Tim Kent, chief executive of the N.C. Association of Realtors, will leave the organization at the end of the year.

Kent has led the association, a powerful force in state and local politics, for nine years. Kent is ranked as the 11th most effective lobbyist by the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research and the group contributed $542,000 to candidates between 2007 and 2008, according to State Board of Election records. The association defeated all 24 referendums on a local real estate transfer tax.

"Tim's leadership, keen eye for talent recruitment and strategic vision have enabled this association to achieve great strides," association President Sandra L. O'Connor said in a news release.

The association has a membership of nearly 38,000 individuals with 65 local associations statewide.

Ran Coble says legislative pay affects who serves.

The director of the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research said that the number of retirees in the state legislature has increased in recent years because of the relatively low pay.

In 2000, the nonprofit group studied pay in states with comparable populations, legislative workloads and days in session. That study found that only Texas and Georgia paid as little as North Carolina.

"The legislature's stuck in a pattern right now where they are virtually full-time legislators with part-time pay," he said. 

Legislative sessions last from January to August during long sessions and from May to August in short sessions, and often go longer, Coble noted. Study commissions and oversight committees meet at other times, and calls from constituents never stop.

The center did not make any recommendations, but Coble said the question is up to voters.

"The basic question for citizens is what kind of legislature do you want and what do you want to pay for that?" he said.

Previously: Bill would automatically raise legislative pay; other states pay less. 

Roger Bone, a former legislator and one of the state's top lobbyists, has died.

He passed away this morning, according to a fellow lobbyist. Further details are not yet available.

Bone was ranked the No. 1 lobbyist in North Carolina last year by the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research based on a survey of journalists, politicians and lobbyists. In seven previous surveys, he was either second or third.

In June, he received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest honor the governor can bestow on a North Carolina citizen.

His clients included Eli Lilly, Lorillard and the N.C. Association of Long Term Care Facilities.

Democratic state Sen. Kay Hagan is running a television ad touting her endorsments and credentials in her campaign for U.S. Senate against Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole.

What the ad says: Announcer: "Major newspapers across the state are endorsing Kay Hagan for U.S. Senate. Calling Hagan a bundle of brains and energy. A businesswoman, mother of three, Kay's ranked one of North Carolina's 10 most effective senators with a moderate and business-friendly record.

"Her priorities include fiscal responsibility, investing in education, health care reform and new energy development.

"Kay Hagan. Exactly the change our economy needs."

Hagan: "I'm Kay Hagan and I approve this message."

The ad features shots of Hagan engaged in various conversations and activities and includes text showing the sources for the ads' claims.

The background: The ad quotes heavily from unsigned newspaper editorials endorsing Hagan. The Winston-Salem Journal called her a "bundle of brains and energy."

After law school, Hagan went to work for Nations Bank where she was a vice president. In 1988, after 10 years, she left the company and was elected to the state senate.

Hagan has three adult children.

The N.C. Center for Public Policy Research, a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank, ranked Hagan as the seventh most effective state senator in 2007. She has ranked in the top 10 since 2003.

Hagan lives in Greensboro. An unsigned editorial in the Greensboro News & Record said "Hagan's record has been moderate and business-friendly." The editorial went on to say that her priorities are "fiscal responsibility, investing in effective education policies, health care reform, new energy development and what she calls a 'whole list of pocketbook issues.'"

Is it accurate? Mostly. Hagan has been endorsed by at least 10 newspapers in North Carolina. The last corporate experience she had was 20 years ago, so it's a stretch to call her a businesswoman.

Update: Post has been updated to add more endorsements. 

A new ranking says Raleigh has a new top lobbyist. It also says that some lobbyists' influence has been shaped by ethics investigations and a fight over a real estate transfer tax.

The N.C. Center for Public Policy Research released its biannual ranking Thursday of the most influential lobbyists in the state capital. The ranking is based on a survey of legislators, lobbyists and capital journalists following the 2007 long session of the General Assembly.

