Perdue – More Talk, No Action

Raleigh, N.C. – Yesterday, North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Tom Fetzer called on Governor Bev Perdue to ask for the resignations of Crime Control and Public Safety Secretary Reuben Young and Correction Department Secretary Alvin Keller for their failures in their public positions. Governor Perdue responded by calling Fetzer’s criticisms “empty words.”

Young, former chief legal counsel to Mike Easley during his tenure as governor, was promoted by Perdue to the top position at the state Department of Crime Control and Public Safety. Unfortunately for the state, Young has proven unable to successfully conclude any investigation he has undertaken. He was asked to find out about a directive from the executive department requiring destruction of email records and never questioned the person making the allegation. He was appointed to find missing highway patrol records relating to travel by former Governor Easley and found nothing. The appearance is that he will never “find” anything embarrassing to a Democratic administration. Keller, for his part, was hired to put more probation officers to work and provide needed oversight and security for the people of North Carolina. After nearly a year on the job, what progress has been made? There are actually fewer probation officers now than when Keller was appointed.

Governor Perdue also told reporters, “I can’t judge what happened under the prior administration. My only comment about that is I wish it would end very quickly and go to trial or whatever and be done with it, because we are all sick of it in North Carolina.” (“Perdue called on to fire 2 cabinet members,” WTVD, 2/8/10)

Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) made the following statement:

“More than one year into her term, Governor Perdue continues to offer the people of North Carolina exactly what she said – empty words. We have heard her empty words about creating jobs, improving education, and ending corruption in state government. It’s pretty obvious that this Governor is willing to ‘wish’ for change and talk about changing things but is unwilling to take effective action.”

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