News
Easley’s Use of Aircraft Increases
RALEIGH — Despite scrutiny by The News & Observer of Raleigh in 2002 over his use of state aircraft to travel to his home in Southport, Gov. Mike Easley has increased the frequency of such trips this year. Of the 48 day trips this year (through Aug. 15) on the state Department of Commerce’s Sikorsky 76 helicopter or Cessna 550 airplane, 25 included legs that either dropped Easley off in Brunswick County or nearby Wilmington at the end of a week, or picked him up there on a Monday or Tuesday. Sherry Melton, director of communications for the State Employees Association of North Carolina, said Easley’s personal use of the aircraft set a poor example.