Whew, talk about your stacked decks. Color me underwhelmed by the selections for the governor’s panel on email policy.

Of the group, only Ned Cline, former managing editor of the Greensboro News & Record and Uptown paper of record reporter back in 70s, could be said to represent the non-governmental, non-institutional point of view. And although Cline has cited the need for journalists to “dig deeper” in pursuing stories, I frankly have no idea if Cline, who retired from newspapering in 1997, is up to speed on the technological aspects of electronic document creation and storage. (Hint: It is cheap and easy.)

We do know that panel member Mac McCarley whined and complained as Charlotte city attorney last year about requests for official email in regards to the half-cent transit tax campaign. And we know that official emails showed that city officials were hip-deep in political activity against the repeal effort.

Beyond that, the choice of three (3) actual state officials for the panel is baffling. Surely one would suffice. And as for the suggestion that a blogger be included? Might as well have suggested that a unicorn join the discussion.