Perdue seeks to preserve e-mails, disclose consultants

Gov. Beverly Perdue on Wednesday signed executive orders requiring the preservation of government e-mails and the disclosure of economic development consultants.

“These executive orders further expand on two hallmarks of my administration – transparency and accountability,” Perdue said in a statement. “Only when the doors of government are open wide and the sun truly shines in can we be sure that our government by the people is working for the people.”

Executive Order 17 directs the state Department of Commerce to report the names of economic development consultants who seek benefits from the state's industrial recruitment incentives programs.

Executive Order 18 requires that executive branch e-mails to and from state government accounts be archived as public records for 10 years. State workers must keep all e-mails they send for 24 hours so the messages can be copied to back-up tapes. All incoming e-mails also must be saved for 24 hours unless they aren't clearly related to state business.