How good of a launching pad is the Crime Control secretary?

As one of the newer jobs in the governor's Cabinet, the position has been held by only 10 people, but the roster is fairly impressive.

Although appointed positions are not as good resume-builders as elected posts on the Council of State, the list includes future state Supreme Court justices Burley Mitchell Jr. and J. Phil Carlton and state Treasurer Richard Moore.

Current Secretary Bryan Beatty is rumored to be under consideration for another post in Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue's administration, perhaps as secretary of Correction.

The post has also been popular among political insiders, such as Heman Clark, a fixture of Democratic politics who died last week, and Herbert Hyde, a once-and-future state legislator who ran unsuccessfully for attorney general and lieutenant governor.

After the jump, a list of all 10 secretaries.

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Pat McCrory is picking up the mantle of change.

In a speech at the state Republican convention in Greensboro today, the gubernatorial nominee received one of the loudest ovations as he called himself "a change agent" in his race against Democratic nominee Beverly Perdue, Jim Morrill reports.

"We have been governed for the past decade by the good ole boy politics of Gov. (Mike) Easley and Lt. Gov. Perdue," he said. "I want to change the culture."

John Davis, president of the pro-business group NCFREE, said McCrory and Obama could appeal to many of the same kind of voters: newcomers, urban, young and ready for change.

"It's not a party thing," he said. "It's an anti-establishment, a 'pox-on-both-your-houses,' general change-voter driving this election year."

Alan Pugh, the GOP chairman in Randolph County, agreed.

"So for those who understand the dynamics of the election, these are the ones that are positive," he said. "The ones that are negative are those sitting around listening to the 24-hour news channels."