A campaign finance reform group has praised 21 legislators for their openness.

Democracy North Carolina identified a group of state lawmakers who are doing "a superior job" identifying occupations and employers of their donors on campaign finance forms.

Though candidates are required to make their best effort to identify all donors, many fall short, listing only names, dates and amounts.

The group singled out legislators who raised more than $15,000 and provided full information on 98 percent or more of donors, including Senate President Marc Basnight and House Speaker Joe Hackney, both Democrats.

From the House: Democrats Tricia Cotham, Jim Crawford, Margaret Dickson, Rick Glazier, Bruce Goforth, Deborah Ross, Russell Tucker, Jennifer Weiss and Verla Insko, and Republican David Lewis.

From the Senate: Democrats Charlie Albertson, Doug Berger, Linda Garrou, Clark Jenkins, A.B. Swindell and Republicans Pete Brunstetter, Neal Hunt, Richard Stevens and Jerry Tillman.

"It's crucial for the public to have the full picture about the candidates before they vote — and the pattern of where a campaign’s money comes from is an important part of that picture," said Kaitlin Stollbrink, an intern at Democracy North Carolina.

FAYETTEVILLE—A number of prominent local Democrats are on the guest list.

Fayetteville Mayor Tony Chavonne is at the Barack Obama event, although he took pains to say that he is neutral in the presidential race, Rob Christensen reports.

The mayor of nearby Spring Lake, Ethel Clark, is also here, as it state Rep. Rick Glazier.

No word on Clark's thoughts, but Glazier said he is backing Obama.

"I've supported him for some time," he told Dome. "He has the capacity to bridge partisan and economic groups."

Also expected are state Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand, namesake of the student center where Obama is speaking, and Reps. Margaret Dickson of Fayetteville and Marvin Lucas of Spring Lake.

Not on the guest list: Three kids from Mebane.

Tina Salvatore, 18; Emily Mason, 17; and Joseph Byrd, 21, got up at 2:45 a.m., grabbed some sandwich meat and bread and drove three hours, thinking it was a public event.

Wearing homemade Obama T-shirts outside, they said they would listen to the speech on loudspeakers set up by Fayetteville Tech.

After that, they said they might go to the beach. 

The N.C. Technology Association recognized Beverly Perdue Thursday.

The lieutenant governor was given an Outstanding Achievement Award by the technology lobbying group at an awards dinner at the Embassy Suites in Cary.

She received the award for her work on initiatives extending Internet access to schools, offering online tobacco prevention and fitness training and providing telemedicine.

She was also recognized for chairing the Business Education Technology Alliance, which promotes technology in education.

Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand, state Sen. David Hoyle and Reps. Pryor Gibson, Margaret Dickson and Rick Glazier received public leadership awards at the ceremony.