Governor's Office: Fired Spokeswoman's Claims 'Not True'

Debbie Crane

The state Department of Health and Human Services' longtime spokeswoman said she was fired Tuesday as part of a fallout from a five-part investigative report from "The News & Observer."

That's not true, according to the Governor's Press Office.

“Debbie Crane was fired by the Department of Health and Human Services because she was dishonest, untruthful and insubordinate," Gov. Mike Easley's spokesman, Seth Effron said. "She openly and covertly encouraged employees and former employees not to cooperate with the press.”

Crane, who spent 18 years with the department, said her dismissal is rooted in Easley's claim that his administration "vigorously" opposed some of the state's mental health care reforms in 2001.

Crane said the agency only worked out a few minor issues in the reform bill and never made a concerted effort to oppose it. Glowing details of the reform plan, dubbed a "Blueprint for Change," are still posted on the agency's Web site.

"I have no idea why he keeps rewriting history," Crane said. "His concern is: don't blame Mike Easley for mental health reform."

Effron said former DHHS Secretary Carmen Hooker Odom initially told an Easley adviser that she was willing to describe her initial opposition to the bill to the newspaper, but then declined on Crane's advice.

"Our concern was that Debbie's actions were contrary to efforts to provide access to the media," Effron told The Associated Press.

Share:
Add to del.icio.us del.icio.us    Add to Digg Digg    Add to Google Google    Add to Yahoo! Yahoo!    Add to facebookfacebook   Add to StumbleUpon StumbleUpon    Add to Reddit Reddit

8 Comments


Golo

Welcome to GOLO, where WRAL.com visitors can comment on stories and create profile pages, blogs and photo galleries.

You must be a registered WRAL.com user to use these tools. Click here to register or log in.

View Comments View Comments

hot topics

Multimedia

  1. story thumbnail
    Do My Job: Behind the Durham Bulls' scoreboard

    As part of her weeklong series, “Do My Job," WRAL reporter Kim Dean learned how to work the manual scoreboard at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

  2. story thumbnail
    Campaign Trail Photos of the Week

    View photos from the past week on the campaign trail from AP photographers around the country.

  3. story thumbnail
    North Carolina lake levels

    Find out current lake levels and water-use restrictions in your community.

  4. story thumbnail
    Tassel-turning time again: Thousands graduate in Triangle

    Area colleges handed out thousands of degrees to graduates this weekend.

  5. story thumbnail
    Merlefest 2008

    Every year thousands from around the country and beyond make their way to Wilkesboro, N.C. for down home bluegrass and family fun.