Four Republicans hope to do with the office of Lieutenant Governor what their party did for both houses of the General Assembly two years ago: take it away from the Democrats. Gurnal Scott reports as part of our series on the primary election campaigns.
Gurnal Scott: Many who don't regularly follow politics may wonder how important the job of Lieutenant Governor is. Four GOP candidates say they can make a difference in it. Forsyth County's Dale Folwell has risen to second-in-command in the state House. He says it's given him insight into what he says needs fixing.
Dale Folwell: To truly reform state government, it's going to be by reforming the agencies and not necessarily through new laws. Everything that we do to reform state government benefits the businesses and the people of this state.
Wake County Commissioner Tony Gurley brings political experience to the race, but also small business experience. He is a pharmacist by trade and still owns a pharmacy today.
Tony Gurley: Many people tell me that they will never vote for another elected official that has not signed the front side of a paycheck. That hit home with me. That's where government needs to help.
Education is also important for the Lieutenant Governor. The post holds seats on the state boards of Education and community colleges. Two-term state representative Grey Mills from Iredell County is telling voters he's tailor made for that role as a former teacher.
Grey Mills: What I would like to see is more technology in the classroom. What I think we need to train our student for is the future..and not the past.
Raleigh architect Dan Forest has never held public office..but knows about constituent service. He's had a front-row seat watching his mother retiring Charlotte congresswoman Sue Myrick.
Dan Forest: There's a vast difference between public servants and politicians and I'm very proud of the way that she has led by example in the state of North Carolina and I would love to bring that same mentality to the lieutenant governor's office.
The candidates still have much work to do though. A recent poll shows more than 60 percent of likely GOP voters don't know who they'll support, with less than a month to the primary.
