The Charlotte Observer today worries about the hire of Dan Gerlach, Gov. Mike Easley’s economic adviser, by the Golden LEAF to be its next president. Its concern: that the Foundation…:
…has acceded to the desires of Gov. Mike Easley and Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight to name Dan Gerlach to the job.
In
doing so, the foundation has confirmed fears from both the left and
right that the foundation would be susceptible to political influence.
If the governor and legislature can dictate who runs the foundation, it
can also control how the foundation spends its money. That exposes the
foundation to the risk of becoming little more than a political slush
fund, its severest critics would argue.
Note to The Observer: That horse left the barn years ago.
Post-script to journalists: I was guilty of this early on also, but it’s “Golden LEAF,” not the “Golden LEAF Foundation.” “LEAF” stands for “Long-term Economic Advancement Foundation” so if you call it the “LEAF Foundation,” you’re being redundant.
