RALEIGH, N.C. - North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Jim Long has bequeathed his title to Secretary of State Elaine Marshall – along with a hunk of cheese.

Long calls himself the “oldest rat in the barn” because he’s the longest serving Democratic member on the Council of State, a panel of top statewide elected officials. He didn’t run for re-election in November after 24 years in office.

At Tuesday’s council meeting, Long gave the title and a block of New York cheddar cheese to Marshall, who will become the panel’s longest serving member.

The “rat” refers to the last three letters in “Democrat.”

Marshall said her longevity is proof times are changing. She was the first woman on the panel when elected secretary in 1996. A majority on the council will be female next year.