North Carolina kicks off lavish inaugural bash; other states scale back

Movers and shakers in North Carolina's Democratic Party are gearing up for three days of lavish parties in honor of incoming governor Beverly Perdue. But N.C.'s veritable Mardi Gras of inaugural festivities puts it out of step with most other states, which have toned-down or canceled altogether their gubernatorial celebrations in light of the tough economic climate.

In fact, a Facing South survey of the 11 states inducting new governors finds that in only the two Southern states -- North Carolina and West Virginia -- will inaugurals be business as usual this year. And North Carolina appears to be the only place where planners never considered the PR implications of glitz-filled events even as the state's computers crash under the strain of record claims for unemployment assistance.

Here's how other states have chosen to honor their incoming governors during the worst economic crisis in decades:

* Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Utah and Vermont have canceled their festivities altogether. Stateline reports that Jack Markell (D) of Delaware is instead "encouraging state residents to volunteer at non-profit organizations and charities the weekend after his swearing-in." Utah held a chilly outdoor concert featuring David Archuletta of American Idol fame. (video here)

* Indiana has scrapped its state ball, but will honor the incoming governor in Washington, D.C. in an event coinciding with a ball for Barack Obama.

* The incoming governors of Indiana, Montana and Utah have also asked to be sworn-in at government buildings that will save taxpayer money.

* Democrat Jay Nixon of Missouri is going ahead with an event, but is turning it into the first-ever inaugural potluck:

Those attending are invited to bring cookies and desserts for everyone to share after Nixon's swearing-in Jan. 12 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City. His campaign committee is supplying hamburgers.

* The state of Washington weighed weather to cancel their ball, but is going ahead and asking attendees to bring a food donation or write a check to the food bank.

That leaves North Carolina and West Virginia as the only two states that haven't announced any change to their inaugural extravaganzas.

Gayle Manchin, wife of Democratic governor-elect Joe Manchin, described West Virginia's decision to go ahead with a ball:

"There certainly was a consensus around the state that because of howfiscally responsible we had been and how successful some of ourendeavors have been that the state really deserved to be able tocelebrate this day," said Mrs. Manchin.

Whether or not one agrees, at least they seem to have thought about it. In contrast, organizers of North Carolina's three-day bash for incoming Gov. Bev Perdue don't seem to have weighed the issue at all:

North Carolina is in a similar budget situation [as Delaware and Missouri], but Governor-elect BevPerdue is sticking with tradition for her inaugural celebration. Eventco-chair Virginia Parker says scaling back wasn't a consideration.

"We did not have those conversations," says Parker. "I think we bothwent into it wanting to do the tradition that we have been doing since1933."

The reference to North Carolina's Great Depression years is apt. The state has lost 145,000 jobs in the last year, driving up unemployment to its highest rate in a quarter century. There were 53,995 home foreclosures filed in 2008, up from 2007's all-time high of 49,695. The governor faces a $3 billion budget shortfall.

Despite this bleak picture, North Carolina's inaugural festivities may be even more extravagant this year than before. The Raleigh News & Observer offers a run-down:

Festivities start tonight with a sold-out cocktail party honoringmembers of the Council of State, the state's top elected officials, atdowntown Raleigh's new Marriott. The party then moves to LincolnTheater for the Rock the Ball concert, where Dillon Fence and Pico vs.Island Trees will perform.

The party goes on Friday with thegovernor-elect's reception. The Council of State officially getsintroduced after the reception at the Gala Presentation, which includesperformances from North Carolina musicians, including Branford Marsalis.

It'scapped with the ball at the Raleigh Convention Center on Friday. Theball will be split into three areas, with food and music for each. Forinstance, country-folk bands Chatham County Line and Tres Chicas willbe paired with more casual food in one area of the convention center.

Indeed, N&O fashion writer Samantha T. Smith predicts that "With six women taking office Saturday, Friday night's bash will have more bling, dazzle and glitz than usual."

Unfortunately, such displays of wealth will likely be out of reach for other North Carolinians. Perdue announced yesterday that, because of the "sluggish economy," she will be dropping her pledge to pursue tuition-free community college and an increase in the minimum wage.