The man many once considered the most powerful politician in the North Carolina General Assembly, Marc Basnight, said a degenerative nerve disease as well as his desire to spend more time with his fiancee, convinced him to resign from the Senate after 25 years, 18 as Senate president pro tem.

• Position: People & Politics - Brief article

The man many once considered the most powerful politician in the North Carolina General Assembly, Marc Basnight, said a degenerative nerve disease as well as his desire to spend more time with his fiancee, convinced him to resign from the Senate after 25 years, 18 as Senate president pro tem. His resignation took effect the day before the GOP took control of the chamber for the first time in more than 100 years. He had his hand on every major piece of legislation, including the creation of the state lottery and the ban on...