Raleigh, N.C.| Ghost Of Christmas Past: Easley Scandal Still Haunts Those Involved

By Kathleen Mongero

To quote a recent N&O article, “it’s not close to being over for Mike Easley.”  As late October court proceeding played out, the jury and the public were showered with copies of invoices showing Mike Easley’s use of campaign funds for extras such as undocumented travel, a car and personal home repairs.  Relying heavily on hours of testimony from former aide McQueen Campbell, who provided insight into the Easley financial allegations as well as the controversial hiring oh his wife at N.C. State University, the court went so far as to discuss criminal charges that may still be in the cards for the former governor.

And the Easleys aren’t the only ones being forced to face some all-too-familiar demons.  Former N.C. State Chancellor James Oblinger, who resigned from his post this past summer of 2009, is still feeling the aftershocks of the Mary Easley debacle.  A recent article in The Round Up, a popular student newspaper at New Mexico University where Oblinger is a top-five finalist for president, reminisces on the traces of shame leftover from the recent allegations and even includes disdainful quotes from various NMU staff members on the topic of his possible hiring.

So what is next for individuals like Easley, Campbell and Oblinger? Will Campbell’s attempt to take the focus off of his own misdeeds by openly testifying against Easley ultimately come back to haunt him in the end?  Does a potential position of presidency at a new university present Oblinger with the tools to mend his career faux pas, even if it means being met with initial resistance?  And finally, will Easley ever recover from this ordeal? It may be time to call in the Blagojevich PR team.