Easley's Claim of Opposition to Reform Not Backed Up

Quote :

"Raleigh, N.C. — Mental health advocates have already questioned Gov. Mike Easley's recent statements that his administration opposed reforming the state's mental health system seven years ago, and old memos and speeches support that skepticism."

Quote :

"In proposing legislation to give his administration more authority and control over the mental health system, Easley said his administration, including former Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Carmen Hooker Odom 'vigorously opposed (the 2001 reforms) because it was too broad with not enough accountability.' Odom hasn't been available for comment, but statements she made several years ago contradict Easley's position."

Quote :

"John Tote, executive director of the Mental Health Association in North Carolina, a statewide advocacy group, said he believes compromises were made during the legislative process. He said he hasn't seen any proof to show Odom opposed the bill as Easley has said. 'It really is coming in the context of a vacuum. There's nothing to foundationally and fundamentally support (Easley's) statement that we've ever seen,' Tote said."

http://www.wral.com/news/local/politics/story/2537159/

I'm not quite sure what to make of this one. There certainly are enough inconsistencies in Easley's statements to bring the matter to TSB's attention, though.

3/7/2008 1:25:40 AM

HOOKSAW!!!

PROFESSINAL WARCHDAWG FR TSB!!!!!!!!!

3/7/2008 8:41:05 AM

I'm sure he's done worse, even before he was reelected.

3/7/2008 11:19:39 AM

^^ You're welcome to have the job.

^ Perhaps.

3/7/2008 12:15:33 PM

Gov. Weasely and the democrat controlled state government own whatever is wrong with state government. The republicans are so pathetic in this state they are essentially powerless so when something goes wrong there is one party to blame. I would be surprised if Weasely didn't lie repeatedly. "Temporary" taxes, the transportation "trust" fund etc...

3/7/2008 6:04:24 PM

at least he got us the lottery

3/7/2008 6:06:50 PM

Where's the liberal outrage?

3/10/2008 4:16:51 AM

We're too busy drinking our latte's.

3/10/2008 8:28:23 AM

as much as you want this issue to take traction, hooksaw, it's just not gonna happen

3/10/2008 9:26:29 AM

http://www.newsobserver.com/2771/story/989121.html

Quote :

"Benton vouches for Crane He says order to fire her came from governor's office Dempsey Benton says Debbie Crane did good work for the department and that it wasn't his idea to fire her. Dempsey Benton, head of the state Department of Health and Human Services, said Friday that it wasn't his idea to fire Debbie Crane, his department's top public information officer. He said that order came from the governor's office. Seth Effron, Gov. Mike Easley's deputy press secretary, told reporters Tuesday, the day of the firing, that "Debbie Crane was fired by the Department of Health of Human Services because she was dishonest, untruthful and insubordinate." When Effron was asked for examples of Crane's dishonesty, he replied, "The details on that need to come from the department." In an interview Friday, Benton contradicted Effron's description of Crane's character and her work. He said Crane had done a good job for his department and that she had not been dishonest, untruthful or insubordinate with him. Benton said Franklin Freeman, Easley's chief of staff, told him that Crane had to go. Freeman confirmed that Friday, saying he was acting at the governor's direction. Crane, who worked for the state for 18 years, said Benton told her early last week that Freeman said Easley had "lost confidence" in her and wanted her fired. Meanwhile, Easley's chief legal counsel declined Friday to comment on the letter he wrote this week saying that "absolutely no evidence" exists to support Crane's claim that the governor's communications staff directed public information officials in executive branch agencies to destroy e-mail messages after sending them to the governor's office. Chief Legal Counsel Reuben F. Young declined to say whether the governor's press aides had denied telling the agency press aides to kill e-mail, or what he meant by saying there was no evidence it happened. "I understand your question, and I'm not giving you a hard time here," Young said. "I just want you to understand my response, and that is I will refer you to the press office." Young said in the letter that his investigation of the claims "included discussions with the Governor's staff and specifically the Communications Director, Press Secretary, and Deputy Press Secretary." That would be Sherri Johnson, Renee Hoffman and Effron. So far, Effron is the only one to talk to reporters, issuing a blanket denial earlier this week. But he was not identified as one of the officials who issued the directive. Crane said those people were Johnson, Hoffman and former Communications Director Cari Boyce. Johnson and Boyce have not responded to interview requests; Hoffman declined to be interviewed, saying by e-mail that Young's letter "speaks for itself." "

3/10/2008 9:39:12 AM

What Will Easley's Legacy Be?

