The percentage of money in the campaign for N.C. Commissioner of Insurance that came from industries regulated by that office plummeted from 66 percent in 2004 to 5 percent this year, according to N.C. Voters for Clean Elections.

The figure dropped because both candidates in the commissioner's race chose to accept public financing, a pilot program in North Carolina in which the candidates receive public funding but must agree to fundraising limits. Commissioner-elect Wayne Goodwin, a Democrat, received $22,000 from members of industries regulated by the office, such as insurance, bail bondsmen and manufactured housing companies. Republican John Odom collected $9,600 from contributors in that category, according to the clean elections group's report.

Goodwin raised a total of $492,000, while Odom raised $433,000. 

The industry money for both candidates accounts for 5 percent of what they both raised, wrote Chase Foster, of the clean elections group.

By comparison, outgoing Commissioner Jim Long had no opponent in 2004 but still raised $354,000, two-thirds of which came from regulated industries. Candidates in lower tier races have long complained that businesses and groups regulated by their prospective offices are among the few who show interest in their campaigns, so they have no option but to raise money from them.

This year most of the candidates' money, $380,000 each, came from a public grant. In exchange they could only raise money for a limited time period early in the year and could not accept contributions greater than $200.