Former Gov. Jim Holshouser, longtime member of the UNC system's Board of Governors, was honored in Chapel Hill today with a birthday cake.

Though he turned 75 this week, the cake had 30 candles, symbolizing his years on the UNC governing board, reports Eric Ferreri. The former governor was celebrated for the wit and wisdom he dispenses, and he was quick with some ribbing for his colleagues.

Read about it in the Campus Notes blog.

Former Gov. Mike Easley’s reputation is in tatters.

A recent poll shows him the least popular of the five living past or current governors. By far, North Carolinians have the lowest opinion of Easley, who left office in January, reports Rob Christensen.

A poll by Public Policy Polling, a Democratic-leaning firm in Raleigh, asked which governor they had the lowest opinion of. Easley (2001-2009) was cited by 45 percent, current Gov. Beverly Perdue by 26 percent, former Gov. Jim Holshouser (1973-77) 13 percent, former Gov. Jim Hunt (1977-1985, 1993-2001) 10 percent and former Gov. Jim Martin (1985-1993) 7 percent.

Easley’s numbers are so poor because he has been the subject of critical news reports about the hiring of his wife at N.C. State University, his acceptance of free cars, and a favorable land deal on coastal property.

Voters remember Hunt most fondly, perhaps because he was governor for such a long stretch of people’s lives.

People had the highest opinion of Hunt (41 percent), then Martin (21 percent), Easley (14 percent) Perdue (14 percent) and Holshouser (10 percent).

More after the jump

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"Can you tell me the what the governor's D.C. staff's responsibilities are?" — Dome reader GrayJ

North Carolina has had an office in Washington, D.C., since 1974.

Started by Gov. Jim Holshouser, the office is intended to serve as a liaison between state and federal government on important issues.

"The (office) allows North Carolina to be well represented in Washington so as to derive the most benefit — or, in some cases, to avoid the most harm — from decisions made there that affect us," wrote Chrissy Pearson, a spokeswoman for Gov. Beverly Perdue, in an e-mail.

Those issues include education, military affairs, economic development, environment and natural resources, revenue and tax matters.

The office is staffed by state employees. Currently it is headed by Jim McCleskey, who works directly for Perdue and served in the same job under former Gov. Mike Easley. In 2008, his annual salary was $91,846.

Other staffers are assigned by the N.C. departments of Health and Human Services, Transportation and Correction, all Cabinet agencies. Those staffers cover policy and appropriations issues for their departments as well as criminal justice, homeland security and emergency management issues.

The office is located three blocks from the U.S. Capitol.

Got a question? E-mail dome@newsobserver.com or post it in the comments below.

MEBANE — Four N.C. governors were among the hundreds of mourners who said farewell today to one of their predecessors, Bob Scott, who died Friday at 79.

Under gray skies and a steady drizzle, Scott was laid to rest next to his father, the late Gov. Kerr Scott, Jim Morrill reports.

The overflow crowd at Hawfields Presbyterian Church included Gov. Beverly Perdue, former Govs. Jim Holshouser, Jim Hunt and Mike Easley, and former U.S. senators Bob Morgan and Lauch Faircloth.

But Scott was remembered not just for his political achievements but for being a man who never forgot where he came from.

In the church where he was baptized, Scott's widow, Jessie Rae, recalled how her husband used to insist on coming back for services every Sunday when they lived in Raleigh.

"Robert said we had to do it for our children so they'll stay connected to the community," she said.

The small country church filled an hour before the 11 a.m. service, which Scott designed himself. The pastor said the former governor wanted an "uplifting and cheerful" service whete people sang "with gusto."

Scott was eulogized by two grandsons. But others brought their own memories.

"He was a down-to-earth fellow," said Hunt. "No pretentions about him."

Three former governors will get Highway Patrol rides to the funeral this morning of former Gov. Bob Scott in Alamance County.

Former Governors Mike Easley, Jim Hunt and Jim Holshouser will be picked up by Highway Patrol, according to a patrol spokesman.

Former Gov. Jim Martin is in Costa Rica and will be unable to attend, Rob Christensen reports.

There is a tradition of Highway Patrol taking governors to the funerals of past governors.

Gov. Beverly Perdue will lead a delegation to the funeral in Haw River of former Gov. Bob Scott on Tuesday.

