DISASTER AS HER CAMPAIGN- TEAM. ZACK AMBROSE IS A INTROVERTED BEAN COUNTER WITH ZERO POLTICAL SKILLS. THIS GUY IS RUNNING BEV BY THE NOSE. WITHOUT OBAMA.... SHE'S NOT GOVERNOR, HANDS DOWN. "I" VOTED FOR HER BECAUSE I'M A DEMOCRAT.... BUT I'M ALREADY STARTING TO REGRET IT. INCOMPETENT, INSECURE, UNORGANIZED AND DISCONNECTED FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED HER------ RECIPE FOR A DISASTER AT THE WORSE POSSIBLE TIME IN THIS STATE'S HISTORY.... GOD HELP US.