Tom Jensen, Director of Public Policy Polling will be joining NC Policy Watch’s own Chris Fitzsimon here in Raleigh for Thursday’s Crucial Conversation. Registration is now closed for this fully-booked event, but you can still catch what happens as we bring the event streaming to an internet-capable screen near you. Here’s the link to the video stream on the Policy Watch main website: http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/streaming-video/.

You can also find the stream on our ustream channel.

And don’t forget all our other super awesome videos on the Policy Watch video page.

Please excuse any technical difficulties as we are still seeking out the best set up for this streaming service.

Hope to see you either physically or virtually as we talk with Tom and Chris about the important issues North Carolina will be facing in this upcoming year.

And just for good measure, you can also find the embedded stream below:

Given the positive poll numbers for former UNC President Erskine Bowles it’s not surprising that he is mulling a run for the Governor’s office. It looks like he would be a formidable candidate against former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory.

Besides the polling numbers, it helps that Bowles is a wealthy guy with wealthy friends. He can raise money fast and he can also use his own money in the campaign. And that money will increase impressively over the next few days. That’s because Bowles joined the board of Facebook last year, and Facebook, in case you hadn’t heard, is going public.

According to initial public offering documents filed today, Bowles holds 20,000 units in restricted stock. Analysts estimate a per share price for Facebook of $45 and up. That would make his stock worth around $1 million, which is not bad for a part time job.

Bowles can’t cash in immediately. His shares are restricted and will not vest until 2013. But maybe banking another $1 million will make him more willing to throw around his money in a feisty political campaign this year. Either way, Bowles is certainly thinking about more than Jones Street tonight.

Governor Bev Perdue isn’t the only one bowing out of 2012′s heated political scene. Two well-regarded female members of the N.C. House of Representatives announced Tuesday that they too would not be seeking re-election.

Fayetteville Democrat Rep. Diane Parfitt said she will serve out her first term which ends in December and return to private life.

Parfitt, a retired nurse, was among a vocal group of Democratic women who spoke against ‘The Woman’s Right to Know’ act last summer, which placed a 24 hour waiting period on abortions.

(Parfitt’s departure leaves Rep. Rick Glazier with a decision to make – whether to seek the state Superintendent’s post and face fellow Democrat June Atkinson in a primary or serve as a voice for the 44th District. Glazier has said he’ll have an announcement by Tuesday, Feb. 7th.)

Also exiting the state House after this year will be five-term Alamance County Rep. Alice Bordsen.

Bordsen, who has been a champion of juvenile justice issues, said on her blog Tuesday that she was leaving with no regrets:

“I can honestly say that I consider each and every day I have served a true gift.  Public service is never dull; it is always a challenge, a privilege and – most of all – an honor.  And, when our clumsy and unwieldy system does click in and work as it was envisioned by those who designed it, it is an inspiration beyond description.”

Pulse readers may also remember it was Rep. Bordsen who challenged House Speaker Thom Tillis over the speed at which legislators were being pressed to make critical decisions on controversial bills in the final hours of one late-night legislative session.

To watch Rep. Bordsen question the Speaker, click below: