RALEIGH, N.C.  – The North Carolina Bank Commission paid nearly $500,000 in bonuses to its employees last year and is asking legislators to provide money for more this year.

Employees of the commission are exempt from state salary rules. Deputy Commissioner Mark Pearce says the commission uses the bonuses to attract employees to work in bank regulation. Private firms and federal regulators pay more and Pearce said the bonuses are important.

But a legislator who leads the subcommittee that oversees the commission says it’s a bad year to be handing out state employee bonuses when most are getting pay cuts.

The bank commission regulates state-chartered banks, mortgage brokers and check-cashing businesses.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Gov. Bev Perdue Tuesday appointed District Attorney Scott Thomas as chair of the Governor’s Crime Commission. Perdue made the announcement while speaking to the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association, where she emphasized the important role the crime commission plays in North Carolina’s justice system.

“The Governor’s Crime Commission will be an active voice in my administration, advising me on the best ways to prevent, deter and fight crime,” said Perdue. “As a district attorney, Scott Thomas has put criminals behind bars while working closely with sheriffs, police chiefs and law enforcement officials on a wide range of criminal justice issues. He chaired the Senate Justice and Public Safety Appropriations Subcommittee, so he understands clearly the mission of every facet of North Carolinas criminal justice system. Scott Thomas will be a strong leader of the crime commission.”

Scott Thomas was elected in 2006 to the 3B prosecutorial district comprising Carteret, Craven and Pamlico counties. From 2001-2006, Thomas served as a state senator. He was appointed chair of the Justice and Public Safety Appropriations Subcommittee and vice-chair of the Judiciary Committee. As a state senator, Thomas also served as a member of Governor’s Crime Commission. He earned his J.D. from the N.C. Central University School of Law and his bachelor’s degree in political science from East Carolina University. Thomas, 42, is from Vanceboro and is married with three children.

“It is an honor to be chosen by Governor Perdue to chair the Governor’s Crime Commission,” said Thomas. “I am confident that we will make North Carolina a safer place to live, work and raise a family.”

New members of the Governor’s Crime Commission include:

Richard L. Shaffer, Jr., district attorney 27B prosecutorial district, Cleveland and Lincoln counties
James Wilson Pierce, Jr., executive director of Kids Making It, Wilmington
Rodney D. Monroe, police chief of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department
Judge Carl Fox, district 15B Superior Court Judge, Chatham and Orange counties
Jennifer Roberts, chair of Mecklenburg County Commission

Reappointments include

Sandra Reid, juvenile justice and criminal justice lecturer at Elon University, Graham
J. Wayne Sears, police captain, Rocky Mount
Sharon G. Sadler, superior court clerk, Swan Quarter
James Carlton Cole, judge, 1st judicial district, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Pasquotank and Perquimans counties
James L. Knight, sheriff, Edgecombe County

RALEIGH, N.C. -  Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Hilda Pinnix-Ragland of Cary and Norris Tolson of Pinetops will serve as co-chairs of the Budget Reform and Accountability Commission (BRAC). Perdue established the commission in January to help her locate and eliminate wasteful spending while increasing efficiency in government.

“It is the responsibility of government to ensure every tax dollar is used as efficiently and wisely as possible,” said Perdue. “I expect my BRAC team to root out wasteful and unnecessary spending, hold government accountable for its appropriations and help ensure taxpayers are not funding ineffective or unsuccessful programs.”

The commission’s first task will be to conduct a detailed review of the state’s entire continuation budget to identify inefficiencies, and develop options for cuts and consolidations.

Hilda Pinnix-Ragland is chairwoman of the State Board of Community Colleges. Appointed in 2005, she is the first woman and the first African-American to head the board that oversees the state’s community college system, one of the largest in the country.

In 1980, Ms. Pinnix-Ragland joined Carolina Power & Light, now known as Progress Energy. She has worked her way up to vice president of corporate public affairs. Her past vice president roles at Progress Energy include vice president in charge of economic development, vice president of energy delivery services and vice president of the northern region.

Pinnix-Ragland, 53, earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from North Carolina A&T State University, graduating magna cum laude. She earned her MBA from Duke University.

Norris Tolson is president and CEO of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. He served as commerce secretary and transportation secretary under Gov. Jim Hunt. In 2001, Gov. Mike Easley appointed Mr. Tolson secretary of revenue. Mr. Tolson served two terms in the North Carolina House of Representatives.

Tolson, 69, earned his bachelor’s degree in crop science and agribusiness from North Carolina State University.

The initial membership of the BRAC is expected to be named within the next week.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Gov. Perdue Friday made an unannounced visit to the JobLink Career Center at the Raleigh Employment Security Commission office on Carl Sandburg Court. During her hour-long visit, she spoke to the Center’s director and employees, toured the facility and asked questions of the citizens there who were receiving services.

