After the ball: Gov.-elect Perdue promised ... and we will be watching

In a little more than 36 hours, Gov.-elect Bev Perdue will become Gov. Perdue -- the first woman to serve in that post in North Carolina.

But that's not why we should make note of the date -- although the historical significance is obvious.

We are anxious to see what the new governor does -- and whom she becomes -- when she is officially seated in the governor's office.

During her pre-election campaigning, Perdue made promises to this area and to others like it that often are passed over for attention when the decisions are made in Raleigh.

She promised not to forget where she came from and to represent all constituents of North Carolina as equitably as possible.

That means Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro and other areas like them should not capture all of her attention -- or the attention of her staff.

And we expect her to live up to that promise.

There is no way to make governing completely equal. There will always be some areas that will get more attention every once in a while.

But what voters in this area are expecting -- and have a right to demand -- is that, in this time of diminishing resources and tough times all over, their needs will get equal play when the time comes to allocate money and to expand services.

We have no reason to believe that Perdue will forget. She came across as honest and determined to change the way Raleigh officials do business.

We will just have to wait and see if the bright lights of the inauguration turn her head. We hope they won't.

Published in Editorials on January 8, 2009 10:49 AM