It's not only possible to become a state legislator without getting elected, but 31 of the 170 members of the legislature have done it.

Those lawmakers first took office after being selected by a small group of their party's leaders and then being appointed by the governor.

Since the current legislative term began in January, six lawmakers have taken office after their predecessor resigned or, in one case, died. A seventh new legislator will be selected soon to replace Sen. David Weinstein, D-Lumberton, who resigned in September. When a lawmaker leaves office early, his or her party leaders select a replacement who is appointed by the governor.

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N.C. Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin helped push the candidacy of newly-elected Rep. Chris Heagarty, of Raleigh.

In the days leading up to Saturday's vote for Heagarty, Goodwin signed on to a mail piece endorsing him (click the link below), as did two legislators, and the brochure was distributed to Democratic Party leaders in the 41st district. Ty Harrell resigned that seat in September amid a campaign finance investigation. Under the law, leaders from the outgoing lawmaker's party pick his or her successor.

Goodwin and Heagarty are both Democrats, as are Rep. Pricey Harrison, of Greensboro, and Rosa Gill, of Raleigh, who also appeared in the brochure. Goodwin was on the board of the N.C. Center for Voter Education for two of the seven years that Heagarty was director, and the two are good enough friends that they were at each other's weddings.

Heagarty also was aided by an endorsement from Wake County teachers.

WATER HAZARD: Former Gov. Mike Easley's office intervened on behalf of an exclusive golf club that needed millions of gallons of water during a devastating drought. The club had given Easley a free membership worth $50,000. (N&O)

HARRELL REPLACED: Chris Heagarty, a former director of the N.C. Center for Voter Education, will replace Ty Harrell in the state House. Harrell resigned last month to address a campaign finance investigation. When a legislator resigns, his or her party picks the successor. (N&O)

IN THIS CORNER: Lawyer Kenneth Lewis held a public kick-off for his campaign to win the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate on Sunday. Lewis and Secretary of State Elaine Marshall are running for the right to challenge U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, a Winston-Salem Republican next year. (N&O)

HAPPENING TODAY: Burr, who needs to raise his profile to take on his Demoratic challengers, is holding an economic development summit in Durham.

At least nine Democratic candidates are already running to replace Rep. Ty Harrell who resigned Sunday amid a campaign finance investigation.

Wake County Democratic Party Chairman Jack Nichols said nine candidates have declared so far for the District 41 seat:

-- Chris Heagarty, former director of the N.C. Center for Voter Education

-- Janet Schanzenbach, lobbyist for mental health programs and rehabilitation facilities

-- Gale Adcock, Cary Town Council member

-- John Shaw, a retired electrical engineer and Democratic Party activist

-- Matt Danielson, former county Democratic Party vice chair

-- Linda Gunter, former state senator and lobbyist for N.C. Association of Educators

-- Christopher Headen, executive director of Meals on Wheels of Durham

-- Steve Rao, director of business development at Datacraft Solutions

-- Terry L. "Doc" Thome

Democratic Party precinct chairs and party leaders within the district will meet by Oct. 20 and vote on Harrell’s replacement. When a lawmaker resigns, his or her party selects the replacement, and the governor must appoint that person.

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.

Chris Heagarty is leaving the N.C. Center for Voter Education.

After seven years as the nonpartisan advocacy group's executive director, Heagarty is leaving to pursue a law degree, according to a press release.

He leaves on a high note, having successfully advocated for a pilot program to publicly finance three statewide races. He also worked to bring more attention to state judicial races.

"Chris Heagarty has been the heart and soul of the North Carolina Center for Voter Education," said Ed Wilson, chairman of the center's board, in a statement.

Heagarty will remain with the center part-time until a successor is chosen.

North Carolina voters have warm feelings about Bush and Clinton - as in former presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

A new survey by the N.C. Center for Voter Education found that the former presidents get higher ratings in North Carolina than the current President Bush or Sen. Hillary Clinton, the New York Democrat who hopes to be the next president.

The center argues that the difference represents "the crucial swing voters" who will determine which party's presidential candidate will win in North Carolina in 2008.

“North Carolina is a state where Democrats have always outnumbered Republicans, but where conservative Democrats often break with their party when voting for national leaders,” said Chris Heagarty, the group's executive director.

“A large number of the self-identified moderates and independent voters who helped elect both President Bush 41 and 43 are unhappy with the current administration and don’t support the president. However, they don’t necessarily support Sen. Clinton, either.”

More North Carolinians know Jack Bauer than Jim Long.

According to a recent survey, 22 percent of people know who the star is of the television show "24," while only 12 percent know the name of the state's commissioner of insurance, Rob Christensen reports.

Still, Long's a household name compared to state Auditor Les Merritt and June Atkinson, the state superintendent of public instruction.

Only about one in 100 could identify either of them.

The survey was conducted for a group that is pushing for a pilot project that would make public financing available for candidates for insurance commissioner, auditor, and state schools superintendent.

Supporters argue that candidates for such obscure offices must rely on campaign contributions from the people they regulate in order to win election.

More after the jump.

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Does North Carolina need to elect a superintendent of public instruction?

In a post on publicly financed campaigns on Red Clay Citizen, Chris Hayes argues that the position is "little more of a figure head" since the state Board of Education holds so much power.

What about Agriculture or Labor Commissioner? Shouldn't these positions just be appointed by the Governor? If anything we should be electing the Secretary of Transportation, maybe then we can see some accountability out of that department.

In a 2005 column, Rob Christensen pointed out that North Carolina's long-ago suspicion of royal governors gave rise to the long list of elected statewide offices in North Carolina.

Recent efforts to reverse the trend have failed. Chris Heagarty of the N.C. Center for Voter Education told Dome that its polling showed voters were loath to give up the power to choose in those races, even if they don't pay particular attention to them.

An alternative would be to go whole hog and elect all the Cabinet positions...