DHHS secretary soon to step down
Benton will help with transition
Published: Thu, Dec. 04, 2008 12:30AM
Modified Thu, Dec. 04, 2008 07:16AM
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closeDepartment of Health and Human Services Secretary Dempsey Benton will not stay on for the administration of Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue.
Benton, a former Raleigh city manager, was named secretary in May 2007 and wound up dealing with the debacle in the state's mental health system that was highlighted by a News & Observer series this year. Legislators appreciated his management skills, and he was widely seen as a potential holdover for the Perdue administration to continue straightening out the costly problems in the mental health system.
"He indicated to us early on that he would be stepping down," said David Kochman, a Perdue spokesman.
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Benton will stay in some capacity for a brief time as Perdue searches for a successor, Kochman said.
Benton said he told the Perdue team he did not want to continue as secretary but that he would help with the transition.
"I'm trying to get out of the day-to-day management responsibilities that I've had for a number of years," he said. "I've done 40 years of public service, most of that being on the firing-line management positions. I think I've completed that type of work."
mjohnson@charlotteobserver.com or 919-829-4774
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