Secretary of State Elaine Marshall has assembled a veteran team of political consultants to help her in her bid for the U.S. Senate.

Her pollster is Celinda Lake of Washington, who has worked for candidates ranging from former President Bill Clinton and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Harvey Gantt's 1996 Senate campaign, Rob Christensen reports. Lake, who is regarded as expert in framing in issues for women, also worked for Marshall's unsuccessful 2002 Senate campaign.

Her media consultant is Doc Sweitzer of Philadelphia, whose clients have included Al Gore' 1988 presidential campaign and New Jersey Governor Jim Florio's race. He has extensive experience in working for North Carolina Democrats including state Treasurer Richard Moore and Congressmen Robin Britt, Bill Hefner, Martin Lancaster, Brad Miller and Steve Neal.

Marshall's general consultant is Thomas Mills of Chapel Hill, who has worked for the Kerry-Edwards campaign, for Congressman Larry Kissell and Eva Clayton and Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy among other candidates.

Marshall is one of two Democrats who have announced for the seat held by Republican Sen. Richard Burr. Lawyer Kenneth Lewis has also announced his candidacy.

Martin Lancaster, president of the state's Community College System, will become President Emeritus after he retires May 1.

Meeting today in Statesville, the State Board announced plans for Lancaster's title, an honor bestowed only on two previous presidents — Ben E. Fountain, who served from 1971 to 1978, and Gov. Bob Scott, who served from 1983 to 1994.

Lancaster has led the Community College System for 11 years and received wide praise today for winning legislative support for the 2000 higher education construction bonds, money for biotechnology programs and better salaries for community college professors.

Board member Jimmie Ford, who like Lancaster is from Wayne County, said, “Homeboy, you have done well!”

N.C. Community College System President Martin Lancaster said today he fully expects legislators to pass a law barring illegal immigrants from the state's colleges.

The legislation is likely to be introduced the first day of the legislative session next month, Lancaster said in a meeting with editors at The News & Observer.

Lancaster, who last year issued a passionate defense of allowing illegal immigrants to enroll at community colleges, said a new law would roll back the system's progress in educating immigrants to contribute to North Carolina's economy.

And, he added, if the legislation prohibits illegal immigrants from taking non-credit courses such as English as a second language, it would be "perverse."

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Martin Lancaster, retiring president of the N.C. Community College System, will join the Raleigh law firm of Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan.

The firm, known as Smith Anderson, announced this week that Lancaster would serve in an “of counsel” role. He will work part-time, serving as a resource to more than 100 lawyers at Raleigh’s largest law firm.

Lancaster, a former Congressman and N.C. House member, was also a special adviser to the president and an assistant secretary of the Army for civil works.

This week, Lancaster received the 2008 Distinguished Public Service Award from the North Carolina Chamber, one of many honors coming to him as he steps down after 11 years as head of the state’s community college system.

Lancaster’s lunch calendar is booked until he leaves the job May 1, he said. He will be on hand to help ease the transition for the system’s incoming president, Scott Ralls.

During an hourlong break Thursday, Lancaster began to empty out his personal file drawers, he said. Lancaster was not in the audience Thursday at Wake Tech for Sen. Hillary Clinton’s appearance: his contract specifies that he not be involved in partisan politics.

Scott Ralls, who was elected last month as the next president of the N.C. Community College System, told the system board today that he's ready to get to work.

Ralls will succeed the retiring President Martin Lancaster on May 1, but he will report to work at the Raleigh headquarters April 1 as president-elect, Jane Stancill reports. Ralls is now president of Craven Community College in New Bern.

He told community college system board members this morning that the "Four C's" will guide his 100 days in office—community, collaboration, connection and change.

He also talked about the need for more state resources for the colleges as Baby Boomers retire and workforce needs evolve. And he emphasized how important it is to work with other education agencies, particularly the UNC system.

Let them in, Rev. William Barber II, head of the state NAACP, said Monday at a news conference in support of giving illegal immigrants access to higher education.

Barber, along with representatives from the Hispanic business Adelante, likened the plight of immigrants to that of Mary and Joseph, who were turned away from an inn on Christmas Eve.

Barber cited examples throughout history of poor treatment of immigrants and praised Martin Lancaster, the outgoing president of the state's community college system and Gov. Mike Easley for supporting a policy that allows illegal immigrants to attend college.

The issue has been a lightning rod in politics, with each of the major candidates for governor speaking out against a policy of forcing community colleges to admit illegal immigrants.

"We must open the inn," Barber said. "Instead of tearing people apart, we must bring people together and open up the inn."

Bob Orr says illegal immigration hasn't hurt his campaign.

In response to a column by Paul O'Connor, the Republican gubernatorial candidate says that any candidate would argue against allowing illegal immigrants to study at community colleges.

Since the public is "across the board" angry about the issue, he writes that you can "kiss your chances goodbye" as a candidate if you are on the wrong side.

Only lame ducks like the Guv and Martin Lancaster, editorial writers, insulated government officials (read Erskine Bowles) and the far left can safely take the position that illegal immigrants should be admitted to our community colleges and universities. 

Orr says he won't "demagogue" the issue, but he believes it is up to Congress to take care of illegal immigration.

Martin Lancaster, president of the state's community college system, had a smile on his face yesterday as the state board elected as his successor Craven Community College President Scott Ralls.

For the past week, Lancaster has been pummeled for his support of admitting illegal immigrants to community colleges. On Thursday, he looked relaxed and relieved at the thought of passing the baton to Ralls next year, reports Jane Stancill.

When asked his reaction after the vote, Lancaster said, "The king is dead. Long live the king." The board erupted in laughter.

Dan Gearino says Martin Lancaster has convinced him.

The former N&O columnist writes on his blog that he has a "profound unhappiness" that illegal immigrants might get amnesty. But he says the head of the state community colleges has a good argument.

In a statement earlier this week, Lancaster noted that many European countries are facing more deadly terrorism from immigrants than the United States:

"For years these countries have denied immigrants basic rights and services, creating a permanent, disenfranchised, and angry underclass. By refusing to educate and make productive members of our society the children of undocumented aliens, North Carolina and the United States face that same eventuality."

Gearino says "every immigration hard-liner should ponder" that argument.

"Turning marginalized high-schoolers into well-educated college students seems like good public policy," he writes.

Martin Lancaster, president of the state Community College System, defended a policy requiring the state's 58 campuses to admit illegal immigrants to class.

"It is not only the right law and policy, but it is the right thing to do," Lancaster said in a written statement released today.

Lancaster, who is retiring next year, said he asked the system's top lawyer to review the policy on illegal immigrants. Previously, colleges had the right to admit or deny undocumented students.

Lancaster said the colleges have operated under an open-door policy since the system's inception.

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