There was more good news out of North Carolina due to the recent election and its Clean Elections program. The News & Observer reported yesterday a substantial drop in the percentage of campaign money from insurance companies to candidates running for the position that regulates the industry.  The percent of money from this industry in the 2008 election accounted for 5 percent of campaign funds for candidates for the N.C. Commissioner of Insurance post, down from 66 percent in 2004.  Both candidates in the race this year chose to participate in the state’s Clean Elections program. The two - Wayne Goodwin and John Odom - wrote a joint column in October “North Carolina Candidates Praise Clean Elections” announcing their support of the system.  Goodwin won the race. He collected a total of $492,000 for his campaign with $22,000 from the insurance industry. In 2004, Commissioner Jim Long ran unopposed and collected a total of $354,000 with two-thirds of that from regulated industries.   North Carolina’s Clean Elections program is used for three statewide positions – the insurance slot, State Auditor, Superintendent of Public Instruction – along with its top court seats.  Mmmmm … let me get this right. Voters like the program, candidates like the program, and it reduces the perception, and possibly more, of industry influence over regulatory decisions.