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Our choice for Lt. Governor: Dalton over Pittenger

Independent Tribune editorial board

Published: October 30, 2008

State Sen. Walter Dalton, D-Rutherfordton, has been a key player and powerful force for chance in the Senate for six terms. He served last session as a co-chair of the appropriations committee and the education committee.
Dalton, 59, supports the North Carolina Research Campus. He understands it as a tool for economic development and as a lifeline to Kannapolis and Cabarrus County.
We believe Dalton is a consensus builder. As lieutenant governor, he would be a member of the State Board of Education and the Board of Community Colleges, roles that would suit his style perfectly. Education is a priority for Dalton, especially since his wife, Lucielle, is a former teacher and school board member.
His opponent, state Sen. Robert Pittenger, R-Charlotte, went to Raleigh with a commitment to cutting spending. His efforts to eliminate waste have been noble. Along the way, though, Pittenger, 60, did not support state funding for the UNC system research institutes at the Research Campus. His position, if supported by other legislators, could have unraveled the entire project.