* State Auditor Les Merritt, Republican. "I was asked by the court to approve a narrow change in the way our prisons handle executions, not the much larger policy question evaluating the merits of the death penalty," he said in a statement.

* Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, Democrat. "The Council of State was the wrong forum to decide these formidable constitutional issues," she said in a statement. "However, it was imperative that we move these issues to the courts to get authoritative constitutional rulings. ... I strongly believe the state should impose a moratorium until those constitutional issues are clarified."

* State Treasurer Richard Moore, Democrat. "This body is not equipped to have a policy discussion," he said. "We're not even allowed to hear from people. North Carolina deserves to have an honest debate on the death penalty. This is not the place to have it."

* State Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry, Republican. "I hope that we end up back on track with our justice system because there are victims' families out there suffering cruel and unusual punishment," she said after the meeting.

* N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper, Democrat. Cooper, whose office represents the prison system, said he wanted the protocol approved before his staff initiates discussions with the N.C. Medical Board about the conflict between the protocol and the ethics policy.

* State Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, Republican. He didn't discuss the issue at the meeting and couldn't be reached for comment afterward.

No votes:

* Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, Democrat. Marshall said the issue should dealt with by the N.C. Medical Board, the N.C. Attorney General's Office and the legislature. "It doesn't really need to be in our arena," she said.

* State Insurance Commissioner Jim Long, Democrat. Long said he researched the law and was not convinced that the council should tackle this topic. "I can't find that we have the jurisdiction to get into an issue like this," he said. He later added, "To my recollection, governor, we never have. In my 22 years, it's never come up."

* June Atkinson, state superintendent of public instruction, Democrat. Atkinson said she sees a conflict with the execution protocol and state law that requires "qualified personnel" to be involved in executions. "These issues need to be resolved before a protocol is approved," she said.