Gov. Mike Easley has nominated Susan Rabon to the N.C. Utilities Commission.

A Holly Springs resident, Rabon was a corporate lawyer in Wilmington before going to work as special counsel for the N.C. Department of Justice under then Attorney General Easley in 1993. She became chief of staff of the department in 1994.

Currently she works as senior assistant for administration in the governor's office.

Rabon graduated from N.C. State University in 1982 with a degree in political science and received her law degree from the University of Virginia in 1986. She clerked for N.C. Court of Appeals Judge Jack Cozort.

"Susan Rabon is an accomplished lawyer who has served our state with distinction and dedication," Easley said in a statement.  "Her integrity and knowledge of state government are unmatched. Her first priority has always been the needs and concerns of the people of North Carolina and I know she will take that same approach as a member of this commission."

The appointment will fill one of two openings on the board. Easley also nominated Crime Control Secretary Bryan Beatty today.

Both appointments will have to be confirmed by the legislature. 

What happened to Don Beason's clients?

When the once-top lobbyist resigned his practice last year over a shady loan to House Speaker Jim Black, his lucrative list of clients was up for grabs.

By Dome's count, seven of the 16 clients did nothing. BB&T, Cingular Wireless, Albemarle Mental Health Center, Dale Earnhardt Inc., Sigma Corp., the Association of Settlement Companies, and the Carolina Ballet have no registered lobbyists during the current session.

That may be because they don't face any pending bills in a short session devoted to the budget. 

Three clients still employ Beason's son, Mark, along with other lobbyists: The Association of Health Information Outsourcing Services, AT&T North Carolina and S&M Brands.

Two clients, the city of Hickory and Catawba County, went with a new team of Jack Cozort, Kevin Leonard and noted lobbyist Alexander "Sandy" Sands.

Among the other top clients, Progress Energy went with noted lobbyist Zeb Alley, John Bode and Kathy Hawkins; while IBM went with former lieutenant governor Dennis Wicker and a team of eight lobbyists. Colonial Life Insurance hired Glenn Jernigan and the N.C. Railroad Co. hired Michelle Frazier and John McMillan.

Lobbyists Jack Cozort, left, and Andrew Romanet Jr. confer as they look over the lobby between the House and Senate chambers Thursday, June 14, 2007.

"This week has been a bit different because of the death of Sandy Basnight," said Cozort, also an attorney. "The funeral services slowed a lot of things down.. [but] we need to stop and take time and remember people like that because she was a wonderful, wonderful person."

The wife of Senate leader Marc Basnight died Sunday. Cozort added that the Basnight family has given a lot to the state.