North Carolina poet laureate resigns
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- The newly appointed North Carolina poet laureate has stepped down from her position effective immediately.
Last week, Gov. Pat McCrory chose Valerie Macon, of Fuquay-Varina, to serve a two-year term as poet laureate. Macon is a disability examiner for the state with two self-published books of poetry and a dedication to helping the homeless.
Read Macon's resignation letter here.
"I've decided to regretfully accept Valerie Macon's resignation, but I hope that she continues to share her talents with others," said McCrory in a statement. "I'm also disappointed by the way some in the poetry community have expressed such hostility and condescension toward an individual who has great passion for poetry and our state. As we continue to review our appointment process, we will ask for recommendations from the public and hope that those candidates represent talented poets from both traditional and non-traditional organizations."
Previous state poets laureate criticized McCrory for bypassing the traditional process of having the North Carolina Arts Council set up a committee of writers to review applications and recommend poets. However, the governor has the prerogative of choosing the poet laureate on his own.