Quote :

"[Jack Betts] said he is baffled by why the state's chief executive has been reserved in speaking publicly about the state's mental health problems. 'It's not that Easley doesn't work on these things, but he doesn't embrace the opportunity to meet a problem head on publicly,' Betts said."

Quote :

"Betts said Easley's approach may affect his legacy. 'It gives the impression of a fella who's accomplished less than some governors,' Betts said."

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/2553728/

Gov. Easley's odd approach: Duck and cover
He dodges high-profile appearances that go with the governor's job

Quote :

"The Observer's Mark Johnson hoped to squeeze in a quick question to the governor about the mental health fiasco one day last week when Easley took part in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new engineering building at N.C. State University. Johnson and another reporter, Matt Willoughby of the N.C. News Network, stationed themselves near the governor's SUV so they could pose a question as he walked by. But Easley's security escort hustled him into the vehicle and off they sped -- Johnson's shouted question buffeted in the wake."

Quote :

"But he has not chosen to answer questions about his administration's missteps on such matters as mental health. That has left a void in the public discourse about services for some of the state's neediest citizens -- reaffirming a suspicion that nobody in Raleigh cares about them. The governor's office didn't think an interview would be productive, and declined the request. 'It was our sense here in the press office that there wasn't going to be an opportunity for the governor to talk about solutions, but quite frankly more about the blame game, and that was not where the governor wanted to go,' said Seth Effron, spokesman for Easley."

http://www.charlotte.com/291/story/518531.html

3/11/2008 3:02:43 PM

^ I was walking past there when the reporters were staked out. There are 4 sides to the Capitol. Reporters were patrolling at least two, but no more than three. You would think that if they cared to actually corner the governor and ask awkward questions, that they would put someone at each door. As it stands, looks like they wanted the story to be that Easley wouldn't talk to them.

3/11/2008 7:43:21 PM

^

Quote :

"engineering building at N.C. State University"

. Reading comprehension ftw.

3/11/2008 11:39:52 PM

i was almost going to click on this thread, then i saw the OP was our resident crank, so i decided not to bother.

3/12/2008 1:08:10 AM

aww... go Cry like Ballantine.


He'll be gone in a few months anyway, I suggest you run someone less pansy than that guy if you want the governors' mansion.

[Edited on March 12, 2008 at 1:23 AM. Reason : ]

3/12/2008 1:22:21 AM

^ Is that to me? How do you know what I want in a governor? I simply think there's something shady about these mental health dealings.

For years, I wouldn't even vote for a Republican governor because they were all anti-lottery, among other issues. In addition, I routinely vote for Democrats at the state and local levels. Don't presume to have me figured out--you don't and neither do any of the others here.

3/12/2008 3:45:22 AM

i have.

3/12/2008 1:07:10 PM

^ You only know what I told you, boy.

3/12/2008 3:56:56 PM

Open Up

Quote :

