01/05/2009

By GARY D. ROBERTSON  / Associated Press

Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue named more Cabinet-level leaders Monday, choosing the former chief deputy at the Department of Transportation to become the agency's new secretary.

Perdue's pick of Gene Conti, previously a top assistant leader on transportation issues in both state and federal government, meshes with her campaign proclamations that the agency would be run with transportation professionals at the top.

The department has been struggling with static or declining road-building revenue sources, leading to lengthy delays in projects even as there's an estimated $65 billion shortfall between projected transportation revenues and expenses through 2030.

"Under his leadership, we'll have a department that makes decisions more efficiently and more professionally," Perdue told reporters at a news conference. "He is going to help us ensure that North Carolina has in place the infrastructure to support our economy and our people in all 100 counties."

Perdue also named Asheboro clothing elastic company executive and city councilman Keith Crisco as the next commerce secretary, while former business owner Linda Carlisle of Greensboro will lead the Department of Cultural Resources.

Conti, 62, sat in the No. 2 spot at the state Department of Transportation from 2001 to 2003 in outgoing Gov. Mike Easley's administration. Before that, while an assistant U.S. transportation secretary for three years, Conti helped carry out a presidential order designed to promote mobility and reduce pollution in the Washington area.

Conti's resume in the federal government will help the state work with Washington, Perdue said. North Carolina wants its fair share of highway and bridge money from the stimulus package President-elect Obama wants to sign.

Conti pledges an open-door policy at the agency. A 2007 consultant's report on DOT included worker critiques that the agency was too political and bosses waste time.

"It's far too early for promises (but) I want to assure the people of North Carolina that we will be open and honest at DOT," Conti said.

Perdue a Democrat, reiterated Monday that she would change the state Board of Transportation once she took office, seeking to shift it to a more strategic policy panel and away from approving road-building contracts. The 19 board members are appointed by the governor.

"The DOT board members are out of the transportation projects business," Perdue said. But she will need help from legislators to complete that task by changing state law.

Senate leader Marc Basnight, D-Dare, had suggested that one of Perdue's fundraisers, current Board of Transportation member Lanny Wilson of Wilmington, was qualified for the secretary's job.

While Conti has political connections — campaign reports show he gave $2,200 to Perdue's campaign since 2007 and he managed Erskine Bowles' unsuccessful 2004 U.S. Senate campaign — some outsiders said Conti's hiring puts a knowledgeable administrator in charge.

"We're pretty enthusiastic about it," said Marc Finlayson, co-chairman of NC GO!, a coalition of local governments and road-building trade groups.

Crisco, president and chairman of Asheboro Elastics Corp. since 1996, will be the state's chief business recruiting official.

A former White House fellow during the Nixon administration and Burlington Industries executive, the 65-year-old Crisco said he supported the use of incentives to attract new companies to set up shop in North Carolina and to help existing industries.

Carlisle, 58, a former original member of the North Carolina Education Lottery Commission, said she would work hard to also make the Department of Cultural Resources an avenue to create jobs by improving North Carolina's brand among the arts and history.

Both Crisco and Carlisle also gave to Perdue's gubernatorial campaign, but Perdue said she "never once looked at a campaign report" in making her Cabinet choices.

"I wanted people who are proven leaders, people who can deliver and people that I could trust to understand that I meant business on accountability," she said.

Also Monday, Perdue named Moses Carey Jr. of Chapel Hill as chairman of the Employment Security Commission, which among other things manages the state's unemployment benefits. Carey directed a health disparities program at North Carolina Central University in Durham.

Perdue, the outgoing lieutenant governor, has now named six of the 10 Cabinet-level appointments and planned to name more at another news conference Tuesday. Her inauguration will be Saturday. She succeeds Easley, who was barred by law from seeking a third consecutive term.

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On the Net:

Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue: http://www.bevperdue.com