Roger Bone ranked No. 1, after seven previous surveys had ranked him No. 2 or 3. His wide variety of clients includes Lorillard Tobacco Co., the N.C. Association of Long Term Care Facilities and the Save our Summers group.

Rounding out the top five: John McMillan, John Bode, Franklin Freeman and Zeb Alley.

Previous No. 1 Don Beason fell to No. 35, following revelations about a series of $500,000 transactions between him and former House Speaker Jim Black. Beason later resigned his clients. Black, a Democrat, is in prison on unrelated corruption convictions.

Bob Hall, who filed the original complaint against Black with the State Board of Elections, saw his ranking jump from 49th to 19th for his work with Democracy North Carolina.

Also seeing their rankings rise: Tim Kent (11th), Rick Zechini (12th), Paul Meyer (25th) and Jim Blackburn (31st). All were involved in the fight over a tax on real estate transfers.

A Dome post Thursday afternoon included information from the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research that was not intended for immediate publication. The post will be republished in its original form when the information is available.

Dome apologizes for the mistake.

The House budget proposal calls for a study to find ways to improve financial aid for community college students.

The budget includes a provision calling for a study by a legislative education committee, with particular emphasis on how to better serve adult working students and how to increase the number of community colleges that participate in federal student loan programs.

The provision echoes recommendations by the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research, which last month released a report calling for better financial aid at the state's 58 community colleges. The report quoted a national study that ranked North Carolina third-worst in the country because only 47 percent of the state's community college students have access to federal student loan programs.

Only 23 of 58 community colleges now offer their needy students low-interest federal loans. Those that don't participate in the loan programs fear they'll lose all federal financial aid if too many of their students default on loans. The center recommended that all colleges create loan default prevention programs. 

Which candidates for statewide office showed up for legislative sessions this term?

State Sen. Kay Hagan had the best attendance of the five candidates for major state offices, according to a survey released by the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research.

Hagan, a candidate in the Democratic primary for Elizabeth Dole's U.S. Senate seat, had a 96.5 percent attendance rate and only four absences this term.

Sen. Walter Dalton who is running for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, came in a close second with a 93 percent attendance rate. Sen. Fred Smith, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, trailed with 88.5 percent.

Republican Rep. Bill Daughtridge secured a higher attendence rate in the House than his potential Democratic opponent for state treasurer, Sen. Janet Cowell did in the Senate.

Daughtridge had a 91.3 percent attendance rate. Cowell, with 14 absences, managed only 85.8 percent.

How effective were Triangle legislators in 2007?

Rep. Joe Hackney of Orange County was the most effective state representative in his first term as Speaker of the House, according to rankings released Wednesday by the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research. Hackney improved from his No. 3 rank in 2005.

Reps. Mickey Michaux of Durham and Reps. Deborah Ross, Dan Blue and Paul Stam, all of Wake County, rose in the ranks and made the top 10.

Blue, a former Speaker who came out of retirement to rejoin the House in 2006, and Michaux both have been ranked in the top 10 in previous years.

Stam, who serves as House Minority Leader, was the only Republican to make the top 10. He jumped to that spot from his 2005 rank of 42.

Sen. Richard Stevens, a Wake Republican, was the highest ranked state senator from the Triangle at No. 17.

How effective were the state legislators who now are running for state-wide offices?

Sen. Walter Dalton was the most effective of the candidates for major office, according to a survey by the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research. He ranked sixth in the state Senate for 2007.

Still, Dalton, who is running for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, dropped slightly from his 2005 fifth-place spot. He has ranked in the top 10 since 2001.

Sen. Kay Hagan, a candidate in the Democratic primary for Republican Elizabeth Dole's U.S. Senate seat, ranked just behind Dalton at No. 7. She maintained her 2005 rank and has been in the top 10 since 2003.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Fred Smith, a state senator from Johnston County, was No. 38 — his lowest effectiveness rank since taking office in 2002.

Sen. Janet Cowell maintained her 2005 rank of 25. She is running for the Democratic nomination for state treasurer.

Cowell's potential opponent in the treasurer's race, Republican Rep. Bill Daughtridge, was ranked the 50th most effective representative in the state House.