"As the nation's media organizations today begin their observation of Sunshine Week, which stresses the importance of free access to government information, we can only hope that Gov. Mike Easley is paying attention. He and his administration have made a travesty of the idea of openness to government records with the governor himself, by his own admission, 'chunking' a letter that might have been very important in the discussion of the state's mental-health crisis. Easley admitted that he tossed into the trash a handwritten personal note from former N.C. Health and Human Services Secretary Carmen Hooker Odom. The former secretary, who now lives in New York, led her department while the legislature debated mental-health reform in the early part of this decade and then as that reform effort went so terribly wrong. Despite numerous attempts by the state's newspapers to interview her, Odom has refused to talk with the press [emphasis added]. So, when Easley recently received the note from Odom, he threw it away. That is a blatant violation of the state's public-records law, despite Easley saying the note wasn't subject to that law because it was personal correspondence. More egregiously, it is a rejection of the very concept of open government. Even if the note was entirely personal in nature, the governor should have saved it in his papers. But he says he regularly throws away notes and letters that he, alone, decides not to be germane. His employees are also allowed to erase e-mail as soon as they, on their own, decide that it is no longer germane to the public. Talk about allowing the fox to guard the chicken coop. Egad! We can't imagine that the former district attorney and state attorney general would consent to a system where major corporations and individual taxpayers were allowed to destroy all of their records on their own. There'd never be any evidence for civil and criminal trials. As North Carolina families suffer from the botched mental-health reform effort, they no doubt would like to hear from Odom, but nothing requires her to speak up. The next best thing would be to see what she had to say to the governor. It would also be nice to see what the governor's press aides - throughout all of his departments - are saying to each other as they handle media and public requests for information. But there are allegations that they have undertaken a concerted effort to put nothing in writing and to erase e-mail as soon as they can. It's important to remember, here, that the case against former House Speaker Jim Black, now a federal prison inmate, was made in large part with e-mail obtained through the public-records law. The candidates for governor all say they will be more open in the next administration, and Treasurer Richard Moore, a Democrat, says he would be the most open governor in state history. That's good to hear. We'll believe it when we see it from any of the six. The public has a real stake in hearing what its government officials are saying to each other and they have a right to examine public records. It's too bad that our otherwise progressive governor has so little respect for the public's right to know."

http://tinyurl.com/2djxjq

3/17/2008 4:58:30 AM

Quote :

"RALEIGH — As Gov. Mike Easley's special panel on email records retention had its first meeting, its leader is the object of a Carolina Journal email and records request that has gone unfulfilled since it was made more than two weeks go reports Don Carrington. The response to that request illustrates the problems the panel faces as it attempts to resolve the issue of whether email falls without exception under the state's Public Records Law, as open-government advocates maintain. Easley established the email review panel, which was scheduled to meet today at 10:30 a.m. at the state Administration Building, after The News & Observer of Raleigh published a series of stories about the poor condition of the state's mental health care system. Easley fired Debbie Crane, former spokeswoman for the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, for her role in dealing with the newspaper during its investigation. After she was fired, Crane told the newspaper that she and other agency spokespeople were ordered by the governor's office to routinely delete email correspondence to and from the governor’s office [emphasis added]."

http://www.carolinajournal.com/weeklynewsletter/2008-03-28-cj-newsletter.html

3/28/2008 2:06:55 PM

FUCK A LIE

MIKE EASLEY IS A FUCKING CUNT

[Edited on March 29, 2008 at 12:33 AM. Reason : AND I'LL SAY IT TO HIS GODDAMNED FACE]

3/29/2008 12:32:52 AM

was just telling someone the other day how easley could do anything and i'd still love him for the lottery

3/29/2008 1:01:47 AM

Quote :

"Gov. Weasely and the democrat controlled state government own whatever is wrong with state government. The republicans are so pathetic in this state they are essentially powerless so when something goes wrong there is one party to blame. I would be surprised if Weasely didn't lie repeatedly. "Temporary" taxes, the transportation "trust" fund etc..."

This same argument applies at the national level, except it's flipped.

3/29/2008 1:11:04 AM

i bet it was in the middle of snipper fire running with heads down in the snow, uphill both ways too.

3/29/2008 6:07:56 PM

Easley is a small-minded pile of human excrement.

This is not a troll post.

3/29/2008 7:58:35 PM

Sounds like he's in deep doodoo now.

Quote :

