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.

Only one out of eight state lobbyists reported any expenses in 2007.

According to a compilation of lobbyist expense forms, only 78 lobbyists reported spending any money on transportation, entertainment, dining, meetings or gifts last year. Another 526 lobbyists reported zero expenses during the same time.

Under lobbying laws effective Jan. 1, 2007, lobbyists must file reports with the N.C. Secretary of State on a quarterly basis noting the "fair market value" of any money spent on behalf of a client.

However, few lobbyists write much on the forms, which are filed separately for each client. Of the 93 expense forms with anything listed, 33 were for $100 or less. Only 15 forms listed more than $500 in expenses.

In all, the lobbyists reported spending $46,091, with roughly 60 percent of the money going toward transportation and lodging. Another $13,353 was reported as spent on food and beverages.

The single largest expense was $9,206 by lobbyist Gordon Myers for The Facility Group. He reported spending the money on travel and a conference.

Lobbyist Peter Gilmore reported spending $7,500 on behalf of the Dole Food Co. to sponsor a Farm Day.

And lobbyist Roger Bone reported spending $500 a piece for nine clients on the N.C. Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association's annual "Rush the Growler" party for legislators, Council of State members and their staffs.

Lobbyist Roger Bone was presented with The Order of the Long Leaf Pine at a breakfast Wednesday.

The award is the highest honor the governor can bestow on a North Carolina citizen.

Bone, a former legislator who is consistently ranks as one of the state's top lobbyists, was recently diagnosed with cancer.

U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge of Lillington, who roomed with Bone at the Brownstone Hotel when they were legislators, reminisced in a letter about the old days.

"Those were great times and I was lucky to have you as a roommate and as a friend," Etheridge wrote.

Bishops Ridge has long been popular among Raleigh politicos.

Disgraced former House Speaker Jim Black roomed with then Rep. Bill Culpepper in this condominium. His aide, Meredith Norris, owns one across the street. Lobbyist Don Beason worked out of another condo.

They're not the only ones. In fact, the complex might as well be the Melrose Place of Raleigh politics.

Top lobbyist Roger Bone also has an address on Brighthurst Drive, as does Sen. John Kerr.

There's nothing necessarily nefarious about that. The complex is close to Wade Avenue — convenient to driving to the airport or out of town — and to Glenwood Avenue — good for going to Jones Street, heading downtown or just getting some pizza.

In addition, there's a nice park nearby and the condos date to the mid 1980s, making them nice, but also affordable for an out-of-town legislator.

Update: Reliable sources in Bishops Ridge say that Sen. James Forrester and former Secretary of Revenue Norris Tolson also live there.

The next ethics fight will likely be over nonprofits.

According to an article in the Winston-Salem Journal, the N.C. Coalition for Lobbying and Government Reform intends to ask for a ban on lawmakers soliciting donations from nonprofits.

The ban was included in an early draft of an ethics bill last year, but it was taken out.

Lobbyist Roger Bone, whose client Eli Lilly & Co. gave $6,000 to the N.C. Legislative Black Caucus Foundation in recent years, said it used to be "very, very commonplace" for legislators to ask, though requests have died down a little.

"If you're asked by a legislator, there's always pressure" to make a donation, he said.

A billboard will be following legislators to dinner tonight.

The mobile billboard, which is on the side of a Fairway advertising truck, will be circling the General Assembly building for six hours today.

The N.C. Association of Long Term Care Facilities is arguing for an increase in the rates that assisted living facilities get from the state.

After a short break, the mobile billboard will circle local restaurants tonight, in order to catch lawmakers at rest as well.

Roger Bone, a spokesman for the association, said they're targeting high-end restaurants popular with legislators — Sullivan's Steakhouse, 18 Seaboard and Bloomsbury Bistro.

In the wake of recent ethics reforms, they're also aiming low — K&W Cafeteria in Cameron Village.

"We've not been able to bring the attention to this issue that it needs," he said. "So we've got to try something different."

Every two years, the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research ranks lobbyists.

The Raleigh think tank asks legislators, lobbyists and the capital press corps who they think the most powerful lobbyists are in town.

Here's the rundown from the 2005 session, with previous rankings:

1. Don Beason of Beason Government Affairs. Always a top contender, Beason repeats from his first-place ranking of 2003 thanks to work for clients like BB&T, BellSouth and the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S.

2003: 1st. 2001: 2nd. 1999: 3rd. 1997: 2nd. 1995: 3rd.

2. Zebulon Alley of Alley Associates. For the second year in a row, Alley comes in second to Beason, following an eight-year run of first place wins, with work for Progress Energy, N.C. Citizens for Justice and the N.C. Amusement Machine Association.

2003: 2nd. 2001: 1st. 1999: 1st. 1997: 1st. 1995: 1st.

For the Top Five, click "Read More."

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