Berger crony, former Democrat operative are new *Republican* treasurer’s first two hires
*ChapelHillRepublican* Bradford Paisley Briner IV is already making his mark on the state treasurer’s office he’s set to take over upon incumbent Dale Folwell’s retirement at the end of the year.
First, the new chief of staff is a former *education policy* advisor to the Senate president pro tempore. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Raleigh dialect of bullcrapese, the Senate president pro tempore is none other than senator Phil Berger of Rockingham County.
Senators have been working diligently to place Berger and his team in charge of every aspect of state government. So, it only made sense to put a Berger lieutenant in charge of the team at the treasurer’s office.
Outgoing treasurer Dale Folwell resisted the bullying from Berger and his minions and maintained some independence for eight years. Now that Briner — recruited and funded and managed by Berger right-hand Jim Blaine — is replacing Folwell, all of that kind of behavior should change.
The new *chief investment officer* previously worked in the treasurer’s office for then-treasurer Janet Cowell, a Democrat. He left the office during Folwell’s first year in office – according to Briner’s release – to go work for the Saudis. It’s got to be one hell of a pay cut to move from a private Saudi-owned enterprise to North Carolina state government.
All this is nothing new for young master Briner. He’s been working for two Obama fans — Michael Bloomberg and Steven Rattner. You may, or may not remember, that Rattner had some legal trouble with the SEC regarding the NY state pension fund. (More here. )
Interestingly, during the general election — when most Republican nominees are criticizing Democrats – Briner spent most of his time attacking retiring incumbent Republican treasurer Dale Folwell. Folwell – in charge of managing the state employee health and retirement plans – was criticized by Team Briner for being *too conservative* in his office’s investment strategy.
Another way to look at a *conservative approach* : playing it safe ensures that you have money in place and growth long-term. When you’re talking about people’s retirement and health coverage, you want to make sure there is money around when these folks need it.
You can lose it all rather quickly being aggressive and betting big.
If you thought Jim Black and Marc Basnight‘s stranglehold on Raleigh was a little too tight, just wait until Berger & the boys start ramping things up. Those old days will look like patty cake in comparison.
The 2024 vote — apart from Trump’s victory – was not much to write home about. Berger’s team won two statewide races it *managed* — auditor and treasurer — while losing two – attorney general and governor.
They’ve already given us a hint of where they’re going with newly-elected auditor Dave Boliek. Some legislation just got passed on Jones Street moving administration of elections into the auditor’s domain. (Boliek told the drive-bys he didn’t ask for that. Brace yourself, Dave. You’re in for a lot more moments like that over the next four years.)
With the auditor and treasurer offices under his thumb, Berger gains tighter control over state employee benefits, the administration of elections, and whose books get inspected.
Berger already owns the General Assembly and has weakene
d the attorney general and governor. He – with his son’s help – owns the NC Supreme Court. Berger’s daughter oversees the *revision* of state regulations. His other son sits on the Rockingham County board of commissioners and helps dad keep his thumb on the folks back home.
I swear — I don’t think we asked for this kind of crap. EVER.