" Easley press office wanted e-mail deleted By Pat Stith, Staff writer State government public information officers were instructed by Gov. Mike Easley’s press office to delete e-mails to and from the Governor’s Office, according to notes released today by the governor’s office. Andrew A. Vanore Jr., a lawyer who works for Easley, produced notes made by two public information officers showing that they and others were told at a meeting on May 29, 2007, to destroy e-mails. A third public information officer said he also recalled those instructions. But Vanore said the notes don’t mean what they say. He also said the instructions were not followed. The News & Observer had requested the notes of the periodic meetings of the public information officers. Questions about the way the Easley administration handles e-mails arose after publication of an N&O series, “Mental Disorder: The Failure of Reform,” which ended March 2. The series reported on an ill-conceived and poorly executed mental health reform plan on which the state has wasted at least $400 million. Two days after the series ended, Easley ordered the Department of Health and Human Services to fire its public information officer, Debbie Crane. Later that day, Crane told The N&O that the governor’s press office had directed that e-mails be deleted to bypass the state’s public records law. Easley’s chief legal counsel, Reuben F. Young, and his deputy press secretary, Seth Effron, quickly denied that such instructions had been given. Young, who has been vacationing with his family in China, could not be reached for comment. Effron has been instructed by Vanore not to comment. Vanore, who was chief deputy attorney general under Easley before Easley was elected governor in 2000 and who has continued to work part time for the governor on a contract basis, was assigned to handle this matter in Young’s absence. Julia Jarema, public information officer at the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, recorded this note for the meeting in question: “Public records request — increasing careful of email delete emails to/from gov. office every day." Diana Kees, public information officer at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, recorded this note: “emails - more & more public records requests (blogs?) be careful w/emails; delete emails to and from gov office every day." Vanore said he did not know what the notes meant. “It could be interpreted a number of different ways, and the only way to properly interpret it would be to talk to the individual who took the note,” he said. But he said he had instructed all of the employees not to talk about that issue because The N&O may file a lawsuit. For more on this story, return here tomorrow or read tomorrow's print edition of The News & Observer. "

http://www.newsobserver.com/front/story/1017829.html

[Edited on March 29, 2008 at 11:03 PM. Reason : ?]

3/29/2008 11:02:28 PM

^ Doesn't look good, does it?

Quote :

"as much as you want this issue to take traction, hooksaw, it's just not gonna happen"

agentlion

Are you sure about that?

3/30/2008 7:38:48 PM

Yea, I'm pretty sure this is going to get traction. When it broke, they played denial and Easley's lawyer sent a letter to the N&O basically telling them to put up or shut up. So it is personal now for the N&O.

Though I've been a supporter of Easley, I'm shocked by this. If these allegations turn out to be true, I think some serious consequences are warranted.

3/31/2008 6:32:01 AM

^^ well i'd say it's certainly been escalated recently with the new evidence. Based on the initial report, though, it didn't look like much would come of it

3/31/2008 6:57:09 AM

^^ Yep.

^ Well, "didn't look like much would come of it" is past tense--we're dealing in the present. But you seem to have stepped up to the plate--sort of. I can respect that.

4/1/2008 5:33:33 AM

Did Governor Contradict Records Law?

Quote :

"RALEIGH - In a recent interview with WRAL-TV, Governor Easley made statements about the state public records law to the station that seem to be contradictory to what the law actually says. In an interview that aired on April 2nd, WRAL-TV talked with Governor Mike Easley about the reports of destruction of email public records that have appeared in the News & Observer, the Raleigh Chronicle, and other media. During the interview with David Crabtree, Governor Easley addressed the issue of emails as public records, under the state law. 'If it has administrative value, you have to save it, now that's what the law says,' said Easley, who summarized the NC open records law that he helped create as the NC Attorney General in 1995. However, Easley seemed to contradict what the law said in terms of who gets to decide what 'administrative value' means. 'You have a responsibility to save what is of administrative value,' said Governor Easley. 'Who determines what is of administrative value?' then asked David Crabtree of WRAL-TV. 'It is determined by...the person who receives it,' said Easley. 'It's the only way we can monitor the law.' Those statements seem to contradict the state law, which says that the NC Department of Cultural Resources decides what is of administrative value or not. The state law does say that although employees are responsible for their own records, they have to follow specific rules set forth by the department in keeping emails. According to NC General Statute 132-3, 'no public official may destroy, sell, loan, or otherwise dispose of any public record...without the consent of the Department of Cultural Resources.' The NC Department of Cultural Resources spells out exactly what type of emails are supposed to be saved. In a document entitled 'E-Mail As A Public Record In North Carolina: Guidelines for Its Retention and Disposition', the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources provides some insight. 'Are emails public records? Yes, if they are used to transact public business,' says the department. The document goes on to say that 'some examples of emails that are public records...include policies and directives, correspondence related to official business, work schedules, meeting agendas or minutes, any document that initiates, authorizes, or completes a business transaction, [and] reports.' "

http://tinyurl.com/5ok9eo

4/6/2008 8:42:24 PM

Who are you voting for in the Gov. race? Go post in my thread.

