While labor made gains in North Carolina this year, big business got a little less organized.

At the same time that the SEIU and SEANC were playing a stronger role in state elections, the biggest advocacy group for corporate interests essentially disbanded.

But John Davis, the former head of N.C. FREE, said that doesn't mean business is any less powerful.

"Business still has the upper hand in this state," said Davis, now an independent consultant. "I think what you're seeing with labor is the beginnings of them becoming a serious player in North Carolina. They're a serious player at the state legislative level, but I think you're going to see them grow exponentially."

As head of N.C. FREE for 23 years, Davis said he didn't see labor spending begin in earnest here until the 2004 and 2006 elections, in part because of the growing role of so-called 527 groups, which can run independent political campaigns.

He cited SEIU's contributions to FairJudges.net in 2006 and to the Alliance for North Carolina this year as evidence of their growing role. While N.C. FREE is not around to represent business interests, he said groups like the N.C. Chamber may play a larger role, as will ad hoc groups like the one that opposed the transfer tax.

"I don't expect business to do anything but man up to labor," he said. "They have the resources to do battle politically, and they'll find some way to do it."

Lawyer Bob Hunter urged a judge to help clarify a law that he says has allowed outside groups, such as Fairjudges.net, to wrongly influence elections by making excessive campaign contributions.

Using a lawsuit brought by Judge Ann Marie Calabria in 2006, Hunter reopened the issue of whether Fairjudges acted appropriately in their support of a candidate who beat Calabria in the 2006 election, reports Titan Barksdale.

Hunter told Judge James Spencer Jr. Thursday that a court ruling in Calabria's favor can help protect the electoral process in North Carolina.

"You can say the flood gates are wide open or you can say under these circumstances, this was an illegal contribution [by Fairjudges]," said Hunter, who is a candidate for the N.C. Court of Appeals. "We need a judge to tell us what the law is."

In 2006, Calabria wanted the State Board of Elections to investigate whether the state Democratic Party was working with Fairjudges to help her opponent, Associate Justice Robin Hudson. The board recently did not take any action against Fairjudges after a report of the investigation was finished.

The report said that the organizers of Fairjudges had an agenda and likely coordinated with an employee of the state Democratic Party to help push Fairjudges' agenda during the 2006 election. By law, groups such as Fairjudges are prohibited from coordinating with parties, but a state elections board member says the law has some loopholes.

Susan Nichols, special deputy attorney general representing the board, said the lawsuit is moot because Hudson has already been declared the winner of the election. And the State Board of Elections has decided against taking action against Fairjudges.

Spencer will rule on the case at a later date.