Jonathan Williams was sworn in as the new chairman of the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission Thursday, along with new commissioner Zander Guy.

Williams, former deputy secretary of crime control and public safety, takes over a system that last year generated $250 million in tax revenue but is also handicapped by an inefficient, locally controlled network of stores.

"I plan to listen and to seek the points of view from across the state," Williams said in a prepared statement, "from those who are interested in ways this Commission and our state’s regulatory system might change and improve."

Guy is mayor of Surf City and joins Commissioner John Lyon Jr., of Raleigh, to complete the troika that oversees alcohol regulation in the state and operates the state warehouse from which all local ABC stores buy their liquor.

State Sen. David Weinstein wanted a job running the state liquor warehouse. Instead he'll be the front man for the Booze It & Lose It campaign.

Weinstein, a Lumberton Democrat in his seventh term, will become director of the Governor's Highway Safety Program on Oct. 5, Lynn Bonner reports Highway safety promotes rhyming twin campaigns that discourage drunken driving and encourage seat belt use — "Booze It & Lose It" and "Click It or Ticket."

Weinstein wanted to be chairman of the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission. The commission runs the warehouse from which all stores buy their liquor, gives final approval for opening a store and hears cases of ABC law violations.

Gov. Beverly Perdue appointed Jonathan Williams of Raleigh to ABC chairman last week.

Darrell Jernigan, who had run Highway Safety for six years will move to another job with the office, according to the agency.

Weinstein had not resigned from the Senate by mid-afternoon Wednesday. The agency said Weinstein will resign from the Senate, effective Oct. 1.

His salary has not yet been determined.

Update: Senate leader Marc Basnight released a statement about Weinstein's imminent departure from the legislature.

"David Weinstein has been a valued leader in the Senate and a wonderful friend. A finer person can’t be found. Just as he was, and will continue to be, dedicated to the interests of his home community, he will be dedicated to the interests of all North Carolina’s communities. He’s a very special person and although we will miss him in the Senate, we wish him the very best in this new role of public service."

Three North Carolina localities are ready to build, set up or relocate a liquor store and get their alcohol revenue flowing.

But they have had to put their plans on hold because there is no one in Raleigh to give them approval to proceed.

The state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission consists of a single commissioner at the moment. Two of the three seats, including that of the chairman, are vacant and have been since May. The commission needs two members to hold monthly meetings where it hears liquor law cases and approves new stores.

Gov. Beverly Perdue has not appointed anyone to fill the empty seats, but administration officials said Friday that an announcement could come as early as this week.

In North Carolina, liquor stores are run by local boards, not the state. The state commission runs the warehouse from which all stores buy their liquor, gives final approval for opening a store and hears cases of ABC law violations.

State commission member Mike Joyner of Charlotte stepped down last year. Then-Chairman Doug Fox of Wilmington resigned in May, at the request of Perdue, after Fox forwarded an e-mail message to friends and associates containing a racist illustration. That leaves only commission member John Lyon of Wake Forest. (N&O)

* At least 44 retired North Carolina judges are offering their time to keep courtrooms operating when judges call in sick or juggle a family emergency.

The problem is simple. Like most state agencies, the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts had to make tough choices about what the state could afford this year with a skimpier budget.

The legislature cut 6 percent of the agency's budget, shaving $30 million from funds used for expenses such as salaries and training for judges, prosecutors and clerks.

On the chopping block: money to pay substitute judges. One by one, retired judges raised their hands to come back onto the bench as volunteers. (N&O)

People who go for drinks at private clubs — read, bars — won't have to wait for membership applications to be approved before they're allowed to enjoy their beverages under a bill the Senate approved Monday night.

The bill passed the Senate in a 30-13 vote and now goes to Gov. Beverly Perdue for her signature, Lynn Bonner reports. The bill removes the state Alcohol Beverage Control Commission's authority to require clubs adopt waiting periods for new members.

Senate Minority Leader Phil Berger, an Eden Republican, tried to add a population limit to the proposal. He suggested making the measure apply only to counties with at least 150,000 people, and raising the bar to 160,000 people with the next census.

The concern is that restaurants in rural areas will face unfair competition, Berger said.
Restaurants must show that at least 30 percent of their income comes from selling food and no more than 70 percent comes from alcohol sales. Restaurants in rural areas may lost customers to clubs that don't have to meet that requirement for food sales, Berger said.

After some debate over what would be best for tourism, the amendment failed 20-23.

Correction: Post now includes accurate ratio of sales for restaurants. 