4/6/2008 9:46:00 PM

^ Well, I think Bev Perdue is going to be the nominee of the Democrats--and I think she's going to be the next governor, too (and I just don't like Richard Moore). But depending on whether Fred Smith or Bill Graham get the Republican nomination (I wouldn't vote for Bob Orr or Pat McCrory ), I will look seriously at each of the two parties' candidates.

In general, I strongly disagree with the Republicans' position on the lottery--I think they may try to do away with it. But I lean more toward their positions on taxes, guns, education, and illegal immigration, among a few other issues.

I like the Democrats' position on the lottery--I'm sure they'll try to keep it. Obviously, I don't care for their positions on taxes, guns, education, illegal immigration, and a number of other issues.

4/7/2008 4:31:14 AM

Easley pledges better public relations
He tells his staff: Work with media

http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1031762.html

Well, that begs the question: What was the policy toward the media for the last seven years? Fuck 'em?

4/11/2008 3:09:05 PM

its easy to play nice now that he's on his way out. I don't think moore or purdue will be much better tho (and we all know one of those two will probably win).

4/11/2008 3:15:51 PM

How lavish was Gov. Easley's trip to Italy?

Quote :

"RALEIGH (WTVD) -- State records show Governor Easley's economic development trip to Italy cost more than a hundred thousand dollars of taxpayer money. Now, Eyewitness News has uncovered some of what all that money bought. Throughout the trip, Governor Easley, his wife and a press secretary stayed at high class hotels. Their total hotel bill? $5,974.29. On their hotel bills, certain items are redacted from the public documents. At their hotel in Rome, the five star luxury Marriott Grand Hotel Flora, Governor Easley's room cost $785.56 a night. On his bill, one item on April 20th that cost 68.50 Euros or just more than a hundred dollars is redacted. The commerce department hasn't told Eyewitness News what this expenditure is or why it's redacted. In Florence, Governor Easley stayed in a four star hotel for $336.61 a night. He spent $106.27 on a laundry service. The following night in Venice, Governor Easley, his wife, press secretary Sherri Johnson, Division of Tourism Director Lynn Minges, North Carolina's European travel account manager Claudia Schwegmann and four State Highway Patrol officers dined for more than one hundred dollars a person at the Trattoria Alle Testiere. Concierge.com says seats at the restaurant are 'some of the most sought-after seats in Venice.' The total bill came to $958.44. '24 hours a day, seven days a week we make sure that the governor remains safe,' says NC Secretary of Crime Control and Public Safety Bryan Beatty. Four NC Highway Patrolmen travelled with the governor as his security detail Secretary Beatty says when the Governor travels, security has to be as close to him at all times so they stay in the same hotels and eat at the same restaurants. 'I wouldn't call it a perk of the job, it is part of the job,' says Secretary Beatty. 'If he's sitting and he travels, they travel with him. I've been on that detail some 25 years ago, and there are some things you would say that you enjoyed doing, there are other things you had to endure,' he continued. A chauffeur drove Governor Easley around Italy in a Mercedes S-Class sedan. Secretary Beatty tells Eyewitness News the only request the state made about the car was that it would be a sedan so he could be accompanied by security. He says he would also want the Governor to be driven by a service they could trust to be safe. The chauffeur driven sedan and vans for the delegation cost North Carolina taxpayers more than 43 thousand euros. By today's exchange rate that's more than $61000. Other expenses for the trip include $125 spent on a piece of Ben Owens pottery to be given as a gift. $95 for UPS shipments, $129.86 on a dinner at a pub in London and two room service breakfasts for Lynn Minges, the Tourism Director, one at $25 and another for $9 all were paid for with taxpayer money. The Department of Commerce says the expenses were worth it. 'It's clearly expensive and I understand people's concerns but I also believe strongly that this kind of mission is very important for North Carolina to participate in and to have the governor participate in it is doubly important, especially now when the dollar is not in a very strong position,' says Katharine Neal, communications secretary at the Department of Commerce. Eyewitness News is continuing to uncover facts about this trip and other state trips paid for with taxpayer money. As we get new info, we'll bring it to you. If you have tips, e-mail investigates@abc11mail.com."

