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NCCBI to Oppose Any Tax Increase
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NCCBI News Release

Bevacqua rated one of state's most effective lobbyists
NCCBI Vice President of Governmental Affairs Leslie Bevacqua was rated one of the most effective lobbyists working in the General Assembly in the annual survey conducted by the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research. Bevacqua moved up from seventh to fifth place in the rankings, which are based on a survey of all 170 legislators, the 321 registered lobbyists and legislative liaisons based in North Carolina and 28 capital news correspondents. She is the only woman in the Top 10 and becomes the highest-ranked woman in the 11-year history of the rankings. NCCBI President Phil Kirk ranked 14th in this year's determination of the Top 50 lobbyists, down from eighth last year.

The rankings confirm the influence and respect NCCBI commands in the General Assembly. Bevacqua is the highest-rated female association lobbyist and Kirk is the highest-rated male association lobbyist. NCCBI is the only association with two lobbyists in the Top 50.

"I was pleased to be recognized by my peers for the work I do on behalf of NCCBI," Bevacqua said. "However, I believe it is a recognition of the effectiveness of our association more than the effectiveness of what I do. NCCBI is involved in a wide range of issues, so for me it is a great opportunity to work with all members of the General Assembly and with other lobbyists representing individual companies, other associations and citizens groups.” 

"We're thrilled with Leslie's ranking," Kirk said. "In the membership survey we conducted last spring, our members said they think our lobbying effectiveness was very important and these rankings confirm their high opinion. However, this is a team effort with contributions from all members of our staff, including Steve Tuttle, who writes the Legislative Bulletin, and Julie Woodson, who worked full time in the legislature as director of government affairs. It also is a tribute to our members, many of whom stay in close contact with legislators on many issues."

Most of the top lobbyists are full-time professionals who work for multiple clients. Zeb Alley, who represents Deloitte & Touche, Ernst & Young, KPMG Peat Marwick and several other clients, was ranked No. 1 for the eighth year in a row. In second place was Don Beason, whose Capitol Group lobbying firm represents BB&T, BellSouth, CP&L and others. Third was Roger Bone, whose Bone & Associates firm represents Carolina Independent Auto Dealers Association, Eli Lilly & Co. Lorillard Tobacco Co. and others. Fourth was David Horne Jr., with the Raleigh law firm of Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jeringan, who represents Brady Sales & Service, CP&L, Centex Rooney Construction Co., the N.C. Medical Society and several others.

Bevacqua rose to fifth place in the ranking in the survey even though she didn't have any of the four things most other lobbyists apparently used to their advantage. NCCBI doesn't have a PAC and remained neutral in the lottery debate. Bevacqua also isn't a lawyer or a former legislator. Nearly three-fourths of the most influential lobbyists have at least one client with a PAC able to make contributions to state political campaigns. Eight of the 48 most influential lobbyists worked on one side or the other in the lottery debate. Also, lawyers and former legislators continued to dominate the top spots in the rankings. Twenty-seven of the 48 most influential lobbyists are lawyers while nine of the top 48 are former legislators.