Lobbyists, political science students, government employees and interested retirees were among the gallery spectators at Rep. Thomas Wright's expulsion hearing in the House.
The various elementary- and middle-school tour groups milling around the legislative building appeared somewhat disinterested in the proceedings, but former lobbyist Carole Smith said the hearing was history in the making.
"This is a part of history," she said. "I want to see it."
N.C. State University junior political science major Tim Lipka said he's watched the General Assembly in action before but didn't want to miss out on an event he's read so much about.
"On one level, it's kind of fun watching it happen because you always read about it," he said.
Nelson Lane said he drove more than an hour from Faison to attend the session, and he thinks the House made the right choice in voting to expel Wright.
"I've been listening to it and reading about it," he said. "I think they did the right thing from the charges I had heard against him."
More after the jump.
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Lea Tackett, director of boards and commissions for Sen. Marc Basnight, said the gallery was unusually full for a special session of the legislature.
"I guess since it's something historical, people want to be here," she said. "It's been 130 years since they've had to try to expel somebody."
But Linda C. Johnson, legislative assistant to Rep. Roger West, said she expected more lobbyists to attend.
"It's a very minor show of people here for this very big event," she said. "They've all gone to the beach for Easter."
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