FWD: FOX OUT: Doug Fox may want to go back to a typewriter. The chairman of the state Alcoholic Beverage Commission resigned after a reporter with The Charlotte Observer and The News & Observer showed Gov. Beverly Perdue a racist e-mail Fox sent about President Barack Obama. The e-mail contained an altered picture depicting the White House lawn as a watermelon patch, with the phrase “There goes the neighborhood…" State Sen. David Weinstein has already said he wouldn't mind taking Fox's former job.

KIND OF BLUE: State Rep. Dan Blue will soon be state Sen. Blue. After winning a behind-the-scenes two-week campaign to get appointed to the seat of former Sen. Vernon Malone, the former House speaker said he wants to finish a few things up before moving to the other chamber. Presumably that means passing bills before next week's crossover that he can then vote on as a senator.

ORDER OF THE LONG LIST: Former Gov. Mike Easley found a lot of worthy North Carolinians. During two terms in office, the Southport Democrat named more than 4,000 people to the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the state's highest award. That's a rate of more than one a day. Recipients included his wife's parents, members of his Cabinet, the Blue Angels and actor Danny Glover, who is not a Tar Heel.

IN OTHER NEWS: Durham attorney Kenneth Lewis is the first Democrat to say he'd like to run against U.S. Sen. Richard Burr in 2010. Attorney General Roy Cooper is widely expected to run as well. ... U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan would prefer that President Obama name a woman to the U.S. Supreme Court, while Burr is looking for a "non-activist" judge. ... Under pressure by Governor Perdue and Chief Justice Sarah Parker, statewide elected officials and elected judges have all volunteered to take a half a percent pay cut in line with one faced by state workers.

Sen. David Weinstein, a Lumberton Democrat, may not have boosted the chances today that the state's first female governor will appoint him as the next chairman of the state Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

Weinstein, who has said he would like Gov. Beverly Perdue to name him as the next ABC chairman, was criticizing a smoking ban bill that ultimately passed the Senate when he, presumably lightheartedly, asked another senator a question.

"Is it true," Weinstein asked, invoking Rudyard Kipling, "That a woman is only a woman, but a good cigar is a smoke?"

State Sen. David Weinstein wants to run the alcohol commission.

The Lumberton Democrat, now in his seventh term, told the Fayetteville Observer he plans to retire from the legislature at the end of the year.

"It's not as fun as it used to be, all that — the ethics, and the people report anything you do," he said. "They always report the bad things, not the good things, and we do a lot of good things." 

He would like to be the next chairman of the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.

Former chairman Doug Fox resigned this week after a Dome contributor showed Gov. Beverly Perdue a racist e-mail he sent from his work account.

Weinstein campaigned for Perdue in 2008.  

Liquor does not have many advocates in North Carolina.

Lobbyist Theresa Kostrzewa represents the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S., which is backing a bill that would allow state ABC stores to sell liquor on Sundays.

On issues affecting beer and wine sales, Kostrzewa says she could turn to distributors or retailers to drum up grassroots support. But liquor is sold in stores run by state workers who can't take sides.

So she turned to Facebook. In March, she had an employee, Zach Pritchett, create Support Sunday ABC Sales in NC! on the social networking site. 

He invited a few friends, as did Kostrzewa. With no other publicity, the group grew to 493 members, including state Rep. Nick Mackey, a Charlotte Democrat.

Kostrzewa, who joined Facebook last year to play Scrabble online, says she's impressed with the site's networking potential.

"It's a ready-made grassroots network that you didn't know you had," she said.

The legislature will consider whether to allow hunting and liquor sales on Sundays.

A bill, filed by Democratic Sen. Julia Boseman, would remove a prohibition set into law in the 19th century, presumably to keep the traditional Christian Sabbath holy. Another bill would allow alcohol sales.

As a Southern state within the Bible Belt, North Carolina has more than a few so-called blue laws that restrict activities on Sundays: 

ALCOHOL SALES: It is illegal to sell alcoholic beverages before noon, and counties may further restrict rural sales until 7 a.m. Monday.

ABC STORES: No state-run alcohol store can be open on Sunday, New Year's Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day or Christmas day.

COURT SUMMONS: Sheriff's deputies and other law enforcement officers may not deliver court summons on Sundays.

SCHOOL: No public school classes can be held on Sunday.

LOCAL OPTION: With proper public notice, local government can regulate or prohibit other types of business on Sundays.

In addition, the N.C. Department of Correction is required to offer religious services to prisoners on Sundays "and at such other times as may be deemed appropriate."