Fundraising By Former NC First Lady Is Questioned

MIKE BAKER

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — As North Carolina's first lady, Mary Easley mostly stayed out of the spotlight, content to focus on under-the-radar issues such as the arts and military families.

Her husband is no longer governor, yet she is now facing scrutiny for an arrangement forged during his second term. She was tapped to run a speakers series at North Carolina State University, the state's largest public university, drawing a hefty paycheck for her work.

The series is funded by donations, some from companies that did business with the state while Easley's husband, Mike, was running it. And the Democratic governor's Commerce Department cut a $5,000 check after Mary Easley personally requested money from someone he appointed, documents obtained by The Associated Press show.

Mike Easley left office in January, prohibited by law from running for a third consecutive term. Together, the Easleys were popular leaders who invested heavily in education, although by the end of eight years in the governor's mansion they were dealing with bad press over how the administration handled public records, tax money and a restructuring of the mental health system.