The Dandy Dozen didn't do too badly.
In an Aug. 18, 1997, column, N&O reporter Rob Christensen named 12 legislators he thought had made a mark on Jones Street during the session.
Reading it today is like renting Francis Ford Coppola's "The Outsiders" — an interesting glimpse at who did and didn't live up to their potential.
Three of the 12 are top statewide officials: Rep. Cherie Berry, now the Republican labor commissioner; Sen. Roy Cooper, now the state attorney general; and Sen. Beverly Perdue, now the lieutenant governor and a 2008 gubernatorial candidate.
Another is more like the C. Thomas Howell of the group. State Rep. Thomas Wright, still in the House, is under investigation by the Wake County D.A., among others.
After the jump, the full text of the column.
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"12 to watch: lawmakers who've made names for themselves"
By Rob Christensen, The News & Observer, Aug. 18, 1997
OK. It's long past time for the General Assembly to go home. Let's drop a few hints. Yawn a lot. Take the chips and dip off the table. Close the bar. Cut off the music. If that doesn't work, turn out the lights.
Good night. Ciao. Adios. Auf Wiedersehen. Au revoir.
But before they go, let's give a little recognition to those who deserve it. Here's my list of 12 rising stars in the General Assembly - people who are making their mark on Jones Street. Call them The Dandy Dozen.
The list includes lawmakers who are about to move up to higher political office. And those likely to move up in the legislative leadership. It does not include some of the established stars - people such as Senate President Pro Tempore Marc Basnight, House Speaker Harold Brubaker, and House majority leader Leo Daughtry.
Here is my list.
1. Rep. Phil Baddour, Goldsboro Democrat. Few towns turn out as many quality leaders as Goldsboro and Baddour is the latest example. The lawyer took on some of the toughest issues, such as court reform and campaign finance. He is one of Gov. Jim Hunt's closest allies in the House. He could be a future House speaker.
2. Rep. Cherie Berry, Newton Republican. She has made herself the GOP guru on welfare reform. No country-club Republican, Berry is often a voice for the average working Jane. She is one of the few conservatives recently honored by the state AFL-CIO for her efforts on behalf of raising the minimum wage and other issues.
3. Rep. Lanier Cansler, Asheville Republican. The CPA and management consultant has impressed everyone with his smarts and common sense. The guy is just plain competent. He is perhaps a future speaker - at least.
4. Sen. Roy Cooper, Rocky Mount Democrat. Technically, Cooper is not a rising star. He is already a star. But probably no legislator has helped himself more in this session. When the Senate wants a smart workhorse to handle a tough issue, they turn to Cooper. Early bet: Cooper is the state's next attorney general.
5. Rep. Ed McMahan, Charlotte Republican. It speaks volumes that House Republicans would entrust the politically delicate task of congressional redistricting to a second-termer. But that's what they did. And McMahan helped push through a new plan - something that many people thought couldn't be done. McMahan, a businessman, has a knack for bringing people together.
6. Rep. David Miner, Cary Republican. Has settled down from his days as a conservative cowboy who managed to ruffle a lot of feathers in the GOP ranks. The chairman of the House Commerce Committee, Miner seems to have a bright future ahead of him.
7. Rep. Richard Moore, Kannapolis Democrat. He won the House seat held by former GOP gubernatorial candidate Robin Hayes. At 26, he is the youngest member of the General Assembly. But when the schoolteacher talks, a lot of lawmakers listen, especially on education issues.
8. Sen. Beverly Perdue, New Bern Democrat. The co-chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee is on the verge of making a big jump in politics. She has been lining up support to run for lieutenant governor in 2000. She would like to be North Carolina's first female governor. And no other Democratic woman, with the possible exception of Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, is better positioned to go after the prize.
9. Rep. Carolyn Russell, Goldsboro Republican. She has won plaudits among Republicans for her role as chief inquisitor in the House investigation into the Algie Toomer case. Russell, who must overcome an image as someone who shoots from the hip, is being mentioned as a possible lieutenant governor candidate in three years. Will the state have a Perdue-Russell race?
10. Rep. Connie Wilson, Charlotte Republican. It is easy to underestimate Wilson, with her high-pitched voice and her relative youth. But Wilson is a brainy Charlotte banker who is also an important leader of the Republican Religious Right. She took the lead role for the House Republicans on campaign finance. Mentioned as a possible future speaker.
11. Sen. Leslie Winner, Charlotte Democrat. The legislature's resident intellectual. She is a student of the legislative process. And she is able to bring together different groups. She also does crackerjack constituent work.
12. Rep. Thomas Wright, Wilmington Democrat. Part of a new generation of black leaders beginning to make their mark. Vice chairman of Legislative Black Caucus. Smart and practical. A former paramedic and firefighter, Wright was a strong supporter of stricter driver's licenses for teenage drivers and for a needle-exchange program to help reduce AIDS among drug addicts.
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