North Carolina lieutenant governor names new chief aide as staff departures grow

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson quickly named his next state government office chief Thursday, as a dozen workers have quit his office or gubernatorial campaign after last week’s CNN report alleging he posted strongly worded racial and sexual comments on an online message board.

Robinson said he had elevated Deputy Chief of Staff Krishana Polite to become the next chief of staff in the Lieutenant Governor’s Office. The announcement came the day after current Chief of Staff and General Counsel Brian LiVecchi disclosed that he was resigning effective next week.

Polite “has been a great major asset to our great state for years,” Robinson wrote on X. “We are blessed to have her leading our administration.”

LiVecchi, who has served in Robinson’s office since his term began in early 2021, confirmed Thursday that three other office workers were also resigning as of Oct. 1: communications director John Wesley Waugh, policy director Jonathan Harris and director of government affairs Nathan Lewis. The office, which is allocated $1.3 million in this year’s state budget, lists eight employees on its website. A lieutenant governor holds few inherent duties.

LiVecchi didn’t give a reason for the departures, which were revealed a few days after the Robinson campaign’s senior adviser said eight of the campaign’s top staff members were stepping down, including himself, the campaign manager and finance director. Robinson, who would be the state’s first Black governor if elected, has said he will rebuild his campaign staff. A spokesperson said Thursday that he had no information on campaign staff hirings.

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