HAROLD BRUBAKER

A longtime Republican state representative from Asheboro, Brubaker was elected speaker in 1994 when Republicans took control of the House. He served two two-year terms before Democrats regained control of the House in 1998.

MICHAEL DECKER

A former Republican representative from Forsyth County, Decker reached a deal with Black in 2003 to switch parties and cast a key vote to keep Black in power as speaker. Decker was sentenced to four years in prison for selling his vote to Black.

ROBERT BRAWLEY

A former Republican state representative from Iredell County whose vote Black once sought in the race for speaker. Brawley unsuccessfully ran for state insurance commissioner in 2004.

VIRGINIA KELLY

A longtime assistant in Black's optometry practice who also served as treasurer for his campaigns. She testified that she did not see a reason to include in a campaign filing the $500,000 loan that initially went into Black's campaign account.

DON BEASON

President and founder of The Capitol Group, a firm that represents several government and private clients. He has been ranked the state's most influential lobbyist since 2003 in a survey by the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research.

ALEX WARNER

Warner is a former Democratic state representative from Cumberland County to whom Black said he gave $8,000. Warner said he recalls getting $6,000 from Black for an herbal medicine business Warner wanted to start.

ROBERT HUNTER

A Court of Appeals Judge and former state lawmaker who was vying along with Black to steal the speakership from Brubaker in 1997 by trying to cut deals with Republicans.

STEVE WOOD

A former Republican representative from High Point who agreed to support Black for speaker in 1997 but reneged, according to Black. He lost the next election but was re-elected in 2002, and he again nearly supported Black for speaker. Black cut a deal with Decker instead.