Regardless of gender, governor has big task

Much has been made of the fact that North Carolina's newly inaugurated governor is a woman. Certainly, it is a historic moment, but I'm not sure it will mean major changes in the way state government operates.

Gov. Bev Perdue is a woman. She is also a Democrat who has toiled in the vineyard of the Democratic power structure in the legislature. As a member of the state House and state Senate and during two terms as lieutenant governor, Perdue has paid her dues. But she has also toed the line to promote her party's agenda. She was a protege of Sen. Marc Basnight, who, as president pro tem of the Senate, is arguably the most powerful person in the state. Nothing happens in the Senate without Basnight's approval, and nothing gets through the Senate if Basnight opposes it.

Perdue's campaign consisted of little more than platitudes about making North Carolina the best that it can be. She showed little spark in her debates against Republican nominee Pat McCrory. Former Gov. Jim Hunt has opined that Perdue will be a better governor than she was a campaigner. Let's hope so. Her work is cut out for her.

The international financial crisis' victims include state government. Already, outgoing Gov. Mike Easley has ordered state agencies to reduce spending. More spending cuts are almost certain. Perdue, to her credit, has admitted that her proposal to make community college tuition free will have to be postponed. Other cost-saving measures will be needed to avoid a tax increase, which might further damage the state's economy.

The state's mental health system, its transportation department, and its probation and parole system are all in a shambles. Public education is faltering as far too many students drop out and far too many fail to pass standardized tests. Governmental ethics are endangered following the prosecution of several high-ranking government officials, including the former speaker of the N.C. House and the state commissioner of agriculture.

For Perdue to succeed against these crises, she will need more than an allegiance to party hierarchy and ideology. Creative ideas will be needed. Some sacred cows might have to be skewered. Her success will depend on her willingness to put public interest above partisan interests. She might even have to take on Basnight and other power brokers. All of this has nothing to do with being female or male.