Editorial: A new governor for N.C.: Now what?
Democrat Roy Cooper took his oath of office just after midnight Sunday, Jan. 1, in an unusual move. But 2017 promises to be a different kind of year. His move reflects the crazy election cycle and the North Carolina’s contentious partisan politics.
The Associated Press (AP) reported that one of Cooper’s aides has said Cooper wants to get a quick start on gubernatorial duties after his transition period was shortened by a protracted debate over vote-counting in the close race against outgoing Republican Gov. Pat McCrory.
Cooper’s public inauguration will take place Jan. 7.
Cooper is not a newcomer to North Carolina politics, with 14 years in the legislature before 16 as attorney general. He says that he will concentrate on education, jobs and the economy, health care, including fighting to expand Medicaid, and the environment.
We’ll give the new governor a little leeway, seeing as he is behind in the transition, a gift from the McCrory administration. But we will be looking to make sure Cooper doesn’t turn into somebody we don’t know, like McCrory did.
