RALEIGH -- Conservative businessman Art Pope announced that he is stepping down as North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory's state budget director. His last day on the job will be early next month. Governor McCrory announced that Pope will be leaving, adding he initially signed on to serve as budget director for one year when he was hired to start in early 2013.

Governor McCrory said, "He's leaving, according to his wife and him, he is leaving the administration...Again, we didn't know each other real well prior to my transition. But I consider him a close friend, and I also will consider him as a close and formal adviser."

McCrory announced Pope's departure and the hiring of replacement Lee Roberts on Wednesday at the Executive Mansion. Roberts was most recently in the banking field. He is the son of radio and television political commentator Cokie Roberts.