RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- The chief of staff of North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger is leaving his post to work on the fall elections with the hopes of keeping the chamber in Republican hands.
Jim Blaine was a key strategist for Berger and the Senate Republican Caucus in 2010, when the GOP won a majority in the Senate for the first time in 140 years.
Berger said Monday that Blaine was also a big reason why Republicans passed significant legislation during the recently completed two-year session. Blaine will do consulting work both for Berger and the caucus. Blaine's last day working as chief of staff was late last week.
Top Berger staff attorney Tracy Kimbrell becomes the acting chief of staff in the Senate leader's legislative office.