Governor: Don't report on affairs

Early this morning, Dan Kane joined in on Gov. Beverly Perdue's conference call from Asia, where she was talking about her economic-development trip. Dan asked about Col. Randy Glover's 1987 affair and why she appointed him to lead the state Highway Patrol. The governor went off on our Tuesday story, as Dan has reported on newsobserver.com.

"...regardless of the articles you continue to write, this is a man who is lieutenant colonel of the Highway Patrol, he had an affair nearly 25 years ago, he's married with two beautiful little daughters and I really, really am disappointed in this kind of journalism," Perdue said. "And did I disclose it? I will have to be very honest with you, I never once in any interview for any position asked anyone about their sexual preference, their sexual orientation, or their past marital history."

But Gov. Perdue did know about the affair, because Glover told her. And she didn't really answer Dan's question.

I’m the editor who encouraged Dan to pursue this story, and I believe we were right to publish. First, I agree with the governor that a 22-year-old affair (or a 5-year-old affair) would rarely have any impact on someone's ability to serve in state government, and we would almost never waste time on such stories.

This is the very rare exception. Glover has been appointed to lead an agency that has a significant problem with sexual misconduct, and he has talked widely about cleaning up the patrol's ethics and about getting troopers to stay out of sticky situations.

"As we celebrate and reflect on the organization's many accomplishments, we ask you to remember that everything we do, whether on- or off-duty, is a reflection not only on our organization, but also on those who have gone before us," Glover and Crime Control Secretary Reuben Young and Glover wrote recently to troopers.

Further, the patrol felt strongly enough about Glover's affair to transfer him out of Harnett County. It apparently believed his affair was disrupting his work or the work of others. We would love to see what the personnel and internal affairs files say, but the patrol declines to release them.

It will be instructive to see whether Glover's past impacts any future cases involving patrol misconduct.

 -- Steve Riley, Senior Editor/Investigations