State News

Leading senator accepts new post

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: November 5, 2009

RALEIGH - The majority leader of the N.C. Senate, Tony Rand, one of the state's most powerful and colorful politicians, is leaving the General Assembly to become the chairman of the state's parole commission.

Gov. Bev Perdue announced yesterday that Rand, D-Cumberland, will head the N.C. Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission by early next year.

A spokesman for Senate leader Marc Basnight, D-Dare, said that Rand would resign from the Senate, where he began serving in the early 1980s.

Rand, who will make $100,035, will replace Charles Mann, who is retiring into a part-time position, according to Perdue's office.

"North Carolina is fortunate that Sen. Rand decided to take this position," Perdue said. "He, like me, cares first and foremost about protecting the public but also understands the importance of giving people a fair shot at a second chance."

Basnight has been the leader of the Senate since 1993 and Rand has been at his side almost the entire time.

Rand, 70, was in the middle of nearly every important issue facing the General Assembly in the past 10 years, including the death penalty, health care and a state lottery.