By Phil Kirk

Special to the Salisbury Post

Four years ago when Gov. McCrory announced that former Salisbury Mayor Susan Kluttz would join his Cabinet as the secretary of the Department of Cultural Resources, the people of Salisbury and Rowan County knew that he had made an outstanding choice.

Now, four years later, as Secretary Kluttz returns to Salisbury (not that she ever fully left her hometown), a review of her accomplishments in Raleigh reveals clearly that the confidence Governor McCrory placed in her proved to be accurate.

Unlike too many people in public office around the country, Secretary Kluttz was not the recipient of a single negative comment that I am aware of, nor were there any major missteps or hints of improprieties.  One of the primary qualities of a good leader is whom she places on her administrative team.  She blended some talented people from outside government with some very talented and effective associates who had been successfully working in the department through several administrations.

A lifelong Democrat, there was never any question about her loyalty to the governor who selected her for his Cabinet.  In fact, she was the only member of his original Cabinet who was in the same position as a secretary for the entire four years.  The only other Cabinet secretary who survived the four years was secretary of Commerce John Skarvala; however, his first position was secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality.

Perhaps her most lasting contribution was the successful reorganization of the Department of Cultural Resources brought about by the transfer of the “natural” part of the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources to her department. This meant that the state parks, North Carolina Zoo, state aquariums and museums were moved under her jurisdiction. This change doubled the size of her original department, which already included such divisions and programs as the NC Museum of History, State Library of NC, Historic Sites and Properties, NC Symphony, NC Museum of Art, NC Transportation Museum, State Archives and others.

Of course, she utilized many employees in making the transition work effectively; however, she was the leader who handled the “merger” as efficiently as any state government reorganization in the nearly 50 years I have been a student and observer of state government from the inside and outside Her ability to inspire confidence on the part of her team, along with her collaborative and communication skills, resulted in a new entity, the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Her most visible and equally important work was her successful effort with Governor McCrory to convince the General Assembly to restore the historic tax credits which had resulted in thousands of historic preservation projects in Salisbury and throughout our state. She visited more than 50 communities  to campaign for this legislative change. The governor appeared with her at many places; however, it was the secretary who did most of the “heavy lifting” with her statewide speaking tour which resulted in 1,800 media reports. In the first three years of the McCrory administration, 749 new historic tax credit projects totaled more than $708 million in private investment, or over one-third of the total private investment of approximately $2 billion in the program since 1998.

With the encouragement of Governor McCrory, Secretary Kluttz led the successful effort to plan a monument on the grounds of the State Capitol recognizing the contributions of African-Americans to North Carolina history.

Attendance surged at the North Carolina Museum of Art, North Carolina Museum of History, North Carolina Transportation Museum, North Carolina Zoo, North Carolina Symphony and North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Again, Secretary Kluttz is not solely responsible for double-digit increases at most places; however, she provided the leadership for the exhibits and shows — in both quantity and quality — along  with the marketing and communications needed for success.

Of special interest and importance was the 2016 celebration of the 100th anniversary of North Carolina’s comprehensive state parks and recreation system. The centennial was marked by a special event in every park, special videos and presentations, new partnerships and initiatives. Secretary Kluttz again worked tirelessly crisscrossing the state promoting Governor McCrory’s Connect NC Bond referendum, which resulted in $75 million for much needed improvements in the neglected parks system.

The three aquariums received recognition for each being in the top 20 aquariums across the country.  The North Carolina Symphony strengthened its international reputation for excellence, as well as continuing to provide musical experiences by traveling 72,000 miles to delight more than 200,000 fourth- and fifth- graders. Many improvements are under way at the Battleship North Carolina which will dramatically improve the experience for visitors.

Annual grant funds of $26 million were distributed by the Division of Land & Water Stewardship, which was more than twice the amount distributed when McCrory/Kluttz took office. The NC Natural Heritage Program was revitalized and now works with, not against, business and industry, the military and conservation groups.  The NC Arts Council created a statewide arts infrastructure which aids the 93 local arts councils and nearly 3,000 nonprofit arts organizations. Secretary Kluttz has been a strong proponent of arts in the schools and communities across our state.

Because of her management style and her ability to work with all people, I believe there has been more collaboration between the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and other public and private groups than ever before.

Secretary Kluttz’s schedule has usually been filled seven days per week, rather than the normal five-day work week. This has been due to her work ethic and the fact that so many of the activities involving her department and its varied interests occur on weekends!

No one should be surprised at her successes as a Cabinet secretary. Public service is a part of her DNA. Her father, the late Dr. John Wear, was chairman of the Rowan County Board of Commissioners and mayor of Salisbury (but not at the same time, of course) and her husband, Bill Kluttz, served with distinction as a District Court judge. His father, the late Clarence Kluttz, was the distinguished county attorney for many years under both parties.

So to Secretary/Mayor Susan Kluttz, on behalf of all the citizens of North Carolina, we say “Well done, thy good and faithful servant.”

 

Rowan County native Phil Kirk lives in Raleigh and is chairman emeritus of the State Board of Education.