Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards asked for the right to continue to purchase tickets to Carolina games when he was negotiating to create an anti-poverty center in Chapel Hill.

The request was disclosed when The Associated Press asked for the e-mail messages surrounding the creation of the Center on Poverty Work and Opportunity at the University of North Carolina law school. Edwards created the center in early 2005 and headed it until he began his presidential campaign.

Edwards, who has been a season ticket holder for Carolina basketball games for many years, included a "ticket wishlist" when an aide was negotiating the creation of the poverty center.

UNC released Edwards' contract and related information but declined to release the part of the e-mail referring to the wishlist. Leslie Strohm, the UNC-Chapel Hill general counsel, said the information was withheld because it involved contract employment negotiations and because it included information on a man seeking admission to the law school.

Amanda Martin, the N.C. Press Association lawyer, told AP it was "absurd" for UNC to treat the ticket information as if it were a "state secret." At any rate, UNC-CH didn't agree.

"Senator Edwards received no tickets -- and no promise of tickets -- in connection with his university employment," said Mike McFarland, a UNC spokesman, Wednesday.

The Edwards campaign said the former senator was only trying to ensure the right to purchase tickets.

"Senator Edwards inquired about the possibility of continuing to purchase, in the future, season tickets as he has for many years," said Colleen Murray, an Edwards campaign spokeswoman. "He was told by UNC that they could not guarantee that because circumstances change."

Mayor isn't giving up fight

Scotland Neck Mayor Robert Partin said Wednesday that he would appeal the Halifax County Board of Elections' dismissal of his protest over the results of the town election.

Partin said he would appeal to the State Board of Elections. He seeks a new election in Scotland Neck, where he says he has uncovered irregularities.

Partin lost by 58 votes to James Mills, who is expected to be sworn in next month as Scotland Neck's first African-American mayor.

"I am not a bitter loser," Partin said. "I am an American that expects a fair and honest election."

Partin said he knows of 15 voters who cited addresses of abandoned homes or vacant lots and 11 voters who actually live outside town limits. A high number of provisional votes also raises questions, Partin said, and he thinks there are dozens of voters who used inaccurate addresses.

On Tuesday, the Halifax County Board of Elections threw out Partin's protest, while acknowledging one questionable provisional ballot and two voters who voted twice. The board's decision said "there is not substantial evidence of any violation, irregularity, or misconduct sufficient to cast doubt on the results of the election."

Lenders' lampoon

Attorney General Roy Cooper has been blacklisted, but it's really more like black humor.

His name was published on the Web site for the Predatory Lending Association, a mock trade group that poses as a resource for payday lenders.

The Web site lampoons predatory lending and credits Cooper for ridding North Carolina of major payday lending companies. Cooper has taken an aggressive stance against payday lenders in North Carolina by suing and prosecuting them.

"Mr. Cooper claims to 'bust scams that prey on unsuspecting people,' but his anti-competitive policies have busted our profits from predatory lending," the Web site says.

The site lists Cooper and several opponents of predatory lending such as Martin Eakes, founder of the Center for Responsible Lending. Noelle Talley, spokeswoman for the Attorney General's Office, called the blacklisting of Cooper "hilarious."

The Kansas City Star published a story this week, about the Web site which was created by a Topeka native and former Microsoft employee.

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