Dan Blue, a 22-year veteran of the North Carolina House and speaker for four years, left the legislature in 2002.

• Position: People & Politics - Brief article

Dan Blue, a 22-year veteran of the North Carolina House and speaker for four years, left the legislature in 2002. But in November, Gov. Mike Easley appointed Blue to his old scat following the death of Representative Bernard Allen. Blue is the first African American to hold the office of speaker. The current speaker, Jim Black, is...