Rick Carlisle
Dan Blue
Gary Carlton
John Hood
Editorial Page

Perspectives on the Battle for Business in North Carolina

Rick Carlisle, Economic Policy Advisor to the Governor

Rick Carlisle serves as North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt's chief policy advisor on economic policy and tax-related issues. Among his duties, Carlisle has primary staffing responsibility for the Economic Development Board, the state's principal policy board for economic development. Most recently, he served as lead staff to the Board's Incentives Task Force, steering the Task Force through a thorough analysis of the current and future conditions of North Carolina's economy and helping the Task Force and Board to formulate a recommended series of revisions to the current package of incentives offered by the state.

Representative Daniel T. Blue, Jr.

Rep. Blue has represented Raleigh-area Wake County in the North Carolina House since 1980. From 1991 until Republicans gained control of the House in the election of 1993, Blue served as Speaker of the House. His current committee assignments include the committee on Business and Labor, among others. Blue is managing partner of the Raleigh law firm of Thigpen, Blue, Stephens, and Fellers.

Gary Carlton, Director of Business and Industry Development, Department of Commerce

As the Department of Commerce's Director of Business and Industry Development, Gary Carlton is often called North Carolina's chief recruiter. Carlton has worked in banking in the Carolinas for over three decades, most recently serving as president of Southern National Corporation in Winston-Salem prior to joining state government last year.

John Hood, President, John Locke Foundation

John Hood directs the activities of the John Locke Foundation, a Raleigh, NC, nonprofit policy institute. The Foundation conducts research and produces publications on public policy issues relevant to state and local government within North Carolina. The Foundation's efforts are directed towards advancing "public understanding of society based on the principles of individual liberty, the voluntary exchanges of a free market economy, and limited government."