Lawyer: Former NC first lady won’t quit her job

RALEIGH (AP) — Former North Carolina first lady Mary Easley will not resign from her job at North Carolina State University, her attorney said Thursday, defying advice of university superiors that she step aside from the $170,000-a-year position.

Raleigh lawyer Marvin Schiller said at a news conference with Easley at his side that she plans to continue her work, saying that he believes the university should keep the promise it made to the former first lady in hiring her under a five-year contract.

“The indisputable evidence is that Mary is doing an outstanding job for North Carolina State University and the state of North Carolina,” Schiller said. “Based on my investigation... Mary has acted at all times in an appropriate, aboveboard, highly ethical manner that was transparent for everyone to see.”

Easley, who runs a speakers series and a public safety leadership center, did not speak at the press conference.

Federal prosecutors have requested details of Easley’s employment history and have called N.C. State Chancellor James Oblinger and the former provost, Larry Nielsen, to testify before a grand jury. Oblinger and Erskine Bowles, the University of North Carolina system president, have suggested she resign.

And Bob Jordan, a former lieutenant governor who was named Wednesday as the new chairman of the N.C. State board of trustees, continued that pressure Thursday after the Easley news conference.

“We understand she feels she has performed her job well. But it’s gone well beyond that issue,” Jordan said in a statement. “The ongoing distraction has obscured the university’s accomplishments and mission and detracted from our day-to-day work. We respectfully ask that she reconsider her decision for the good of the university.’

Bowles echoed those remarks, saying, “We are now at a time that is different from when Mary Easley was hired. And I do feel that it would be in the best interest of N.C. State for her to move on.”

Schiller read from a series of glowing reviews and remarks that Oblinger, Nielsen and Bowles had said about Easley in the past. He said Easley has been perplexed by the response of university leaders and said they “would do well to reflect on their initial reactions to some unpleasantness.”

“Is it based on the political winds of the moment? In which case it’s unfair to Mary Easley, whom they should know better than anyone else has at all times conducted herself in a high ethical standard.”

Schiller said he saw no problem that McQueen Campbell, the former chairman of the board of trustees at N.C. State, had mentioned Easley as a possible prospect for the job. A two-part series of stories in the News & Observer of Raleigh two weeks ago showed that Campbell had provided private flights for former Gov. Mike Easley when he was in office and while he was a candidate.

Federal prosecutors are looking into possible perks Easley received before and during his consecutive four-year terms and have subpoenaed his travel records.

Mary Easley’s lawyer said she received her job on her own merits and said she was committed to continuing her work.

“I’m of the view that women should not be pressured into taking a course of action as a consequence of the conduct of their spouse,” he said.

Both Nielsen and Campbell have resigned their positions amid the scrutiny.