As the new speaker of the North Carolina House, Joe Hackney is credited with restoring integrity in a chamber tarnished by the actions of its previous leader. On Aug. 7, he received the nation's top state legislative honor—the 2007 Excellence in State Legislative Leadership Award.

Speaker Hackney, president-elect of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), accepted the award at the NCSL 2007 Legislative Summit in Boston. More than 9,000 people attended the event.

 "Each year, NCSL and the State Legislative Leadership Foundation (SLLF) honor a leader who has shown commitment to protecting and strengthening the institution of the state legislature. Speaker Hackney has truly done that. His leadership has reinforced the foundation of the North Carolina House and it is now a more effective body," said NCSL Executive Director Bill Pound. "We are pleased to spotlight his diligence and statesmanship with this award."

An independent, non-partisan selection committee representing NCSL and SLLF as well as journalists, former legislators and scholars, selects the winner each year.

Hackney sponsored and negotiated for the passage of new ethics legislation during the 2006 session following a scandal involving the former speaker. He was elected speaker earlier this year after being elected to his 14th 2-year term in the North Carolina Legislature. The lawmaker, who also works as a lawyer and a farmer, has been in public service for 27 years. Letters nominating him for this award call Hackney a "Renaissance man," a "sincere servant," and "the quintessential citizen legislator and leader."

“It is my hope that you, my colleagues from across the country, will never face the situation we faced in North Carolina -- that of having decades of reputation for good government endangered by the unlawful conduct of one or a few,” Hackney said in his acceptance speech. “But if you do, I hope that you will find in your state the same incredible determination that we found among our North Carolina colleagues, House and Senate, Democrat and Republican, a determination to come together and craft a response worthy of convincing a skeptical public and a skeptical press that we were serious about addressing their concerns and changing our culture.

“My colleagues and I responded with new laws, new legislative rules, new ethics education and training, new enforcement and new reporting requirements.

“But most of all, my colleagues did what most all of us have tried to do for our entire legislative careers. We faced each day with a determination to act honestly and ethically and with careful thought that day and every day that follows."

In addition to championing new ethics and lobbying legislation, he is also credited with fostering greater openness in the legislative process of North Carolina by better use of the committee system. He is also credited with helping to bring wireless laptops to the chamber so that legislators can use technology to bring democracy closer to the citizens.

The award was presented to Hackney by William Bulger, former president of the University of Massachusetts and former president of the Massachusetts Senate.

“Known for his patience and quiet leadership style, Hackney led a session that was among the most open and fair in recent memory,” Bulger said before presenting the award. “Under his leadership, the North Carolina General Assembly opened ethics hearings, regulated legal defense funds and passed legislation denying pensions for legislators convicted of official job connected offenses.

“Noted one traditional critic of the North Carolina General Assembly, "By all accounts, the process is more open and inclusive than it has been in many years.

Much of this change can be attributed to the leadership of Joe Hackney."

The National Conference of State Legislatures is the bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staff of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.

The State Legislative Leaders Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization established in 1972 to serve America's state legislative leaders: Senate Presidents, House Speakers, Majority Leaders, Minority Leaders and Pro Tempores. SLLF conducts national educational programs and provides research on public policy issues, leadership behavior, and state legislatures specifically for state legislative leaders.