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/abc11_investigates&id=6218262

Taxpayers Fund Easley Coastal Trips
Majority of aircraft trips included leg to where Easleys own two homes

Quote :

"RALEIGH — When Gov. Mike Easley and the first lady fly in state aircraft, most of their trips include a connection to Brunswick County, where the couple owns two homes. Easley does not reimburse the state for any portion of the coastal trips, although state documents apparently require that he do so."

http://www.carolinajournal.com/exclusives/display_exclusive.html?id=4793

6/27/2008 3:14:38 AM

pm sent

6/27/2008 3:16:33 AM

Quote :

"When Gov. Mike Easley and the first lady fly in state aircraft, most of their trips include a connection to Brunswick County, where the couple owns two homes."

Maybe that's why Easley had so much trouble handling a car a few years back in that NASCAR photo-op... he's forgotten how to drive.

6/27/2008 9:39:51 AM

^ Yeah, he wrecked twice, didn't he?

6/27/2008 10:29:07 AM

This whole mess stinks to high heaven.

Provost Says He Acted Alone in Hiring
Conflict-of-interest questions surround trustees chairman's role

Quote :

"RALEIGH — The provost of NCSU says that he alone hired first lady Mary Easley in 2005 and that he approved her 88 percent pay raise to $170,000 a year July 1. Meanwhile, conflict-of-interest questions surround the involvement of the NCSU Board of Trustees chairman in the approval of Ms. Easley's raise. The provost, Larry Nielsen, said details that led to the hiring of Ms. Easley at North Carolina State University were unclear; he said he didn’t remember whether anyone suggested he talk with her. After Ms. Easley's raise became public, NCSU officials scrambled to justify the action and acknowledged they had not been monitoring the approval process for large pay increases. In addition, Carolina Journal's investigation of the matter reveals a potential conflict of interest. Because of his longtime friendship with Gov. Mike Easley, trustees chairman D. McQueen Campbell appeared to have had a conflict of interest when he approved Ms. Easley's job and 88 percent raise. The governor appointed Campbell to the Board of Trustees in 2001 and reappointed him in 2005. Campbell was elected chairman in 2007. Campbell played a key role in a 2005 real estate transaction in which the Easleys purchased a Carteret County waterfront lot for $549,880. News reports later showed that the price the Easleys paid for the lot was significantly less than comparable sales in the same development. One year after the purchase county tax officials appraised the lot at $1.2 million. Transition to NCSU a mystery Ms. Easley was employed at North Carolina Central University School of Law from August 1995 until August 2005. She was a part-time assistant professor paid $74,428 for teaching two courses when she resigned. Nielsen said that before he became interim provost in 2005 he had contemplated developing a 'high-level' speaker series for NCSU. On June 27, 2005, the NCSU Board of Trustees reported that Nielsen had been named permanent provost. Nielsen said he met Ms. Easley on May 2, almost two months before his selection as provost. Documents obtained by CJ show that Ms. Easley sent her resumé by fax to Nielsen's office on that day. Other documents show that Ms. Easley was interviewed May 17. On May 26 Nielsen approved a new position with the title of lecturer. 'The primary duties will be to direct the university speaking program and to teach three courses per year in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Management,' the job description said. Nielsen said the new position did not require a job study by a human resources professional. The job opening was not advertised. 'I saw a unique opportunity for a unique individual,' he said. Nielsen signed another form May 26 putting Ms. Easley in the new job at a salary of $80,000 a year. Two years later Nielsen increased her salary to $90,000. When asked who suggested that he consider Ms. Easley for a job, Nielsen said, 'I can't remember. I don't recall.' When asked whether it was Campbell, Nielsen said, 'I don't remember.' When asked whether Campbell had a role in the recent decision to raise Ms. Easley's salary to $170,000 a year, he said Campbell had no role. Initial NCSU reaction Carolina Journal Online published the story about Ms. Easley's pay increase July 2, and other media quickly picked it up. The Board of Trustees conducted a regularly scheduled meeting on July 8. According to the minutes of the meeting: 'Chair Campbell called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. He reminded all members of their duty to avoid conflicts of interest and appearances of conflicts of interest under the State