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 Getting Behind Bev
by Tom Campbell
January 15, 2009
The inauguration is over. North Carolina has a new Governor, the first female in our history. But it doesn’t matter what sex, race, or age she is. Beverly Perdue is Governor of North Carolina, taking office at a time when we have more challenges than any since The Great Depression.
Perdue got hit with the reality of those challenges her first two days on the job. The state’s two billion dollar budget shortfall screamed for attention and Perdue learned that former Governor Easley’s attempts to stem the flow of red ink were not enough. On her first trip to Washington as our chief executive she told our congressional delegation that it would take “draconian cuts” to cut our way out of this crisis, appealing to them for federal aid. Washington may fund “shovel ready” infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, water and sewer systems, but the prospects for budget bailouts don’t look promising. Without ascribing blame, let’s agree our state dug this hole and it is ours to fill.
The budget isn’t the only crisis the new administration faces. The question is how we are going to respond to this moment in history. In her brief inaugural address, Governor Perdue challenged our mettle, acknowledging that North Carolina has sometimes “been slow to answer history’s call,” quickly adding that wasn’t her way. She was clear in saying that now was not the time to lower our expectations but rather a time to “think big, dig deep, and push ahead.”
Of course she is right. Tough times always test people and how we meet those tests will determine our outcomes. This is not just a test for our new Governor, her administration or even our legislature. We all have a stake in the outcome. We are pulling for her and all our leaders to succeed in these challenges because we benefit or suffer according to their efforts.
Governor Perdue is off to a good start in her new administration. Her cabinet appointments appear good. Her inaugural address sounded a positive tone and her first few days on the job have demonstrated an inclination toward action and a willingness to change the ways some things have traditionally been done. Perdue is on the job and we must get behind her and support her in this new administration. That is not to say we have to agree with Governor Perdue at every turn; there is nothing so healthy for a state as a spirited debate on public policy issues. We trust her when she says her administration will be open to suggestions and discussion.
The stakes are high and the outcomes important. Let us do our part to meet the challenges of this moment in our history. If successful, we will live into the promise of our state toast to be a place where “the weak grow strong and the strong grow great.”
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