Hagan's open house has no room for reporters

U.S. Sen.-elect Kay Hagan will, like other new members of Congress, hold an open house for the public in her temporary office space today.

But unlike many other new members, Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat, is closing her open house to reporters.

Hagan will be sworn in at noon today. Her open house is from noon to 3 p.m. in Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 40. Hagan is sharing temporary space with other new senators in the building's basement.

Such receptions are traditional ways for new senators and House members to thank supporters and mingle with the public, and they usually are covered by hometown papers.

The state's other new congressional member, U.S. Rep.-elect Larry Kissell of Biscoe, is holding an open house as well. He sent an invitation to his local newspaper.

Hagan's spokeswoman, Colleen Flanagan, said the temporary office is too crowded for the press to be included. She also said media will be able to conduct brief interviews with Hagan later in the afternoon.

Hagan, who defeated incumbent Republican Elizabeth Dole, has yet to receive her committee assignments, but she has requested the Banking and Armed Services committees. Dole served on the same panels.

Dole off 'most-admired' list

Dole is no longer on the most-admired list.

The Salisbury Republican had made the top 10 list of most admired women in the world 11 times, according to a survey by Gallup done every year since 1948. She even bragged about it in an ad during her Senate run last year.

But Dole had slipped in recent years, landing in ninth place in 2005 and falling below 1 percent of respondents in 2007.

On this year's survey, she was again below one half of 1 percent of respondents, along with eight other women who did not make the top 10.

Meantime, former Sen. John Edwards, who received 1 percent in 2004, fell off the most-admired men list. Still going strong is the Rev. Billy Graham, who tied for fourth place with Pope Benedict XVI and Bill Clinton.

Apex mayor a Stam aide

The mayor of Apex will soon advise his state representative.

Keith Weatherly will begin work Jan. 20 as administrative assistant to House Minority Leader Paul Stam, one of three representatives whose districts include Apex.

Weatherly had been working as the senior official to the Farm Service Agency in North Carolina for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but the job was ending soon because it is a presidential appointment.

Stam said he did not see a conflict between Weatherly's part-time duties as mayor and his new full-time job. "Almost all town business is in the evenings," he said. "I guess the only conflict would be if a local bill comes up for Apex. I told him that I have independent judgment on those, which is true anyway."

Stam supported a local bill last session granting Apex a possible $5 vehicle tax increase. He said that if there were a serious conflict of interest, he would let Reps. Ty Harrell or Nelson Dollar, who also represent Apex, handle the bill.

Weatherly's father, John, was Stam's seatmate years ago, and Stam said jokingly that he relied on Weatherly to tell him how to vote when he came in late.

Superdelegate weighs run

David Parker is considering a run for chairman of the N.C. Democratic Party.

The Statesville lawyer and former Barack Obama superdelegate said he had not decided yet. He said his decision will take into account what Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue and other top party officials think.

Democratic Vice Chairman Dannie Montgomery is already running for the post, while Raleigh fundraiser Richard Sullivan is considering it.

Current Chairman Jerry Meek steps down at the end of January.