Would Perdue appoint superintendent?

Beverly Perdue evaded a question at the debate today.

During a series of brief yes-or-no questions at the education debate on the SAS Institute campus, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate gave a vague and confusing answer when asked if she would support appointing the superintendent of public instruction.

"I've danced this dance before," she said. "The governor is in charge of education in North Carolina."

The answer echoed a response given by state Superintendent June Atkinson, a Democrat running for re-election, who said the governor is in charge back in January when the question arose. But it was not exactly a yes-or-no response.

Later in the debate, she said that voters don't think it matters whether the position is elected or appointed, but the bottom line is that the governor should run education.

At a primary debate in April, Perdue said that the state should have an appointed superintendent, but said it was unlikely that the necessary constitutional amendment would pass, according to this account by the Greensboro News & Record's Mark Binker.

Republican Pat McCrory's position was clear: He thinks the position should be appointed.