Former Gov. Mike Easley testified that he didn't know much of anything about how his campaign worked.

He didn't count the money and only called potential donors when he was forced to by his fundraisers. His campaign must now forfeit $100,000 — $60,000 to pay for flights and $40,000 as a penalty.

As of June 30, Easley's campaign had $121,984 in its account, according to campaign finance records.

Board chairman Larry Leake said its very easy for campaigns to spend all their money, which would make it difficult to collect assessments from the Board of Elections.

That's why, Leake said, the board is recommending to the General Assembly that state law be changed to make a candidate personally liable for such penalties.

"Candidates do not accept sufficient responsibility and ownership of their campaigns," Leake said.

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Supporters of judicial campaign financing are citing a recent Supreme Court decision.

In a 5-4 decision in Caperton v. Massey, the high court ruled that a West Virginia Supreme Court justice should not have been involved in a case involving a coal-mining executive who spent more than $3 million to help get him elected.

The justice ruled in favor of his campaign donor, overturning a $50 million jury award.

The N.C. Center for Voter Education, which backed North Carolina's public financing for state Supreme Court and Appeals Court judges, said the case was a prime example of the problems with judges raising large sums of money on their own.

"Whether or not judges are actually biased in favor of a litigant who contributes to a campaign isn't the issue. Of more concern is the appearance that justice is for sale," said executive director Damon Circosta.

The center filed a friend-of-the-court brief in Caperton asking the Supreme Court to find a due process violation.

A new poll shows that nearly half of North Carolina voters support expanding public financing for Council of State races.

The survey, from the N.C. Center for Voter Education, shows 47 percent support expanding public financing and 33 percent oppose it. Nineteen percent were unsure.

Seventy percent said they would favor Council of State candidates whose campaigns are funded by taxpayers over those candidates funded by the special interests their offices oversee.

In 2008, public financing was available for three Council of State contests: auditor, commissioner of insurance and state superintendent of public instruction. Legislation under consideration would expand the program to all Council of State races except governor and lieutenant governor starting in 2012.

The poll of 653 North Carolina voters was conducted from Apr. 28-30 by Public Policy Polling and has a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points.

A poll shows support for public campaigns for local office.

The survey by the N.C. Center for Voter Education, a nonprofit lobbying for the public campaign financing, showed 56 percent of voters supported allowing cities and towns to set up their own programs.

Under current law, municipalities must get state permission to run publicly financed campaign. Only the town of Chapel Hill has been given permission, starting with this year's elections.

A bill in the House would allow more cities and towns to set up programs.

"This bill would give municipalities the freedom to create public financing for their local elections, if they so choose," said Damon Circosta, the group's executive director.

The automated poll of 818 North Carolina voters was conducted March 2-3 by Democratic firm Public Policy Polling. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.

After the jump, the wording and results.

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UNEASY STREET: Anyone whose salary is paid by the state government may need to start considering a Plan B. Gov. Beverly Perdue asked for another round of proposed budget cuts this week, and the suggestions that came back included state aid to such sacred cows as "The Lost Colony" drama and the High Point Furniture Market.

JOB RE-SHUFFLING: Fred Aikens' career in constituent services was short — real short. The former Democratic candidate for state auditor and longtime fiscal analyst was hired by U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan last week, and then let go the next day. Hagan's state political director, Muthoni Wambu, was also let go. Hagan is mum on the reasons.

MARRIAGE BAN: Proponents of a state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage are trying again. They held a press conference this week to promote a bill that would call for a referendum, but expectations are low. Senate leader Marc Basnight assigned the bill to a committee that hasn't met since 2001.

IN OTHER NEWS: Damon Circosta, named head of the N.C. Center for Voter Education, skateboards to the legislature. ... Former Gov. Mike Easley is starting a part-time job promoting early college programs for Bill Gates' private foundation. His son is following in his footsteps at an internship with the Wake County prosecutor. ... State legislators are considering a number of perks for members of the military and veterans, including free visits to state museums, parks and the U.S.S. North Carolina. That should help with recruitment efforts. 

Damon Circosta is into alternative transportation.

The newly appointed head of the N.C. Center for Voter Education was spotted leaving the legislature this morning on a skateboard.

An Ocean Pacific longboard, for those who care about such things. 

"I used to work at a surf shop in San Diego, and this was my parting gift," he explained. 

The longer skateboards, which have a wider wheel base and more flexibility in the midsection, are not as useful for performing tricks, but they are better suited for getting around town.

Not that Circosta hasn't done an ollie or two in his day.

"I gave up all that when I was 14," he said. 

Damon Circosta will head the N.C. Center for Voter Education.

The nonprofit group, which promotes public campaign financing, announced today that Circosta, its policy director for the past two years, would become executive director.

"This is an important and exciting time for positive reform in our state," Circosta said in a statement. "I look forward to the Center doing all we can to make our political system more accessible and responsive to North Carolina voters."

A native of Arizona, Circosta has worked as an attorney and political consultant in Washington, D.C.; California and Raleigh. He has worked on the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform act and North Carolina's public financing of several Council of State races.

In 2006, he served as the statewide campaign manager for N.C. Appeals Court Judge Robert C. Hunter.

In his new job, Circosta will seek to expand North Carolina's public financing. Bills under consideration by the legislature this session would extend the program to all statewide races but the governor and lieutenant governor, or just add the state treasurer.

Only one in 100 people know June Atkinson.

According to a survey last June by the N.C. Center for Voter Education, only 1 percent of people could identify the state superintendent of public instruction.

The group used the survey to push for public financing of those positions, but it's also instructive in light of today's debate about appointing the superintendent.

By contrast, 12 percent knew the state's commissioner of insurance, Jim Long.

The survey was done by AmericanViewPoint of 600 voters from June 12-13. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.

John Thompson is the new executive director of the N.C. Center for Voter Education.

The director of governmental relations for the American Cancer Society in North Carolina will replace longtime Voter Education director Chris Heagarty, who is pursuing a law degree. The nonpartisan group advocates for public campaign finance and other measures.

At his current job, Thompson lobbied successfully for bills providing care for cancer victims and curbing tobacco use, including a ban on smoking in state buildings, a 30-cent increase in the cigarette tax and funds for the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

"John brings a proven record of success and a keen understanding of how public policy is shaped in our state, while showing a passion for improving the lives of his fellow North Carolinians," said Jon Williams, chair of a search committee that chose Thompson.

Previously, Thompson worked at the N.C. Manufactured Housing Institute and political consulting firm Campaign Connections. He is a graduate of N.C. State University and a veteran of the Gulf War.