Falling out of favor
Erskine Bowles gets a different version of the Mary Easley story from McQueen Campbell, asks him to resign as chairman of N.C. State's Board of Trustees and tells the N&O he's "very disappointed with this whole matter."
We should recall that the UNC Board of Governors approved Mrs. Easley's fat raise last year, and Bowles defended it. Of course, her husband isn't governor anymore, and I suppose that makes all the difference.
Earlier this week, N.C. State Provost Larry Nielson announced his resignation. He hired Mrs. Easley for the job created just for her, for which no one else was invited to apply. While her husband was governor, of course.
She still has four years left on her contract, but as fast as the Easleys are falling out of official favor, her status might change sooner than that.
Related: Kevin Siers cartoon on Larry Nielson.
Comments (2)
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The honorable thing for Mary Easley to do would be resign. She could re-apply for the position through normal channels; that is if the position was actually needed.
Posted on May 15, 2009 10:22 AM
Yes, that's exactly what she should do. If she's rehired, it would appear to be on her merits and not the influence of the governor and his supporters.
The fact that she was given a five-year contract last year makes it look like her job was given political protection beyond her husband's term in office. The only way to disabuse that idea is for her to give it up.
Posted on May 15, 2009 10:33 AM