Gov. Bev Perdue will be in Washington this weekend to attend the 2012 National Governors Association Winter Meeting.
The governor will take part in several association meetings during the three-day trip as well as meet Friday with President Barack Obama and senior members of his administration. At least one consumer advocacy group has raised questions about the trip, particularly Perdue's expected attendance at the annual Governors and Ambassadors World Trade Reception.
The reception comes amid negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, a trade agreement with eight Pacific Rim countries.
U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and ambassadors from all the trading partners are expected to attend. Corporate sponsors include Microsoft, Pfizer, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Philip Morris International.
Perdue has expressed concern to Obama that tobacco could be written out of the trade agreement, potentially harming North Carolina tobacco growers. Her staff confirmed that she was invited, along with several other ambassadors and "may" attend. Promotional materials released by the Washington International Trade Association organizing the event say she is expected. Last year, Perdue was a featured speaker.
At least one consumer advocacy group is criticizing Perdue for attending the up-to-$1,500-a-plate dinner: Washington-based Public Citizen charges that the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement would hurt local jobs by establishing an uneven playing field and preferential rules for foreign companies operating in the United States, as well as incentives for American companies to outsource.
Perdue also will attend several NGA sessions Saturday before an evening gathering hosted by the Southern Governors' Association.
On Sunday, she will attend another SGA meeting and join the Obamas at another White House event that evening.
SEANC backs Coleman
The State Employees Association of North Carolina is prepared to spend more than $1.8 million to help get Linda Coleman the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor.
The organization launched its first radio advertisement Wednesday, calling Coleman, the state's personnel director and a former state lawmaker, "a champion for working people." It debuts as candidates are still considering whether to run for the state's No. 2 post - a campaign that could get overshadowed by a Democratic governor's race in the May primary.
The $13,000 one-minute ad is airing on most radio stations in the Fayetteville area, SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope said. The group hopes to saturate the hometown of state Sen. Eric Mansfield, who announced his candidacy Tuesday for lieutenant governor.
Mansfield, a surgeon, military veteran and ordained Baptist minister, is well-regarded in many Democratic Party circles and considered an up-and-comer in state politics.
But Cope isn't impressed with Mansfield's first term in the state Senate, saying he supported Republican-backed medical malpractice reform.
Cope said the SEANC board met last weekend and decided to get involved in the race sooner rather than later.
The ad qualifies as an independent expenditure, meaning SEANC's efforts are not coordinated with the Coleman campaign. Cope said the group is prepared to spend "more than we've ever spent" to get Coleman elected. In 2008, SEANC spent roughly $1.8 million to help elect Bev Perdue as governor.
The radio ad will air until Wednesday in Fayetteville and is expected to debut statewide in coming weeks, accompanied with TV advertising.
Retired teacher aids Obama
Ann Cherry, a retired North Carolina school teacher, is one of 35 national campaign co-chairs of President Barack Obama's re-election campaign.
Cherry retired in 2008 after 30 years of teaching band and general music in the public schools in Eastern North Carolina. A graduate of East Carolina University, Cherry is a lifelong member of the N.C. Association of Educators.
Cherry is in some pretty high cotton. Other chairs include Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, Gov. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, former White House chief of staff Bill Daley, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, Caroline Kennedy, actress Eva Longoria, Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, and Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign.
