Choices abound for '08 elections

Long is quitting; Morgan wants in

Insurance Commissioner Jim Long called it quits. Former House Speaker Richard Morgan is trying a comeback. And so is former Labor Commissioner John Brooks.

The period for North Carolina candidates to file with the State Board of Elections closed Friday with a few surprises.

Voters will have plenty of choices in the May 6 Democratic and Republican primaries and in the November general elections. Here are some of the highlights.

RED-TIE DAY: Insurance Commissioner Jim Long, the dean of statewide elected officials, announced his retirement Friday after having served in the office since 1985. Long, 67, whose trademark is a red tie, said it was time to "pass the the torch." He waited until the last minute to announce his surprise decision.

"I'm not dead yet," Long quipped about all the attention he was getting Friday.

He said he would not lobby the insurance department when he retires, for two reasons: "The insurance industry does not like me, and I'm not going to sell my soul."

If Long hoped to fake out potential candidates and clear the field for his deputy, Wayne Goodwin -- he said that was not his intent -- it didn't work. Goodwin, a former state representative who lost a race for labor commissioner in 2004, will face a primary challenge from David Smith, a 39-year- old Raleigh lawyer who is president-elect of the Health Insurance Underwriters, a trade association for health insurance agents.

On the Republican side, former Raleigh City Council member and mayoral candidate John Odom filed for insurance commissioner.

THE RETURN OF RICHARD MORGAN: In perhaps Friday's biggest surprise, the former co-speaker of the House filed as a Republican candidate for superintendent of public instruction. It was a slimmed-down Morgan who filed Friday -- the former 266-pounder is down to between 179 and 189 pounds.

Other Republicans seeking the top education job are Joe Smith of Tryon and Eric Smith of Reidsville. In the Democratic primary, incumbent June Atkinson has a challenger, a former president of the N.C. Association of Educators, Eddie Davis of Durham.

DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN? John Brooks, who was labor commissioner from 1977 to 1993, is one of four candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for labor commissioner. Brooks, 71, who is a staff attorney with the Industrial Commission, said the department has gone downhill during the seven years under Republican Commissioner Cherie Berry.

As for his age? "I'm younger than John McCain, who is running for president."

Brooks is one of four Democrats seeking the nomination. The others are Mary Fant Donnan of Winston-Salem, Tyrone Richardson of Middlesex and Robin Anderson of Cary.

U.S. SENATE: Republican Elizabeth Dole is seeking re-election. There is a four-way race among the Democrats to challenge her. The two best-known candidates are state Sen. Kay Hagan of Greensboro and Chapel Hill businessman Jim Neal. Also running are Duskin Lassiter of High Point, Howard Staley of Moncure and Marcus Williams of Lumberton. Dole also has a little-known GOP challenger, Peter DiLauro of Weldon.

RACE MOST LIKELY TO SEE A TV AD: With Mike Easley ineligible to seek a third term, there is a rush to fill the post of governor. The key Democrats are Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and State Treasurer Richard Moore, with Dennis Nielsen of Rocky Mount also running. On the Republican side, the major candidates are Bill Graham of Salisbury, Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, former state Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr and state Sen. Fred Smith. Also running is Elbie Powers of Roseboro.