Committee Of Former North Carolina Governors Want Ads Against Amendments

The opposition by North Carolina's five living ex-governors to a pair of constitutional amendments on next month's ballot has expanded to the internet and through a referendum campaign committee.

The "Five Governors Committee" was formed last month to oppose referendums to swing powers over filling judicial vacancies and the state elections board from the executive branch to the General Assembly.

The Insider state government news service reports the group is raising money for ads. Former GOP Gov. Jim Martin declined to list a fundraising goal but says the governors have "got some work to do."

The committee has a website that highlights an August news conference where Martin, Democrats Jim Hunt, Mike Easley and Beverly Perdue and Republican Pat McCrory spoke against the changes.