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Names in the
News
Easley
reappoints Utilities Commission chairman
 Jo
Anne Sanford (right) was reappointed chairman of
the N.C. Utilities Commission by Gov. Mike Easley and Robert
Gruber was reappointed executive director of the Utilities
Commission's Public Staff.
The governor appointed two new members of the commission, James
Yancey Kerr II of Raleigh, a partner at the law firm of
Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, and
Michael Satterfield Wilkins of Cary, chief of staff and
liaison to House Speaker Jim Black. Kerr, the son of state
Sen. John Kerr (D-Wayne), will fill the position currently
held by Ralph Hunt and Wilkins will fill the position
currently held by Judy Hunt, whose terms expired.
Easley reappointed Lorenzo Joyner of Cary to serve on the
commission. Joyner was originally appointed by Easley to
complete the term held by William Pittman, who resigned on
January 24.
Sanford, 50, has served as a member of the Utilities
Commission since 1995 and as chairman for the past four years.
Prior to joining the commission on July 19, 1995, Sanford
spent 20 years with the state Attorney General's Office. As
special deputy attorney general, she was the head of the
Utilities and Insurance Section, which represented the
Department of Insurance, the State Health Plan, the Secretary
of State, the Auditor, the Secretary of Commerce, and
consumers and state agencies in utilities matters.
Gruber has served as executive director of the Public Staff
since July 1983. The Public Staff is a non-regulatory agency
that represents customers in rate cases and other utilities
matters. The independent staff appears before the commission
and the appellate courts as an advocate of the consuming
public. The governor’s appointments are effective July 1,
pending confirmation by the General Assembly.
  State Senate President
Pro Tem Marc Basnight (D-Dare) said he will not be a
candidate for the U.S. Senate next year for the seat held by
Sen. Jesse Helms. Basnight (left) said he would support
Charlotte investment banker Erskine Bowles, the former
White House chief of staff, if Bowles decides to seek the Senate seat.
Bowles said he hasn't made a decision. Meanwhile, Sen. Helms
hired the Tarrance Group to conduct a poll, a move interpreted
as an indication Helms will seek a sixth term. Republican
Cong. Richard Burr (R-5th), who had been
considering a Senate bid if Helms didn't run, sent a letter
this week to state Republican Convention delegates urging them
to lobby Helms to seek re-election.
 NCCBI
President Phil Kirk has been re-elected president of
the Executives Club of Raleigh. The group meets five times per
year to hear speakers of interest. NCCBI Board member Laura
Bingham, president of Peace College; Dr. Maureen Hartford,
president of Meredith College; and Dr. Diane Suber, president
of St. Augustine’s College, spoke at the group’s most
recent meeting. Meanwhile, Kirk was presented an honorary
lifetime membership in the N.C. School Public Relations
Association at the group’s meeting last week. Kirk, who
chairs the State Board of Education, spoke to the group on the
need for increased communication with the public.
Dan
McLawhorn, general counsel of the state Department of
Environment and Natural Resources for the past two years, has
transferred back to his old job in the Special Litigation
Section of the state Attorney General’s office. He
will be replaced by Dan Oakley, who headed the
Environmental Division of the Attorney General's office.
Meanwhile, Dewey Botts, who had been assistant
secretary for natural resources, has resigned.
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