Gov. Mike Easley inducted close associates on his last day.

The two-term Democrat awarded 15 of his staffers and Cabinet members the Order of the Long Leaf Pine on his last day in office, Jan. 9, 2009.

The list includes longtime aide Franklin Freeman, chief legal counsel Reuben Young, spokeswoman Sherri Johnson, state health director Leah Devlin and senior assistant Susan Rabon.

He also gave an award to troubled parole chief Robert Lee Guy, although it was not included in state records.

As noted previously, Easley gave the award to more than 4,000 people over eight years, a rate of more than one a day.

A list of last-day awards after the jump.

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Rep. David Lewis tried to sink confirmation of two appointees to the Utilities Commission on the grounds that the state can't afford to pay two $123,000 salaries.

"My objection is not to the outstanding, fine individuals who have been asked to be named," Lewis said of Bryan Beatty and Susan Rabon. It was that a quarter of a million dollars could hire a whole lot of teachers.

The pair were appointed by the commission — which regulates utilities and utility rates — by Gov. Mike Easley as his tenure came to a close. Beatty was Easley's Secretary of Crime Control and Public Safety. Rabon was a senior advisor to the governor. There are seven commissioners.

The Senate had previously confirmed the appointments. Lewis, a Dunn Republican, wanted to send the measure to a House appropriations committee, presumably to study whether the state could afford to pay the salaries.

That's when House members began to ask Lewis a series of questions that weren't really designed to gather information about Lewis' intentions.

"Do you realize they are already on board and already being paid?" asked Rep. Lorene Coats, a Salisbury Democrat.

Next was Rep. Bill Owens, an Elizabeth City Democrat, who asked Lewis if he knew the salaries were not paid from tax dollars but from utility fees.

The next question was form Speaker Joe Hackney: "Does the gentleman wish to withdraw his motion?"

Eventually, it was Lewis' turn to ask a question. He asked Hackney how he would go about withdrawing his motion.

Just say that, Hackney answered.

The commissioners were confirmed 112 to 5. Lewis voted for them.

Gov. Mike Easley has nominated Susan Rabon to the N.C. Utilities Commission.

A Holly Springs resident, Rabon was a corporate lawyer in Wilmington before going to work as special counsel for the N.C. Department of Justice under then Attorney General Easley in 1993. She became chief of staff of the department in 1994.

Currently she works as senior assistant for administration in the governor's office.

Rabon graduated from N.C. State University in 1982 with a degree in political science and received her law degree from the University of Virginia in 1986. She clerked for N.C. Court of Appeals Judge Jack Cozort.

"Susan Rabon is an accomplished lawyer who has served our state with distinction and dedication," Easley said in a statement.  "Her integrity and knowledge of state government are unmatched. Her first priority has always been the needs and concerns of the people of North Carolina and I know she will take that same approach as a member of this commission."

The appointment will fill one of two openings on the board. Easley also nominated Crime Control Secretary Bryan Beatty today.

Both appointments will have to be confirmed by the legislature. 

Gov. Mike Easley had some notable lunch dates in 2004.

According to the governor's daily schedules from that year, Easley dined with such notables as then Chief Justice I. Beverly Lake, Red Hat CEO Matthew Szulik and former Sen. Lauch Faircloth.

With one exception, the lunches were held on Wednesdays at the Governor's Mansion. (Easley held a lunch with his top staffers on a Tuesday before the holidays.)

The schedules are for planning purposes only, so some of the lunches may have been canceled. They were obtained by Dome after a public records request.

Still, they show an interesting cross-section of North Carolina's power players in business, government and political advocacy.

After the jump, a complete list of the 2004 lunches.

Hat Tip: Andy Curliss

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