There is no question today about the legacy of two-term governor Mike Easley.
It is, purely, simply, enduringly: DISGRACE.
He has disgraced himself. He has disgraced the high office twice entrusted to him by the people of his state and he has disgraced a great university. He has embarrassed all of us.
The former governor is under federal investigation for campaign and other financial shenanigans. The latest scandal involves a lucrative position he pressured heads of N.C. State University to create for his wife – followed by a five year contract at salaries totaling $800,000.
At the center of creating the lucrative “position” for Mrs.. Easley – in addition to the governor, himself – were State University trustee McQueen Campbell (appointed by Easley) and Chancellor James Oblinger.
Oblinger, who reportedly has a reputation for a “photographic memory,” apparently suddenly was stricken by a temporary seizure of Alzheimer's. He couldn’t remember anything about anything. Until a stack of emails was produced showing he and the governor had been involved from the beginning.
Meanwhile, some of Oblinger’s henchmen were bailing out with enhanced golden parachutes.
His memory refreshed by a stack of emails, Oblinger met with University President Erskine Bowles who said he was “sickened” by what he learned had been going on. Oblinger offered his resignation and Bowles snapped it up like Matt Dillon going for his six-gun.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Easley had been asked to resign – and refused. But after details of her job creation and enhancement were revealed, she was fired without notice.
But what about her contract? Does she depart with almost a million bucks of taxpayer’s money?
If so, perhaps that money should be provided by those involved in the scurrilous shenanigans that created the “position” for her in the first place.
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