Mary Fant Donnan won by a two-to-one margin.

The Winson-Salem Democrat sewed up the nomination for labor commissioner in a runoff primary held today.

With all 100 counties reporting, Donnan has 43,217 votes, or 68 percent. Former labor commissioner John C. Brooks has 20,445, or 32 percent. She now faces incumbent Republican Cherie Berry in November.

Turnout was a paltry 1.9 percent.

In a runoff for the Democratic nomination in state Senate District 5, Don Davis beat Kathy Taft, 63 percent to 37 percent. The seat is currently held by retiring Democratic Sen. John Kerr III.

Davis, the mayor of Snow Hill, had slightly edged Taft, a member of the State Board of Education, in a six-way race in the May primary, but failed to garner a majority. He now faces four-term Rep. Louis Pate, a Wayne County Republican.

And in a runoff for the Republican nomination in state House District 67, Justin Burr defeated Rep. Ken Furr, 58 to 42 percent. Burr had slightly edged Furr in a three-way race on May 6.

Furr was appointed to the seat in August of 2007 after former Rep. David Almond resigned. Burr faces no opposition in November.

Like an extra scene after the credits, the legislature came back today.

In its first act, the House seated newly appointed Rep. Ken Furr. The Albemarle Republican replaces former Rep. David Almond, who resigned last month after a personnel complaint.

After the governor's veto message was read, Rep. Cullie Tarleton took the opportunity to praise Appalachian State University's football team for its upset win over the University of Michigan last weekend.

"This was the all-time football upset," said the Blowing Rock Democrat.

Rep. Curtis Blackwood then thanked his colleagues for their thank-you notes and flowers after his father's funeral.

Oh, and that veto? The House went into recess so that Democrats could go back to caucus at 2:45. House Republicans will caucus at 3 p.m., "so we can find out what the Democrats" are doing, as Minority Leader Paul Stam put it.

No word yet on what House Democrats are thinking about the veto, but if they had walked in with the votes for an override, they probably would have just done it.

A replacement has been chosen for David Almond, the Stanly County Republican who resigned suddenly from the state House last month after a legislative aide filed a personnel complaint against him.

The Charlotte Observer reports that Republican Party members from District 67 have chosen Kenny Furr, a former Stanly County commissioner, to serve the remainder of Almond's term.

State Rep. David Almond has kept a low profile in his hometown of Albermarle since resigning from the legislature two weeks ago.

Martha Quillin reports that the folks back home don't know what to make of the rumors about what led to Almond's sudden resignation.

All of them are unseemly for a 59-year-old life insurance agent who attends public events in the company of his wife and mother. The complaint was reportedly filed by Almond's legislative aide, a 63-year-old widow.

"Given the character of the man, it's hard to believe," said Pattie Huneycutt, a former Stanly County commissioner who says her tenure made her keenly aware of the risks of always being in the public eye. "You can be the squeakiest-clean person but then cross the wrong person and be ruined. You can be accused of anything. So everything I hear, I take with a grain of salt."

House Speaker Joe Hackney is not comfortable with the policy that keeps legislators' computer records from public view, and wants to reconsider it.

As for handing over former Rep. David Almond's computer files, the answer is still 'no.'

Almond, a Stanly County Republican, resigned last week after an allegation was made against him.

House Speaker Joe Hackney's staff lawyer is reviewing public records law following a request to release e-mail messages and other electronic records of former Rep. David Almond.

Almond, a Stanly County Republican, resigned last week after a state employee made an allegation against him.

A Hackney spokesman said the preliminary findings point to keeping the records secret, based on legislative immunity and laws that exempt personal information that could be in Almond's e-mail. Hackney and his staff are still talking about it.

State Rep. David Almond Jr., a Stanly County Republican, resigned from the legislature today.

In a statement released by House Minority Leader Paul Stam, Almond said a personnel complaint had been filed against him, reports Lynn Bonner. The statement did not go into details.

"I intend to defend myself against these charges in whatever forum may be appropriate," Almond said.

Almond was not available for comment. His office appeared to have been cleaned out.

Almond was serving his second term in the House.

House Republican leaders had said Wednesday that they were discussing serious allegations made against Almond, and had indicated they might call on him to resign.

State House Republicans met privately Wednesday evening to talk about Rep. David Almond, a GOP member from Stanly County, and what House GOP leader Paul "Skip" Stam of Apex called serious allegations involving Almond. (Capital Beat)

Almond missed the House session Wednesday and was not at the GOP meeting. Stam said Almond, an insurance agent who is serving his second term, had an afternoon appointment with his lawyer.

No one is providing details about the allegiations, and Stam said all he has heard is rumors.

"The rumors are serious," Stam said. "Depending what the facts reveal, we won't tolerate serious, improper behavior."

House Republicans are set to meet again at noon today on the matter. (N&O)