A crowded parking lot and full waiting room greeted the governor as she entered the facility around 2:30. Several citizens offered their personal stories in private sessions with Gov. Perdue.

“Today I heard the real stories behind the numbers – I met people who had lost jobs due to this troubled economy, of course, but I also saw so much more,” Gov. Perdue said. “I met someone who holds a PhD but can’t find a job. I talked to job seekers who are former military and are looking for a career outside the armed forces. I saw a woman who had never held a job before but today is looking for a new path. These are real people we must work for, not just statistics. I want every single ESC office in North Carolina to be operating as efficiently and effectively as possible to best serve these citizens.”

Gov. Perdue specifically looked for indications that the Career Center was providing the types of services needed by today’s changing group of unemployed citizens. She focused on the hours the Center is open, how many staff and partner agencies are available and what kinds of diverse services are provided, and whether the Center has been able to change to meet growing demand.

A Democrat-controlled Wake County Board of Commissioners will take over in January for the first time in six years.

Candidates in Wake County talked about the issues.

The League of Women Voters and several partner organizations are sponsoring a Candidate’s Forum for the Wake County Commission candidates.

Candidates spent about an hour and a half discussing topics from growth to affordable housing at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Raleigh.

Some folks at the forum said they thought it was interesting and a good opportunity to get to know the candidates.

“At least we got to know about their personalities,” said Evelyn Bloom of Wake County, “(but they) never had an answer to any of the questions,” she said.

Her husband Dick Bloom also enjoyed the forum but also didn’t find he got a lot of answers.  He said many questions couldn’t be answered by the commission.

“I don’t think the people in the audience knew what the county commission is responsible for,” he said. 

Candidates at the forum:

District 4 -

Dem – Stan Norwalk -stann@nc.rr.com www.stannorwalk.com

Rep – Kenn M. Gardner -citizens4kenn@earthlink.net

District 5 -

Dem – Harold Webb -harold.webb@co.wake.nc.us

Rep – Venita Peyton (not in attendance) — venitapeyton@yahoo.com www.venitapeyton.com

District 6 -

Dem – Betty Lou Ward – bettylou.ward@co.wake.nc.us

Rep – Larry F. Tilley -Tilleydr@bellsouth.net, www.tilleyforcommission.com

A question for District 5 discussed year-round schools and if the candidate would support an over-all cost/benefit study of those schools.

Webb, the only candidate in attendance for District 5 said he did

A question for District 6 asked the candidates about gang violence and how they would work to prevent it.

Commissioner Ward, said “it is a problem.”  And she said she will continue to support the Sheriff’s Office Anit-Gang Task Force.

Candidate Tilley said he would allow the Wake County Sheriff to take whatever means he needs to keep school system safe.

Another question directed at District 6 asked about concern over what appears to be a lack of cooperation between the School Board and the County Commission.

Tilley responded by saying it’s an obvious problem. He said he thinks something that could help is a public coahilition.  He said he would let the School Board be the education and let the commission deal with the land.

Ward responded said that the lack of cooperation is a perception, not reality.  She said leaders from the two groups meet once a month and discuss issues. 

Election day is November 4.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Wake County Commission candidates will appear at a forum Wednesday.

The public is invited to the event, which begins at 7 p.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Raleigh located at 2723 Clark Avenue (on the corner of Clark and Brooks Avenues.)

The foum will include an opportunity for each candidate to give an opening and closing statement to address issues central to their campaign.  In addition, each candidate will be asked to respond to one or two set questions, and subsequent questions will come from the sponsoring organizations and from the audience.  Questions will cover a range of issues including growth, environmental quality, education, transportation and services for the aged. 

For more information, contact Marian Lewin at mlewin11@bellsouth.net.

RALEIGH, N.C. — The League of Women Voters of Wake County, the Wake County AARP Chapters, the Women’s Club of Raleigh, the Junior League of Raleigh and the YWCA of the Greater Triangle are sponsoring a Candidate Forum for the Wake County Commissioners. 

The Forum is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m.  The forum will coincide with the League Fall General Meeting, and will be held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Raleigh located at 2723 Clark Avenue (on the corner of Clark and Brooks Avenues.)

The Candidate Forum for candidates for the Board of Commissioners of Wake County will include an opportunity for each candidate to give an opening and closing statement to address issues central to their campaign.  In addition, each candidate will be asked to respond to one or two set questions, and subsequent questions will come from the sponsoring organizations and from the audience.  Questions will cover a range of issues including growth, environmental quality, education, transportation and services for the aged. 

This is our opportunity to learn about the views that these candidates hold on issues that are important to the citizens of Wake County.  We hope that Leaguers will be enthusiastic participants in this forum and that you will invite your friends and relatives to attend this event with you.  Please contact Marian Lewin at mlewin11@bellsouth.net with any questions.