Some former board members renamed to Cardinal panel

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A reconstituted board for North Carolina's largest regional mental health agency includes members of the former board that was criticized in audits and by legislators for signing off on excessive spending and large salaries and benefits for executives.

Multiple media outlets report three former board members were among 17 chosen Thursday to the new board for Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Solutions by a committee of county officials. The state Department of Health and Human Services removed the previous board Nov. 27 when it took temporary control of Cardinal operations.

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Some General Assembly members this week warned against hiring the most recent board members. Sen. Jeff Tarte of Mecklenburg County called the reappointments "bad optics."

New board members not on the previous board include Carmen Hooker Odom, a former DHHS secretary.

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Associated Press