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Beverly Perdue
Beverly Eaves "Bev" Perdue (born January 14, 1947[1] in Grundy, Virginia) was the Democratic Governor of North Carolina from 2009 to 2013.
First elected in 2008, Perdue was North Carolina's first female governor. Perdue announced on January 26, 2012 that she would not seek a second term in office.[2] She was succeeded by Pat McCrory (R), who won election on November 6, 2012.
Biography
Perdue was born and raised in the coal mountains of Southwestern Virginia in Grundy. Thought neither of her parents ever finished high school, Perdue earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Kentucky and both a master's degree in education and a doctoral degree in education administration from the University of Florida. Before entering state politics, Perdue worked in education and health care.
Education
- B.A., University of Kentucky (1969)
- M.Ed., University of Florida (1974)
- Ph.D., Education administration, University of Florida (1976)
Political career
Governor of North Carolina (2009-2013)
Perdue first won election as governor in 2008. She was the first female ever elected Governor of North Carolina. As governor, Perdue was responsible for appointing judges to North Carolina state courts. In North Carolina, the governor makes judicial appointments. The new judge must run for the seat in the next general election more than sixty days after the appointment. For an up-to-date list of all of Perdue's appointees, see Judges appointed by Bev Perdue.
Automobile inspections
Following an investigation by Charlotte Observer and The News and Observer highly critical of North Carolina's mandatory annual automobile inspections on efficacy and corruption grounds, Perdue advocated exempting newer cars and ordered a review of the system in November 2011. The John Locke Foundation identified Perdue's proposal as one which would have reduced "cronyism."[3]
Liquor privatization
Perdue announced she would not propose privatizing North Carolina’s government-run liquor stores, siding with a large, diverse array of interest groups opposing the idea. Among those who agreed with her were local politicians who want to keep the revenue and patronage, beer and wine wholesalers who didn’t want increased competition for consumer dollars, and cultural conservatives worried about the possibility of increased alcohol abuse and addiction.[4]
Regulatory reform
In October 2010, Perdue issued an executive order to streamline the regulatory process within all state agencies over which she had control. The order mandated that agencies conduct cost/benefit analysis of new regulations, annually review existing regulations, and seek out alternatives to regulation, among other things. Perdue's executive order influenced North Carolina's 2011 Regulatory Reform Act. The John Locke Foundation identified excessive regulation as a major source of "cronyism" in North Carolina.[5]
Popularity
According to a survey conducted by Public Policy Polling in June 2012, Perdue had a 59 percent disapproval rating. It was the highest disapproval rating of the 40 governors polled by PPP at that time. Her approval rating was 30 percent, with 11 percent unsure.[6]
Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina (2000-2008)
Education Lottery
As lieutenant governor, Perdue cast her tie-breaking vote to pass the bill creating the North Carolina Education Lottery on August 30, 2005. The bill's passage by the Senate marked the end of a legislative process identified by the John Locke Foundation as an example of "cronyism." The Senate vote occurred two weeks after Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight had announced that his chamber was finished with its work for the year and also followed a rushed House vote full of irregularities which deadlocked the North Carolina Supreme Court 3-3.[7]
North Carolina State Senate (1990-2000)
During her last three terms in the Senate, she served as one of the state's chief budget writers and was the first woman to hold this position. While she was in office, the General Assembly increased teacher pay and passed Governor Hunt's Excellent Schools Act and Smart Start. Additionally she led the debate that created North Carolina's Clean Water Management Trust Fund.
North Carolina House of Representatives (1986 - 1990)
Perdue, a Democrat, served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 1986 to 1990
Elections
2012
Perdue announced in late January 2012 that she would not seek a second term in office. Pat McCrory won election on November 6, 2012.[8]
2008
Perdue announced her 2008 candidacy for governor on October 1, 2007 at her hometown, New Bern, North Carolina. On October 22, 2007, EMILY's List endorsed her campaign.[9][10]
She defeated Republican Pat McCrory and Libertarian Michael C. Munger in the November 2008 general election.
| Governor of North Carolina, 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Bev Perdue |
50.3% | 2,146,189 | |
| Republican | Pat McCrory | 46.9% | 2,001,168 | |
| Libertarian | Michael C. Munger | 2.8% | 121,584 | |
| Total Votes | 4,268,941 | |||
| Election results via North Carolina State Board of Elections | ||||
2004
Perdue was re-elected to a second term in 2004 as Lieutenant Governor in North Carolina.
| Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, 2004 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Bev Perdue Incumbent |
55.6% | 1,888,397 | |
| Republican | Jim Snyder | 42.8% | 1,453,705 | |
| Libertarian | Christopher Cole | 1.7% | 56,368 | |
| Total Votes | 3,398,470 | |||
| Election results via North Carolina State Board of Elections | ||||
2000
In 2000, Perdue defeated Republican Betsy Cochrane for the Lieutenant Governor's seat, becoming North Carolina's first female lieutenant governor.
| Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, 2000 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Bev Perdue |
52.3% | 1,500,206 | |
| Republican | Betsy Cochrane | 45.9% | 1,315,825 | |
| Reform Party | Catherine Carter | 1.8% | 50,352 | |
| Total Votes | 2,866,383 | |||
| Election results via North Carolina State Board of Elections | ||||
Campaign finance summary
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Perdue makes her home in Chapel Hill and formerly lived in New Bern. She is married to Bob Eaves and has two grown sons from a previous marriage, Garrett and Emmett.
See also
- Governor of North Carolina
- Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
- Lieutenant Governor Walter H. Dalton
- Former North Carolina Governor Michael Easley
External links
- North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue Official state site
- Project Vote Smart - Lt. Governor Beverly Eaves 'Bev' Perdue (NC) Profile
- Follow the Money - Beverly Eaves Perdue
- Bev Perdue for Governor Official campaign website
- North Carolina Democratic Party
- Carolina Journal, "N.C. GOP Calls on Perdue to Clean House at Board of Elections," by Anthony Greco, August 18, 2010
- Carolina Journal: Bill With No Name Helps N.C. Pension Anthony Greco, Carolina Journal, August 17, 2010
- News & Observer: Perdue announces bid for governor Mark Johnson, The News & Observer, October 1, 2007
- Perdue's Resumes The News & Observer
Footnotes
- ↑ News & Observer: Perdue's change of birthdate
- ↑ News and Observer, "Gov. Bev Perdue will not run for re-election," January 26, 2012
- ↑ Jon Sanders, John Locke Foundation, "Carolina Cronyism: Introduction, Overview, and Reform," July 2012, pp. 19-20
- ↑ Perdue Picks Poker Over Liquor," Carolina Journal Online, January 28, 2011
- ↑ Jon Sanders, John Locke Foundation, "Carolina Cronyism: Introduction, Overview, and Reform," July 2012, p. 20
- ↑ News and Observer, "Poll: Perdue is nation’s most unpopular governor, but voters dislike the legislature, too," June 16, 2012
- ↑ Jon Sanders, John Locke Foundation, "Carolina Cronyism: Introduction, Overview, and Reform," July 2012, p. 9
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections, "Primary election, May 8, 2012, Unofficial results," accessed May 9, 2012
- ↑ Perdue campaign press release
- ↑ EMILY's List Endorsement
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