The Source on politics

From one 4-star to another

David Petraeus, who comes to Charlotte in two weeks to plead guilty to the misuse of government secrets, won’t be the first commanding general for federal prosecutor Jill Rose.

A clue may be found in Rose’s middle name: Westmoreland.

The longtime prosecutor, who becomes acting U.S. attorney on Monday, is a distant relative of Gen. William Westmoreland, who commanded American troops during the Vietnam War.

Rose takes over for Anne Tompkins, who leaves the office after almost five years to re-enter private practice.

Ten days later, in a hearing that will draw coast-to-coast coverage, Petraeus will stand across the aisle from Rose in Charlotte’s federal courthouse to admit that he shared classified information with his biographer/lover, Paula Broadwell.

Nothing like starting a new job with a routine case. Michael Gordon

Leutze: ‘I want my state back’

In a speech in Charlotte last week, historian James Leutze bemoaned the state of our state.

​“We are going backward,” Leutze said in the keynote address at the James B. McMillan Fellowship Dinner. He noted that North Carolina was once considered progressive and said: “I want my state back.”

Leutze is a former chancellor at UNC Wilmington. His most recent book is “Entering North Carolina: Set Clocks Back 100 Years.”

“Why do people dislike poor people?” he asked rhetorically. “We need people who care about ... everybody in society ... not just in gated communities.”​

The annual McMillan dinner is named for the late federal judge who in 1969 ordered Charlotte-Mecklenburg to desegregate its schools through busing.

Honored Tuesday was attorney Rob Harrington of Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson, who received the Julius L. Chambers Diversity Champion Award. The award is given to people who advance the cause of diversity and equal opportunity.

Funds raised at the dinner support fellowships for law students who work for local agencies that promote justice and innovation within the legal system. Attorney Woody Connette announced the creation of a new McMillan fellowship in honor of recently-retired attorney Lou Lesesne. Elizabeth Leland

Tate, still outspoken, steps down

Charlotte’s John Tate ended his 12 years on the State Board of Education last week with a speech criticizing state tax cuts he said hurt public education.

In prepared remarks that touched on a range of topics including testing, teacher preparation, charter schools and school leadership, Tate, a retired banker, asked the board members to be the state’s chief advocates for children.

“Over the last six years, we have seen massive cuts to K-12,” Tate wrote. “Today, we have 15,000 fewer professionals across the state serving our kids. A primary culprit has been the repercussions of a deep recession … but, as we have recovered, we have seen the giveaway of a half-billion dollars plus to taxpayers in the form of a tax cut.

“Education has suffered. The profession has suffered. And the predicament before you is that, eventually, our kids will have suffered.”

Tate was one of the most outspoken members of the board. He was part of a shrinking minority of board members appointed by Democratic governors.

Gov. Pat McCrory appoints board members, and they are confirmed by the Legislature. Lynn Bonner, (Raleigh) News & Observer

Presidential patronage?

Who’s paying for the face-lift of the Gaffney Peach?

The Source smells a presidential rat, albeit the rat who plays the president on TV.

Gaffney, after all, is the home of Frank Underwood, the murderously ambitious Democrat who has lied and killed his way into the oval office on “House of Cards.” The last time he visited Gaffney, Underwood, um, watered his father’s headstone.

Now in Season 3, President Underwood, played by Kevin Spacey, is desperate to keep his job. Could he be culling favor from the home folks by paying for repairs to the Peach, the I-85 landmark that’s already made a guest appearance on the show?

Before you snicker, consider this: Is that any more unlikely than South Carolina producing a Democratic president? Michael Gordon

Maddalon enters race

Democrat Billy Maddalon has announced his candidacy for an at-large seat on the Charlotte City Council.

Maddalon owns the Morehead Inn and VanLandingham Estate. He was appointed to the council in 2013 when Patsy Kinsey was named mayor. He did not run for re-election. Jim Morrill

This story was originally published March 7, 2015 at 3:28 PM with the headline "The Source on politics."