Daily News

By Paul O’Connor JOURNAL COLUMNIST

RALEIGH - Gov. Mike Easley came out with guns blazing Monday, criticizing three officials for the infamous ferry joy ride early this month in Beaufort.

Easley blasted Carl Stewart, the chairman of the State Ports Authority Board of Directors, Tom Eagar, the authority’s CEO, and Lyndo Tippett, the secretary of transportation.

All involved in the event - everyone from the organizers to the invited guests - should now feel significantly disciplined, except maybe one person: Easley. He’s pretty much skated by without as much as a slapped wrist.

Easley did not take the ferry ride. He didn’t plan it. His staff says he didn’t even know about it. So why should he be chided?

For one, because he’s the captain of the ship, so to speak, that ran aground. For two, his response is misleading.

This boondoggle was conceived by the authority and assisted by the N.C. Department of Transportation. The authority wanted to thank legislators for their support in securing funds for new cargo cranes. DOT went along and allowed the Floyd Lupton ferry to be used, thus depriving the area of a large ferry needed for the event. A smaller ferry replaced it and couldn’t handle the demand at the festival.

So far, the administration has pointed at Stewart and Eagar, noting that the authority is run by an independent board. Yes, it is. But the state owns the ports, makes capital investments and benefits from port revenue. In addition, of the authority’s 11 board members, the governor appoints seven. (The House speaker and Senate president pro tem appoint the other four.) Easley appointees played a big role in this screw-up, and some of the criticism for their mistake should flow up to the governor. (more…)

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