NC Dems’ interim director given long-term title

GREENSBORO, NC (AP) — The North Carolina Democratic Party has chosen as its executive director the woman who’d been serving in the role on an interim basis.

During a meeting Sunday in Greensboro, the party’s Executive Council made Casey Mann the permanent executive director. She was previously the party’s state director and is a veteran campaign worker.

Mann took over the party’s day-to-day operations when Chairman Randy Voller dismissed Robert Dempsey last month. Voller has not given a public explanation for Dempsey’s dismissal.

Mann is a close ally of Voller’s and takes the job as North Carolina Democrats look to rebound from poor electoral showings in 2010 and 2012.

Voller recently backed off trying to hire civil rights activist Benjamin Chavis for the job, as many party members opposed the idea.

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