Wake County Democrats nominated Wendell attorney Darren Jackson for state House.

Jackson ran unsuccessfully in 2002 against Rep. Sam Ellis and lost the Democratic primary to Rep. Linda Coleman in 2004.

Coleman is stepping down to head the Office of State Personnel under Gov. Beverly Perdue.

Jackson was one of three people who ran for the nomination for the House District 39 seat at a Democratic meeting Thursday.

The others were Wake County commissioner Lindy Brown and former Wake County commissioner candidate Don Mial.

The nomination now heads to Perdue, who will make the official appointment.

Wake County Democrats will decide on a new representative next week.

The District 39 Executive Committee will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22, at the N.C. Democratic Party headquarters on Hillsborough Street.

Their job is to recommend a replacement for Rep. Linda Coleman, an Eastern Wake Democrat who was appointed head of the Office of State Personnel by Gov. Beverly Perdue last week.

"Any person that is interested in taking her seat is welcome to come and speak," said county chair Doris Weaver. "The committee may also have recommendations that they bring up."

The committee will vote that night on its recommendation, which then heads to state party chairman Jerry Meek and then Perdue, who makes the appointment.

Weaver said she's heard informally from a few people who are interested in the position, but she declined to identify them.

Former Knightdale Mayor Jeanne Bonds, Wake County commissioner Lindy Brown, one-time commissioner candidate Don Mial, Zebulon lawyer Darren Jackson and Knightdale Town Council member James Roberson are rumored to be up for consideration.

The legislature convenes Jan. 28.

Hillary Clinton focused on education and economic development.

In a brief speech at N.C. State this morning, the Democratic presidential candidate spoke about North Carolina's efforts to promote business through better education.

She highlighted the biotechnology center at the state college, the Learn and Earn Program and the More at Four program.

After receiving the endorsement of Gov. Mike Easley, she said it was politically important, but it was also rewarding because of his economic efforts, which have led to North Carolina being third in biotechnology.

"It's great to have somenoe who really understands what we have to do to transform our country to be prepared for the 21st century," she said.

She noted that she and Easley worked in the past on the American Dream Initiative, which looked at how to encourage young people to attend college.

Clinton also name-checked state Rep. Alice Bordsen and Wake County Commissioner Lindy Brown. 

Hillary Clinton's campaign released the names of its North Carolina steering committee, ranging from poet Maya Angelou to Hugh Shelton, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The list was announced at a teleconference held by Tom Hendrickson, a former state Democratic chariman; former Ambassador Jeanette Hyde, and the Rev. Brenda Stevenson of Charlotte.

"I know Hillary has the diplomatic skills," said Hyde, who was appointed ambassador to Barbados by President Clinton. "She has the knowledge. She has traveled around the world. I beleive she can help mend some of the problems we have in the world."

The endorsements include many people long associated with the moderate, pro-business wing of the state Democratic Party and with Govs. Jim Hunt and Terry Sanford.

Clarification: Hunt is not on the steering committee, but some of his associates are.

More names after the jump.

   Comments (3)

Hillary Clinton's campaign opened her North Carolina headquarters this evening.

About 100 people attended the hourlong kickoff, including Wake County commissioners Lindy Brown and Betty Lou Ward, fundraiser Richard Sullivan and former Democratic Party chairman Tom Hendrickson, who owns the building near Raleigh's trendy Glenwood South area.

Hendrickson noted that the Clinton campaign brought in organizer Ace Smith to head up its North Carolina campaign, after similar efforts in California and Texas.

"They have sent us the A-team," he said.

Spokeswoman Cary Lindauer said that the campaign will open about a dozen offices around the state in the next few weeks, beginning with Charlotte. The state headquarters will also double as the Raleigh field office.

The crowd also included Gene Conti, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation from 1998 to 2000; Mike Schaul, a member of the N.C. Democratic Party's executive committee; and noted open space advocate Sig Hutchinson, who said he came because of his wife.

The guest who attracted the most attention, however, was Hendrickson's long-haired Chihuahua, Izzy. Several people in the campaign took turns holding the puppy during the event.

Another endorsement for Barack Obama came this afternoon, a little by accident.

Wake County Commissioner Harold Webb, squeezed past Dome in a crowded group of young Democrats to shake hands with John Edwards.

Dome, who covered Webb back when we were WakePol, asked if he was going to endorse in the Democratic presidential primary.

"Later," he said.

We asked who he would endorse.

"Obama," he answered.

While he didn't say how much later, Dome had expected he meant more than three seconds, but the cat's out of the bag now.

Two of Webb's Democratic colleagues on the county board, Lindy Brown and Betty Lou Ward, endorsed Clinton at a speech at Wake Tech.

Hillary Clinton is coming out now, flanked by Wake County commissioners Lindy Brown and Betty Lou Ward.

"We all know that this is trying times in our nation's history," Brown said in a brief introduction. "We're struggling with a failing economy, the burden of skyrocketing gas prices, increased college tuition and the high cost of health care."

Ward then spoke briefly, calling Wake Tech a "great economic developer in our community."

She said she first met Clinton 20 years ago at a political event, when the then first lady of Arkansas was promoting an early childhood program.

Ward said afterward Clinton sent her a handwritten note, which she regrettably threw away.

Taking the stage a minute later, Clinton said she'd make it up to her.

"Betty Lou, I'll send you another note," Clinton said.

"From the White House," yelled a man in the audience.

"... on White House stationery," Clinton added.

The guest list at the Hillary Clinton event at Wake Tech includes a few notables.

State Sen. Vern Malone, Reps. Tricia Cotham and Ronnie Sutton, former Ambassador Jeanette Hyde, Raleigh City Councilwoman Mary Ann Baldwin and Wake County Commissioner Lindy Brown.

Also on the list: Raleigh attorneys Bruce Thompson and Michael Petty, Raleigh public relations executive Joyce Fitzpatrick and former N.C. Industrial Commission chairman Buck Lattimore.

The most interesting name: Muriel Offerman.

Offerman is a still offically undecided superdelegate to the Democratic Convention. As we reported last week, Clinton personally called Offerman's work phone.

Maybe she's not so undecided after all...

Update: Dome also spotted Garner Mayor Ronnie Williams among the honored guests.