Richmond County’s state legislators rank among the most effective in the state, according to a new report.

The North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research released its 2009 polling of state legislators, lobbyists and capitol news correspondents this week, showing N.C. Sen. Bill Purcell ranks ninth among 50 state senators and N.C. Rep. Melanie Wade Goodwin ranks 23rd of 119 representatives in the General Assembly.

The latest rankings move Goodwin up eight spots, and Purcell up one.

Goodwin, who is not seeking a fourth term in the upcoming election, said she was especially honored with her rise in rankings since she is not seeking reelection.

“My colleagues have given me quite an honor by ranking me this high,” she said Friday.

During her three terms in the legislature, she said she feels her work as the chairwoman of the Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform has had the most impact.

“We’ve made some significant changes in the campaign finance laws to increase transparency in campaign reporting and increase the public’s confidence in their elected representatives ability to account for their campaign funds,” Goodwin said.

Purcell is campaigning against Albemarle Republican Jason Phibbs for reelection to his sixth term in November. He has no opponent in the Democratic primary.

According to the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research, at least five of the 16 most effective state senators have already stepped down or aren’t running in 2010.

N.C. Sen. David Hoyle, third in the rankings, N.C. Sen. R.C. Soles, 12th, and N.C. Sen. Charles Albertson, 15th, aren’t running after serving long tenures, while former Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand and Sen. David Weinstein have accepted gubernatorial appointments.

“Over the last 20 years, turnover in the North Carolina legislature has averaged about a fifth of each chamber each session,” Center Executive Director Ran Coble said. “This year, the Senate has hit that mark before a single vote has been cast, and some of its most effective members are not coming back.”

Senate President Pro-Tem Marc Basnight ranks first in effectiveness among the state senators, while House Speaker Joe Hackney ranks first in the General Assembly.

Goodwin is not seeking re-election, and Rockingham businessman Ken Goodman, a Democrat, and Candor farmer James Parsons, a Republican, have signed on to decide her successor in November.

During her two two-year terms as a state legislator, Goodwin climbed the poll as an effective member of the General Assembly.

Besides effectiveness, the group also ranked legislators’ attendance and voting participation ratings.

“The rankings of attendance and voting participation tell citizens how often their legislator was there to represent them,” N.C. Center Director Ran Coble said. “The effectiveness rankings tell citizens how effective their legislator was when he or she was there. The surveys hold a mirror up to the legislature, and the rankings are the reflection.”

Purcell tied for third in attendance, after only missing one day in the last legislative session, and first in voting participation.

Goodwin missed five days in the last session, tying her for 75th among the state’s 119 representatives. Her voting participation ranking is significantly higher at 32, and more than 99 percent of the votes taken when she was counted present.

Staff Writer Philip D. Brown can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 32, or by e-mail at pbrown@yourdailyjournal.com.