From Democracy North Carolina's 2007 lobbyist report:

* Don Beason, who retired after a shady loan to disgraced Speaker Jim Black became public, reported earning $145,521 from 16 clients, putting him in 29th place.

* His son, Mark, reported earning $279,423 from 16 clients, putting him in sixth place.

* Elizabeth Dalton, daughter of Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, reported earning $79,343 from five clients, for 56th place.

* Courtney Crowder, now a lobbyist for Gov. Beverly Perdue, reported earning $42,794 from 10 clients, for 116th place.

* Lanier Cansler, now secretary of Health and Human Services, reported earning $31,110 from four clients, for 159th place.

* Don Vaughan, who was elected a state senator last year, reported earning $22,500 from one client, for 206th place.

You may remember Jim Long as the commissioner of insurance.

But former staffer Courtney Crowder says he had another job title.

"We called him the commissioner of love because he always had relationship advice for us," Crowder said.

The aftermath of November's elections was in the news.

To the victors: Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue fleshed out her Cabinet. The vanquished: U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole gave a farewell speech. And a portent of the future.

1. Naming names: Perdue names Andy Willis and Courtney Crowder as her top lobbyist and legislative directors. Now, about the rest of the Cabinet...

2. Cell block? The Department of Correction said more than one inmate on the state's death row has been found with a cell phone. A new twist on 25 minutes to go.

3. Traffic report: A special transportation committee gave a final report, recommending toll booths on the interstate. North Carolina: The Delaware of the Southeast?

4. It polls for thee: Democratic firm Public Policy Polling puts out the first survey on a potential 2010 Senate matchup with Sen. Richard Burr. Does it ever end?

5. Fare thee well: In her final speech on the floor of the Senate, Dole quotes Teddy Roosevelt. The DSCC would have turned that into another attack ad on her age.

Has Courtney Crowder's star finally risen?

The newly appointed legislative director to Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue has been named a "rising star" of state politics so many times he could be his own constellation.

A few of the words of praise:

N&O, 2003: "He's an up-and-comer from Southeast Raleigh who could be a strong voice just as the Wake Democrats are reeling from a local election that saw the sheriff and a county commissioner, both blacks, ousted by voters."

Hotline, 2003: "Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-02) ex-aide — currently President of NC Young Dems; 'definitely will run for office in the future.'"

Hotline, 2006: "Very active with the party and 'certainly a bright star.'"

N&O, 2008: "Courtney Crowder, a public relations professional in his 30s and long active in Democratic circles, is often mentioned as a potential candidate from Southeast Raleigh." 

Courtney Crowder has already done his homework.

As Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue's legislative director, Crowder will take a lead role in implementing her public policy decisions and keeping her campaign promises.

Luckily for him, he just co-authored a report on that very subject.

Crowder is one of five analysts and lobbyists on the government relations team at Capstrat, a Raleigh public relations firm, who recently went over Perdue's platform for a report called "Now What?"

The report says that Perdue will focus on early childhood education, free tuition for community colleges, mental health reform, increased health insurance coverage, reforming the N.C. Department of Transportation, championing "green collar jobs" and reducing small business taxes, among other things.

It also notes that Perdue said she will work with other governors to reduce corporate incentives, but says she will likely continue expanding them in the short term. It notes the "budget constraints" and the "shrinking financial pie" but leaves open how they will be resolved.

One prediction from the report may turn out to be a bit optimistic.

"Announcements of who will be filling (Cabinet) posts are expected by the end of the year," it says.

Beverly Perdue named her legislative lobbyist and director today.

As expected since earlier this month, the governor-elect announced that she would appoint Andy Willis as her senior advisor for governmental affairs. She also named Courtney Crowder as legislative director.

Willis is currently vice president for government relations for the University of North Carolina system and a former fiscal analyst for the state Senate. He has a master's degree in public administration from UNC-Chapel Hill and a bachelor's in political science from N.C. State.

Crowder currently works as a lobbyist for Capstrat and previously worked at the N.C. Department of Insurance and for U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge. He has a master's degree from Duke University and a bachelor's degrees in English literature and French from N.C. Central University.

"Andy and Courtney will bring to our team a wealth of experience and proven ability to get things done," Perdue said in a statement. "They'll play key roles in making our vision to get North Carolina back on track a reality."