Who was in the gallery?

estephenson — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:46:57 -0400

Lobbyists, political science students, government employees and interested retirees were among the gallery spectators at Rep. Thomas Wright's expulsion hearing in the House.

The various elementary- and middle-school tour groups milling around the legislative building appeared somewhat disinterested in the proceedings, but former lobbyist Carole Smith said the hearing was history in the making.

"This is a part of history," she said. "I want to see it."

N.C. State University junior political science major Tim Lipka said he's watched the General Assembly in action before but didn't want to miss out on an event he's read so much about.

"On one level, it's kind of fun watching it happen because you always read about it," he said.

Nelson Lane said he drove more than an hour from Faison to attend the session, and he thinks the House made the right choice in voting to expel Wright.

"I've been listening to it and reading about it," he said. "I think they did the right thing from the charges I had heard against him."

More after the jump.

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Who was in the gallery?