State flunks open government, group says

An advocacy group has given North Carolina's public records laws an F.

The Better Government Association and the National Freedom of Information Coalition rated states on how much time public agencies can take to respond to requests, the appeals process for denials, whether costs can be recouped from the state and whether illegal denials are punished.

North Carolina scored 6.5 out of 16, with points taken away for response time and lack of sanctions on agencies that improperly deny requests.

North Carolina did better on fees associated with records requests.

The state's grade put North Carolina in the bottom quarter of the rankings. In all, 38 states received an F.

New Dole challenger emerges

John Ross Hendrix, a graphic artist from Cary and a Democrat, said he plans to run against Republican U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole next year.

Hendrix, 58, was a Republican when he sought the nomination for the 13th Congressional District last year. He lost the GOP nomination, finishing third with 12 percent. Vernon Robinson won the nomination and then was defeated by Democrat Brad Miller.

After the primary, Hendrix left the Republican Party and became a Democrat.

Hendrix said he would run on such issues as protecting the Bill of Rights, private property rights, passing a so-called FairTax and securing America's borders.

The FairTax proposal would replace all federal income taxes and payroll-based taxes with a national retail sales tax.

A veteran of the 82nd Airborne whose son has served two tours of duty in Iraq, Hendrix said he does not oppose the war in Iraq but thinks it has "been done stupidly and needs a lot of changes."

Jim Neal, a Chapel Hill investment banker, was the only announced Democrat for the seat.

But Democrats are courting Raleigh attorney David Kirby and state Sen. Kay Hagan of Greensboro, who says she is having second thoughts about her earlier decision not to run for the U.S. Senate.

"I'm definitely thinking about getting back in," Hagan said Friday.

Hagan said to expect her decision this week.

Hagan said earlier this month that she had considered a run but decided that she could do more for the residents of Guilford County and North Carolina in the legislature, where she is co-chairwoman of the Senate appropriations committee.

Dalton banks $100,000

State Sen. Walter Dalton raised more than $100,000 in Raleigh last week in his race for lieutenant governor.

The event, held at the home of Wallace and Jeanette Hyde, a former U.S. ambassador, showed Dalton's support among the Democratic establishment.

The event included glowing comments from Senate boss Marc Basnight, who called Dalton "a forward-thinking leader."

Among the sponsors were Sen. Vernon Malone, Progress Energy CEO Bill Johnson, Red Hat CEO Matthew Szulik, BlueCross BlueShield CEO Robert J. Greczyn, former Lt. Gov. Bob Jordan, UNC benefactor Walter Davis, former News & Observer publisher Frank Daniels Jr., former Glaxo CEOs Bob Ingram and Charlie Sanders, and former state Democratic chairpersons Tom Hendrickson, Betty McCain and Barbara Allen.

The other Democrats running for the job are Durham lawyer Hampton Dellinger, Winston-Salem Council member Dan Besse and Canton Mayor Pat Smathers.

Young launches treasurer bid

David Young kicked off his campaign for state treasurer last week.

The Buncombe County commissioner raised $181,250 at a fundraiser at the home of UNC Board of Governors member Adelaide Daniels Key. Among those in attendance were state Reps. Bruce Goforth and Susan Fisher, former N.C. Secretary of Revenue Helen Powers and former Court of Appeals Judge Alan Thornburg.

"I'm humbled by the great showing of support from Asheville and Western North Carolina," Young said in a statement. "This is a great start."

He faces state Sen. Janet Cowell and Raleigh attorney Michael Weisel in the Democratic primary.