Government Ethics Act and inquired as to whether there were any known conflicts of interest or appearances of conflict with respect to any matters coming before the Board at this meeting. Being none he called upon Assistant Secretary P. J. Teal for the roll call.' After the open session business was concluded, the board went into closed session to consider personnel appointments. Nielsen confirmed that Ms. Easley was discussed in the close session. Nielsen said on July 9 that he and Chancellor James Oblinger met with UNC System President Erskine Bowles to discuss Ms. Easley's position and pay. Shortly after the meeting, NCSU posted on its home Web page a statement from Nielsen regarding Ms. Easley. The final paragraph stated, 'The NC State Board of Trustees has unanimously endorsed Mrs. Easley's new position and compensation level, as has the Chancellor. President Bowles has said, "I join the Board of Trustees in expressing my delight that Mrs. Easley will consider continuing her public service through her work at NC State. She will continue to be a tremendous asset for NC State in her expanded position and will bring additional depth to an already strong faculty and leadership team."' Oblinger has acknowledged that NCSU had not been following the UNC General Administration's requirement for the NCSU Board of Trustees and the Board of Governors to approve salary increases greater than 15 percent and more than $10,000. 'We believed we were using the right approach in the way we were handling fixed-term contracts,' he said in a statement. 'As an institution that prides itself on doing things in the right way, we are embarrassed by this difference of interpretation and will take immediate steps to ensure that our contract approval processes are consistent with Board guidelines,' Oblinger said. He said Ms. Easley's new contract and salary and several other contracts will be reviewed at the next UNC system Board of Governors meeting on Sept. 12. In the meantime, Nielsen said, Ms. Easley continues to be paid at the rate of $90,000 a year. Since Ms. Easley's position is considered an academic-year appointment, she isn't expected to work during the summer. Nielsen said that she came to work sometimes anyway and that a state trooper always accompanied her. About Campbell Campbell, a 1993 graduate of NCSU, became a real estate broker in 2000. A Charlotte Observer story in 2006 described him as a longtime friend and campaign contributor of Easley's. He also introduced the governor to Cannonsgate, the Carteret County waterfront property. In addition to running his Raleigh-based company, Campbell Property Group, Campbell is the director of acquisitions for a group of waterfront development and financing companies headed by William G. (Gary) Allen, an N.C. native who now lives in Florida. Allen's companies developed Cannonsgate. In 2006, when asked about his relationship with the governor, Campbell told the Observer, 'Its pretty common people are going to do business with people they know and trust. I don’t know too many people who do business with their enemies.' According to the Observer, Cannonsgate salespeople used the governor's purchase to help market the other lots. Campbell did not return phone calls for this story."

http://www.carolinajournal.com/exclusives/display_exclusive.html?id=4899

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zOB01gCEsw

[Edited on August 25, 2008 at 3:38 AM. Reason : .]

8/25/2008 3:35:04 AM

Eh, I'd take anything written by the John Locke Foundation about the Easleys with a pound of salt.

It is like getting all your news about Elizabeth Dole from The Independent.

$170,000 a year for a full time law professor who is also the former first lady seems about right - although the whole thing with not getting approval from the Board of Governors is somewhat troubling.

But, we want high profile professors at State, right? Does anyone think that hiring her will not bring a wealth of contacts to the University?

I don't get the conflict of interest thing - he seems to be saying that there is a conflict because Campbell is on the board of trustees, but the whole thing is he points out that neither the board of trustees nor board of governors approved it...

8/25/2008 10:07:08 AM

^ Actually, I think that she is only a lecturer, right?

If that's the case, she is probably the highest paid lecturer at NCSU by several orders of magnitude.
I say that based on no actual evidence what-so-ever. But I do know that a full professor doing research that earned $170,000/year would be very lucky (especially outside "money making" departments like Physics). If she's a lecturer it seems a bit...excessive.

[Edited on August 25, 2008 at 12:22 PM. Reason : ``]

8/25/2008 12:21:33 PM