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Sandra Anderson Groat did exceptionally well for a first-time City Council candidate two years ago, winning more votes than anyone else in the race for three at-large seats. By virtue of that accomplishment, she also earned the title of mayor pro tempore.

Her goal is nothing less the second time around.

"I'd like to be mayor pro tem again. I'd like to lead the ticket again," Groat said during an interview last week.

The dozen other candidates running for at-large seats might have similar ambitions, but Scoop hasn't heard any of them say.

New kid on the blog

If you haven't already, head over to our new Vote 2007 blog. We'll keep you up to date on fundraisers, debates and the other fun stuff. Oh, and you can have your say on whatever we're writing about.

Find us online at blog.news-record.com/staff/elex2007

Free Stan

Sen. Stan Bingham might be able to breathe a little easier as he helps others breathe a little easier.

The Denton Republican, who also represents parts of Guilford County, famously drives a car modified to use fryer grease and other "biodiesel" fuel. The problem?

Current state law required you to pay motor fuel taxes, no matter what you put in the tank. That prompted Bingham's colleagues to kid earlier this year that he was due for a trip to the pokey at the invitation of state revenuers.

But Gov. Mike Easley on Friday signed a law that exempts biodiesel from state motor fuels taxes.

"This legislation encourages our citizens to use alternative fuels without unfairly taxing them," Easley said Friday. It goes into effect Oct. 1.

Miller: Told ya so

President Bush is outlining steps to help out Americans caught up in the mortgage-lending mess. He said the government wasn't going to bail out those who dove in where they didn't belong. But, he said, "there are many American homeowners who can get through this difficult time with a little flexibility from their lenders or a little help from their government."

Bush's announcement prompted Democratic Rep. Brad Miller, who represents Greensboro and Raleigh, to say "told ya so," only nicer than that.

"His attention to the issue is long overdue," Miller said in a news release.

"If Congress had passed decent consumer protections against predatory mortgage lending four years ago, we wouldn't be in the mess we're in now. Instead, I had to fight for four years to keep Republicans in Congress from gutting state predatory mortgage lending laws."

Miller has some standing to speak out on the housing issue. He was a key architect of North Carolina's predatory lending laws, which are aggressive in favor of consumers. Drafting legislation to protect borrowers at the federal level also has been one of his key priorities.