February 2, 2001

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ormer Gov. Jim Hunt is joining the Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice law firm as a member and will be based out of the firm’s Raleigh office. Hunt said the firm "has encouraged me to continue working on issues that I believe are important to North Carolina, especially improving public education and promoting economic development throughout our state. I look forward to working with many long-time friends such as former Chief Justice Burley Mitchell and my ally in early childhood education, Ashley Thrift, both partners at Womble Carlyle.” Womble Carlyle is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year and is North Carolina’s largest law firm with more than 400 lawyers in seven offices throughout the Southeast. Womble Carlyle Chairman John L.W. Garrou said: “It seems fitting, and we are delighted, that we now have the opportunity to provide (Hunt) with the platform to continue to pursue those causes that are nearest to his heart and beneficial to all of us.”

Former State Treasurer Harlan Boyles has joined the Raleigh CPA firm of Lynch & Howard as a consultant in multistate business and taxation. Boyles can be reached at www.harlanboyles.com

Bill Pittman, a member of the State Utilities Commission since 1997 who has 30 years experience in state government, resigned to join the Kilpatrick Stockton law firm as counsel in the Raleigh office. Pittman, who will concentrate exclusively on legislative policy issues, will coordinate the firm's lobbying efforts in the General Assembly and with state agencies. Allyson Duncan, also a former member of the Utilities Commission, is a partner in the firm's Raleigh office.

Former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Henry Frye, who lost his re-election campaign to I. Beverly Lake Jr., has joined the law firm of Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, which has offices in Greensboro and Raleigh. Frye will become of counsel to the firm.

Barbara Allen of Raleigh was re-elected by the N.C. Democratic Party Executive Committee to a second full term as state party chairman. She was chosen by acclamation on the recommendation of Gov. Mike Easley.  Edward T. Smith of Raleigh was elected first vice chairman, replacing state Sen. Frank Ballance (D-Warren), who did not seek re-election. State Sen. Luther Jordan, D-New Hanover, was elected second vice chair; Sharon Worthington of Carrboro, third vice chair; and Jewell Wilson of Asheville, secretary. Allen appointed Jim Stephenson of Cary as party treasurer. Stephenson, who had been party secretary, replaces Lyndo Tippett, who did not seek reappointment and was named state transportation secretary.

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during a Feb. 12 dinner at the Rock Barn Golf and Country Club in Conover the evening of Feb. 12. Ballenger (right) was a recipient of NAM's Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence. The event is co-hosted by NCCBI and the N.C. Manufacturing Extension Partnership. NCCBI is the state affiliate of NAM.

of New Bern was appointed to the State Ports Authority board by former Gov. Jim Hunt  just before leaving office Jan. 6. Thomas is vice president of Thomas Development Inc.  He served for two years on the board of the N.C. Ports Railway Commission. His term on the Ports Authority board expires June 30, 2006.

Cong. Howard Coble (R-6th) has been reappointed chairman of the Courts and Intellectual Property Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee. Coble, who has chaired the panel for the last four years, chose to retain the post instead of taking the chairmanship of the Transportation subcommittee, which will become open because of the retirement of Rep. Bud Shuster, R-Pa.

UNC system President Molly Broad was named board chairwoman of Internet2, a group of more than 180 U.S. universities working with industry and government to develop the next generation of the Internet.

The Asheville Citizen-Times has reopened its Raleigh bureau and appointed Kerra Bolton Fisher as its reporter covering the General Assembly. 

Duke Energy announced three appointments in the company’s governmental affairs department. Donald E. Hatley was promoted to senior vice president, governmental affairs; Beverly K. Marshall was promoted to vice president, federal governmental affairs; and Joseph E. Harwood was promoted to vice president, state governmental affairs. The announcements were made by Duke Energy General Counsel Richard Blackburn.