Black won't run again for House speaker

RALEIGH - Jim Black said Tuesday night he will not run for a fifth term as speaker of the N.C. House of Representatives, withdrawing after more than a year of criminal investigations and political pressure.

The decision ends a record-tying reign as House leader and will limit the power of the most influential state lawmaker ever to come from Mecklenburg County.

It also caused relief among fellow lawmakers wary of where the criminal investigations might lead.

"I've been speaker for four terms," the Matthews Democrat told The Associated Press. "This is, again, not about me. I don't have any need for me to be speaker forever."

Black said he has no plans now to step aside from his legislative seat, and dismissed the suggestion he decided against seeking another term as speaker because he is worried about a possible federal indictment. For more than a year, a federal grand jury has looked into his campaign finances and his connections to the lottery and video poker industries.

"I have no more reason to think today that I'll be indicted than I did a year ago," Black said.

Black announced his decision after having dinner with about 25 House Democrats at a Raleigh restaurant. After the dinner he told reporters for the Observer and The News & Observer, of Raleigh that he would issue a statement only to the Associated Press. He addressed one reporter as a "sorry sack of (expletive)" and otherwise refused to answer questions.

"I'm going to get up in the morning, wiggle my fingers and toes and see that I'm alive," Black said before leaving.

He told the AP the focus in next year's legislative session should be on the issues facing the state - not who is leading the party.

Lawmakers in both parties described Black's withdrawal as a positive step in light of the state and federal investigations surrounding his office.

"Thank goodness," said Rep. Bill Faison, an Orange County Democrat running for speaker. "The probability of indictment (against Black) is extraordinarily high."

"I think the speaker did not want that distraction to continue," said Rep. Joe Hackney, a Chapel Hill Democrat and House majority leader who is seeking to become the next speaker.

Rep. Mitch Gillespie, the No. 3-ranking Republican in the House, said it became clear that Black didn't have the support to win another term.

"It gives us the opportunity to change the way the people look at the legislature," said Gillespie, of Marion. "We can start anew."

Black told AP he plans to be involved in choosing his successor, a decision he doesn't expect House Democrats to make until January.

"It's wide open and everybody will make their case," he said.

Rep. Mickey Michaux of Durham is the senior House Democrat, and so will decide when Democrats meet to nominate a speaker. He said Black's decision means they might meet soon.

"We won't have to agonize over whether something's going to happen to the speaker," said Michaux, also a candidate for speaker.

Rep. Dan Blue of Raleigh, a former speaker and candidate for the job again, said the news came as no surprise. "It confirmed what a lot of people felt."

Black's office has provided thousands of pages of documents to grand jurors seeking information on more than two dozen entities or persons, many of whom are connected to the lottery and video poker industries.

Since last summer, four Black associates have been found guilty of criminal offenses, including Black's former political director. A federal grand jury has subpoenaed hundreds of documents from his office, as well as testimony from his staff and supporters.

Former state Rep. Michael Decker pled guilty to conspiracy in August, saying he accepted $50,000 in campaign checks and cash to support Black for speaker in 2003. Decker's switch from the Republican to Democratic Party and his vote for Black kept Black in the speaker's chair. Decker has since identified Black as an unindicted co-conspirator. Black has denied any criminal wrongdoing.

Earlier Tuesday, Democratic Gov. Mike Easley told reporters that he would not get involved in the speaker's race.

"What I want for the House to do is select a speaker that they have confidence in and that they're comfortable with," Easley said. "I respect that institution too much, and I think it's important for me to stay out of the speaker's race and let them come to their own choice."