McCrory picks legislative aide to unemployment appeals board

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Pat McCrory’s chief lobbyist at the North Carolina General Assembly has been nominated by the governor to a panel that serves as a final arbiter on unemployment benefit claim appeals.

McCrory’s choice of Fred Steen of Rowan County to the three-member Board of Review was made public Monday evening. McCrory formally nominated Steen late last week to a four-year term.

If confirmed by the legislature, Steen would succeed former Greensboro mayor Keith Holliday, whose term was set to expire July 1.

Steen is a former state House member and small-town mayor whom McCrory appointed as his chief legislative liaison in early 2013. Steen’s primary job has been promoting McCrory’s agenda at the Legislative Building.

Steen is expected to remain at his current job for now.