John Thompson is the new executive director of the N.C. Center for Voter Education.

The director of governmental relations for the American Cancer Society in North Carolina will replace longtime Voter Education director Chris Heagarty, who is pursuing a law degree. The nonpartisan group advocates for public campaign finance and other measures.

At his current job, Thompson lobbied successfully for bills providing care for cancer victims and curbing tobacco use, including a ban on smoking in state buildings, a 30-cent increase in the cigarette tax and funds for the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

"John brings a proven record of success and a keen understanding of how public policy is shaped in our state, while showing a passion for improving the lives of his fellow North Carolinians," said Jon Williams, chair of a search committee that chose Thompson.

Previously, Thompson worked at the N.C. Manufactured Housing Institute and political consulting firm Campaign Connections. He is a graduate of N.C. State University and a veteran of the Gulf War.

Two Raleigh firms are teaming up to start a monthly poll.

Campaign Connections, a Democratic consulting firm run by Brad Crone, and Public Solutions, a Republican firm run by Chris Sinclair, have started the North Carolina Poll.

The monthly poll will be available to subscribers, who will also be able to submit questions for the survey. It will be a "live operator" poll, with no automated computers.

In the first poll, a survey of 810 likely primary voters, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue got 35 percent among Democratic voters for governor, beating Richard Moore, who got 29 percent.

Undecided voters, who made up about 30 percent, were mainly white urban women age 25-50 with children and high income and education levels as well as African-American voters.

Among Republicans running for governor, gas tax activist Bill Graham was first with 22 percent, followed closely by state Sen. Fred Smith at 21 percent, and former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr at 16 percent.

Undecided voters, who made up about 37 percent, were mainly white urban men and women who consider themselves moderate to conservative with high income and education levels.

The margin of error was 4.5 percentage points.