Every two years, the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research ranks lobbyists.
The Raleigh think tank asks legislators, lobbyists and the capital press corps who they think the most powerful lobbyists are in town.
Here's the rundown from the 2005 session, with previous rankings:
1. Don Beason of Beason Government Affairs. Always a top contender, Beason repeats from his first-place ranking of 2003 thanks to work for clients like BB&T, BellSouth and the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S.
2003: 1st. 2001: 2nd. 1999: 3rd. 1997: 2nd. 1995: 3rd.
2. Zebulon Alley of Alley Associates. For the second year in a row, Alley comes in second to Beason, following an eight-year run of first place wins, with work for Progress Energy, N.C. Citizens for Justice and the N.C. Amusement Machine Association.
2003: 2nd. 2001: 1st. 1999: 1st. 1997: 1st. 1995: 1st.
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3. Roger Bone of Bone & Associates. Always a strong contender, but once again denied the top spot for his work for Eli Lilly & Co., Lorillard Tobacco and the N.C. Amusement Machine Association.
2003: 3rd. 2001: 3rd. 1999: 2nd. 1997: 3rd. 1995: 2nd.
4. Alexander "Sandy" Sands III of Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice. Continues his quick rise to the top tier of lobbyists, scoring his personal best for the decade with work for Carolinas Healthcare System, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Philip Morris USA.
2003: 5th. 2001: 9th. 1999: 9th. 1997: 16th. 1995: 50th (tie).
5. B. Davis Horne Jr. of Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan. A strong showing from another rising star, but he's still struggling to crack the top three with work for DuPont, Liggett Vector Brands and the Motion Picture Association of America.
2003: 7th. 2001: 4th. 1999: 20th. 1997: 21st. 1995: 22nd.
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