Perdue Builds a Cabinet

Governor-elect Bev Perdue has finalized her cabinet, announcing her last four picks to round out the group of department heads that will run the operations of much of state government.

Her cabinet choices were her first major gubernatorial decisions, and if they prove anything, it’s that Perdue values competency and experience. Overall, most of her cabinet members have significant experience in state government, and none of her picks could be considered a bold surprise or is likely to cause much controversy. As Chris Fitzsimon at N.C. Policy Watch points out, most of the picks are Raleigh insiders with strong ties to the state Democratic machine.

Here is the full Perdue cabinet:

Britt Cobb, secretary of administration
The only returning member of Gov. Mike Easley’s cabinet. He acts as the state’s business manager, overseeing things like the purchase of goods and the construction of buildings.

Keith Crisco, secretary of commerce
An Asheboro city councilman and president of Asheboro Elastics Corp. He is also the head of a group pushing the state to take over hydroelectric plants along the Yadkin River.

Al Keller, secretary of correction
Retired Marine colonel who served eight years as a chief circuit military judge. Keller has also been assistant attorney general under state Attorney General Roy Cooper.

Reuben Young, secretary of crime control and public safety
Was chief legal counsel for Easley.

Linda Carlisle, secretary of cultural resources
Was an N.C. Lottery commissioner and a trustee for UNC-Greensboro. She will now oversee the state’s archives, museums and libraries.

Dee Freeman, secretary of environment and natural resources
Served 27 years as a town manager, followed by eight years as the head of the Triangle J Council of Governments.

Lanier Cansler, secretary of health and human services
May be the most closely scrutinized cabinet member because he’ll be charged with doing what his predecessors failed at: fixing the state’s troubled mental health system. Cansler has worked as a lobbyist representing companies doing business with the department he now heads.

Linda Wheeler Hayes, secretary of juvenile justice
Chaired the Governor’s Crime Commission, an advisory group that handles federal grant money. Was a major fundraiser for Easley and donor to Perdue.

Kenneth Lay, secretary of revenue
No, not that Kenneth Lay. This one is a former executive at Bank of America.

Gene Conti, secretary of transportation
Formerly held high-ranking positions in both the U.S. and N.C. departments of transportation. This pick is significant because Perdue ignored the advice of N.C. Senate leader Marc Basnight, who wanted her to pick Democratic fundraiser Lanny Wilson. Perdue says she wants to reform the state’s board of transportation, which has for many years been filled with political donors.