Here is my vote for the 10 biggest political stories in North Carolina this year:

1. In the biggest corruption case since then-Lt. Gov. Jimmy Green was acquitted two decades ago, former Agriculture Commissioner Meg Scott Phipps, a Democrat, pleaded guilty to accepting illegal campaign cash from the carnival industry and was convicted of lying to investigators about it. North Carolina is no Louisiana, and Phipps is the first statewide official convicted on corruption charges in recent memory.

2. Pain in the Textile Belt. With so many plant closings, GOP lawmakers began to break with the free-trade policies of the Bush administration. One free-trader who was in political trouble, Rep. Cass Ballenger of Hickory, announced he would not seek re-election. The White House, feeling the pain of GOP political leaders, put new curbs on Chinese imports on bras, dressing gowns and knit fabrics.

3. John Edwards launched the first serious presidential campaign by a North Carolinian in a generation -- and probably the most serious ever. But the North Carolina senator watched in frustration as the former governor from the Ben-and-Jerry state became the flavor of the month.

4. North Carolina's first House co-speakers actually functioned effectively in passing a budget. Who would have thought dual Democratic-Republican speakers would actually work better than Bose speakers?

5. Jesse Helms retired after 30 years. No matter what you thought of Senator No, Jesse always mattered.

6. North Carolina's first female senator took office this year. Asked the difference between Helms and Elizabeth Dole, her husband, former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole, quipped, "Their dress." Asked if he cared to expand, Dole said, "Jesse usually wears a tie." Elizabeth Dole is the first North Carolina senator to wear a dress, as far as we know.

7. Incumbency rules in municipal elections. Mayors Charles Meeker of Raleigh, Bill Bell of Durham, Keith Holliday of Greensboro, Marshall Pitts Jr. of Fayetteville and Pat McCrory of Charlotte were re-elected this fall. Apparently as long as you pick up people's trash on time, little else matters.

8. Federal prosecutors called it bribery when Phipps shook down the carnival industry -- which was seeking State Fair contracts -- for tens of thousands of dollars of campaign contributions. But it's called incentives when big corporations shake down the taxpayers for millions of dollars to move or keep their businesses in North Carolina. This year North Carolina entered the corporate bidding war in a big way.

9. Gov. Mike Easley crashed into the wall at 120 mph at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May while driving a race car in preparation for a charity event. Easley hopes his re-election campaign next year will be smoother.

10. Jim Graham and Harlan Boyles died. The former agriculture commissioner and the former state treasurer were Raleigh institutions.

They were also colorful reminders of an age before politicians were all blow-dried, poll-taking automatons. The two country boys would often end their work day with a chat on the phone. It's pleasing to think that they still do.