Report on Gender Equity on Boards and Commissions
The Women’s Forum of North Carolina, Inc. (1996)
II. Government Boards
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
- Lack of gender-balance on current board and/or the possibility of improving gender balance;
- Impact on women’s issues or those of a large majority of the entire population;
- Allocation of large amounts of money; and Policy-making boards that engage in some or all of the following activities:
- Quasi-legislative powers — rule making; rate and fee setting authority; allocating funds; setting eligibility criteria or program standards;
- Quasi-judicial powers — hearing and deciding contested cases; revoking, suspending or failing to issue licenses; and
- Executive powers — hiring staff; reviewing agency or funding requests; entering into contracts; issuing permits; advising in developing major programs; assisting in planning, implementation, coordination; suing or being sued.
SOURCES: 1996 Directory of North Carolina Boards and Commissions, published by the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, August 1996, and personal communications.
SELECTED BOARDS
1. Social Services Commission
GS 143B-153 defines the purpose of this commission as the direction of the state’s social service programs. Patricia Bartell, Phyllis Murray, Dorothy Kearns, Ruth Helms, and Victoria Burke are board members.
| Membership | Members | Female Members | % Female Members |
| All 12 members are appointed by the governor, one from each of the state congressional districts. Members serve 4-year terms. | 12 | 5 | 42% |
2. Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission
Authorized by GS 143B-226, the purpose of this commission is to grant, revoke, terminate and suspend paroles to persons
held by judgment and to set conditions for persons released on post-release supervision. Juanita Baker and Peggy Stamey are board members.
| Membership | Members | Female Members | % Female Members |
| All five members are appointed by the governor and compensated for their full-time services. They serve 4-year terms. |
5 | 2 | 40% |
3. State Board of Education
This board has quasi-legislative, quasi-judicial and executive powers. Authorized by GS 115C-110, its purpose is to manage, supervise and govern the public school system. Kathy Taft, Margaret Harvey, Evelyn Monroe, and Jane Norwood are board members.
| Membership | Members | Female Members | % Female Members |
| The members are the lieutenant governor, the state treasurer, and 11 others appointed by the governor. Subject to confirmation by the General Assembly, eight of the 11 represent eight education districts of the state; and three serve at large. | 13 | 4 | 31% |
4. State Board of Community Colleges
This board has quasi-legislative, quasi-judicial, and executive powers. Authorized by GS 115D-2.1, its purpose is to manage, supervise and govern the community colleges of North Carolina. Jeanette Council, Sharon Decker, Carolyn Harmon, Anne-Marie Knighton, Rachel Smith, and Ann Turlington are board members.
| Membership | Members | Female Members | % Female Members |
| The members are the lieutenant governor, state treasurer, and four others appointed by the governor from the state at large. One is appointed by the governor from each of the six Trustee Association Regions defined in GS 115D-63; eight are elected by the General Assembly. | 20 voting members | 6 | 30% |
5. Utilities Commission
This commission has quasi-legislative, quasi-judicial and executive powers. Authorized by GS 62-10, its purpose is to supervise and control the public utilities of the state.
| Membership | Members | Female Members | % Female Members |
| Members are appointed by the governor subject to confirmation by the General Assembly and compensated for full-time service. | 7 | 2 | 29% |
6. Economic Development Board
Authorized by GS 143B-434, this board’s purpose is to recommend economic development policy to the secretary of commerce, the General Assembly and the governor. Although an advisory board, the group has great influence on industry recruitment, incentive packages, and other job related efforts in the state. The statute provides that appointment to the board “should reflect the ethnic and gender diversity of the state as nearly as possible.” Cherrie Berry, Molly Broad, Mavis Hill, Jennifer Lantz, Elaine Marshall, Louise McColl, and Cyndee Patterson are board members.
| Membership | Members | Female Members | % Female Members |
| Members of the board are the secretary of commerce, president of the University of North Carolina, president of the Community College System, secretary of state, and the lieutenant governor. Also included are four members of the Senate appointed by the president pro tem, four members of the House appointed by the speaker, and 23 others appointed by the governor. |
36 | 7 | 19% |
7. State Board of Transportation
This board has quasi-legislative, quasi-judicial and executive powers. Authorized by GS 143B-350, its purpose is to formulate
policies and priorities for all modes of transportation and award all highway contracts. Louise McColl, Carolyn Grant, Juanita Shearer-Swink, Margaret Kluttz, and Ann Gaither are board members.
| Membership | Members | Female Members | % Female Members |
| The governor’s 20 appointees serve 4-year terms. The speaker appoints two members, and two others are appointed to 2-year terms by the president pro tem of the Senate. The DOT secretary and Rail Council chair are ex-officio. | 26 | 5 | 19% |
8. The UNC Board of Governors
This board has quasi-legislative, quasi-judicial and executive powers. Authorized by GS 116-3, its purpose is to manage, supervise and govern the 16 constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina. Lois Britt, Helen Rhyne Marvin, Maxine O’Kelley, and Barbara Perry are board members.
| Membership | Members | Female Members | % Female Members |
| Members are elected by the North Carolina legislature. Some seats are reserved for women, minorities and members of the minority party in the General Assembly. | 32 voting members | 5 | 16% |
9. Governor’s Crime Commission
Authorized by GS 143B-478, the purpose of this commission is to advise the governor and secretary of crime control and public safety on matters of criminal justice and the allocation of large amounts of public dollars.
| Membership | Members | Female Members | % Female Members |
| Twenty-three members are appointed by the governor, two by the president of the Senate, and two by the speaker of the House. Thirteen are ex-officio. | 40 | 6 | 15% |
10. Environmental Management Commission
Authorized by GS 143B-282, the purpose of this commission is to promulgate rules to be followed in the protection, preservation and enhancement of the water and air resources of the state. Sandra Brickhead and Marion Deerhake are board members.
| Membership | Members | Female Members | % Female Members |
| Thirteen, all with specified professional qualifications, are appointed by the governor, two by the Senate president pro tem, and two by the speaker of the House. All serve 2-year terms. | 17 | 2 | 12% |
11. State Banking Commission
This commission has quasi-legislative, quasi-judicial and executive powers. Authorized by GS 53-92, its mission is to foster efficient, safe and sound operation of state-regulated financial institutions for the purpose of maintaining a healthy economic climate for businesses and individuals in North Carolina.
| Membership | Members | Female Members | % Female Members |
| The governor appoints five bankers and seven representatives of the borrowing public. The president of the Senate appoints a banker, and the speaker of the House selects a representative of the borrowing public. The state treasurer serves ex officio. The appointments secretary in the office of the governor reports a total of 17 members rather than the 15 stated in the 1996 Directory of North Carolina Boards and Commissions. | 17 | 1 | 6% |