Among those expected to attend are former governors Mike Easley, Jim Hunt and Jim Holshouser, Rob Christensen reports. Ex-governor Jim Martin is in Costa Rica and is not expected to attend.

Others scheduled to go to the funeral include former U.S. Senators Robert Morgan and Lauch Faircloth.

The funeral will be held at the Hawfields Presbyterian Church. Scott's body will be pulled by caisson, followed by a riderless horse, to the graveyard.

This is at least the third time the state's political establishment has headed to Haw River for a funeral. The first time was in 1958, when former Gov. Kerr Scott, Bob's father, was buried. The second time was in 1989 when state Sen. Ralph Scott, passed away.

With North Carolina experiencing a hot governor’s race, the N.C. Museum of History is beginning an exhibit looking at nearly 300 years of Tar Heel governors.

The exhibit, which starts Oct. 25, includes artifacts, photographs and portraits of past governors, Rob Christensen reports.

Among the events surrounding the exhibit will a panel discussion with three former North Carolina governors — Jim Holshouser, Jim Martin and Jim Hunt. Former Gov. Bob Scott, who has been struggling with health issues,  does not plan to attend.

The panel discussion will be held Oct. 24th and be moderated by Bill Friday, the former president of the University of North Carolina system.

Today — Oct. 16 — is the last day to register for the evening. But the event will later be rebroadcast on UNC-TV. For more informaiton call 919-807-7900.

The McCain-Palin campaign released a list of its North Carolina team Monday, including chairmen for all 100 counties.

"This is probably the most impressive leadership list of any campaign in recent North Carolina history," U.S. Sen. Richard Burr of Winston-Salem, the state McCain chairman, said in a teleconference call from Washington, Rob Christensen reports.

The honorary co-chairs of the GOP presidential candidate include Sen. Elizabeth Dole, former Sen. Lauch Faircloth, former Governors Jim Holshouser and Jim Martin and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, the GOP nominee for governor.

McCain has trailed Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, in organizing the state. But a McCain spokesman said the campaign now had nine offices set up and 17 staffers. The Obama campaign has 16 offices and between 150 and 200 staffers.

Burr, a long-time supporter of McCain, said the ticket was a perfect fit for North Carolina. He said the addition of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin had generated a lot of interest among grassroots conservatives.

"This is a John McCain state," Burr said. "It's not an up in the air for the next election."

The Wake County McCain chair is Jean Smoot, the Durham chair is Kate Kohler, the Orange County chairs are Augustus Cho and Jesse Torres, and the Johnston chair is Linwood Parker.

Gov. Jim Martin got a free ride to Jesse Helms' funeral Tuesday — courtesy of Democratic Gov. Mike Easley.

Easley's office offered Martin a ride aboard the jet the governor often uses on state business. Flight records show the Cessna Citation picked Martin up in Concord in the morning and flew him back after the funeral.

"I was happy to accept that, it saved a couple hours each way," Martin said. "I thought it was a nice gesture."

The two round-trips took less than two hours, according to flight records. The 8-passenger plane costs $770 per hour to operate, according to a spokeswoman for the state Department of Commerce, which owns it. Martin appeared to be the lone passenger.

Easley spokesman Seth Effron said the Democratic governor offered the plane "as a matter of protocol and professional courtesy to the former governor because this was a matter of state."

Former Gov. Jim Holshouser also attended the funeral, as did other mourners from Charlotte.

Asked how taxpayers might view the trip, Martin said, "If taxpayers would object to that, it probably won't happen again. But I thought it was very thoughtful of (Easley)."

Phil Kirk, a former state school board chairman, has been named chairman of the Public School Forum of North Carolina, a nonprofit policy think tank.

Kirk was chief of staff under former Republican governors Jim Martin and Jim Holshouser and state school board chairman under Democratic governors Jim Hunt and Mike Easley. Kirk is now a vice president for external relations at Catawba College in Salisbury.

The forum was founded in 1985. It focuses on public policy research and oversees community programs, such as a network of elementary and middle school programs, according to a news release.

"The Public School Forum has a history of providing leadership on key educational issues," Kirk said in the release. "Everything we do should be based on what is best for the students, even if we have to take unpopular positions."