Since Governor Perdue has announced she will not seek re-election, the door swings wide open and the rumors have begun to swirl as to who will run, what will the impact be on the Amendment One ballot question.  Some names tossed around: Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, U.S. Rep. Brad Miller, House Rep. Bill Faison,  Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines.  Attorney General Roy Cooper has said he will not run.  All I can say is, it's getting interesting and we will bring you details as they are confirmed.

Friday morning on the Morning Report, we expect to have reaction from Rep. Patsy Keever, who also just announced formally she's running for the 10th US Congressional District, Rep. Bill Faison (rumored to be contemplating run for Governor), Western carolina University Political Science Professor Roger Hartley on impact this may have on Amendment One, and Democratic Strategist Brad Crone.

STATEMENT FROM GOV. PERDUE:

Like the rest of the nation, North Carolina has been facing difficult economic times -- demanding many difficult decisions.  I have had to make painful budget cuts in important areas of government.  But I believe I have
approached this challenge in a way that is consistent with my values and the values that have made our state a wonderful place to live and raise a family.  I have spent my tenure in office - and, in fact, my adult lifetime - fighting for things that I care deeply about.  And as anyone who knows me will tell you, I do not back down from tough fights.

But I understand this:  We live in highly partisan times, where some people seem more worried about scoring political points than working together to address the real challenges our state faces.  And it is clear to me that my race for re-election will only further politicize the fight to adequately fund our schools.   A re-election campaign in this already divisive environment will make it more difficult to find any bipartisan solutions.

The thing I care about most right now is making sure that our schools and schoolchildren do not continue to be the victims of shortsighted legislative actions and severe budget cuts inflicted by a legislative majority with the wrong priorities.  Therefore, I am announcing today that I have decided not to seek re-election.  I hope this decision will open the door to an honest and bipartisan effort to help our schools.

To those of you who have supported me throughout my years of public service, I will always be grateful for the confidence you have placed in me. In my remaining months in office, I look forward to continuing to fight for the priorities we share, by putting North Carolinians back to work and investing in our children's future. To my children and grandchildren, and especially to my husband Bob, thank you for always being there for me - especially as I've weighed this difficult decision.


Thank you all, and God bless North Carolina.

(From the AP) When the toll gate opens, it floods... North Carolina's first toll road opened this month, and already state officials are discussing plans for another. An environmental assessment report detailing plans for work along the 182 miles of I-95 that runs from the Virginia state line to South Carolina was released by the state DOT Friday. The report recommends nearly $4.5 billion of work, including widening parts of the Interstate to six and eight lanes, raising and rebuilding bridges and making repairs to pavement. Current funding only covers about 10% of that cost, though, so the report recommends adding tolls to the interstate to help make up the difference. The state would need permission from the Federal Highway Administration before it can do that.

The state Department of Transportation is trying something new -- allowing transit buses to move into the shoulder to continue travel when traffic on I-40 drops below 35-miles per hour. It's a pilot program being tested in Durham only, however, similar programs have already been started in 12 states, including Virginia and Georgia. The state DOT is starting the program in Durham because it says I-40 has fewer points there that would force buses off the shoulder and back into normal traffic.