Walter H. Dalton

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Walter Dalton
Walter Dalton.jpg
33rd Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
In office
January 10, 2009 – January 7, 2013[1]
Governor Bev Perdue
Preceded by Bev Perdue
Succeeded by Dan Forest
Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 46th district
In office
January 1, 2003 – January 10, 2009
Preceded by Constituency established
Succeeded by Debbie Clary
Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 37th district
In office
January 1, 1997 – January 1, 2003
Preceded by Dennis Davis
Succeeded by Dan Clodfelter
Personal details
Born (1949-05-21) May 21, 1949 (age 74)
Rutherfordton, North Carolina, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Alma mater University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Walter H. Dalton (born May 21, 1949) is a North Carolina attorney who served as the 33rd Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina. A member of the Democratic Party, he served six terms in the state senate before his election to the office of Lieutenant Governor in 2008.[2]

Dalton was the Democratic nominee for Governor of North Carolina in 2012[3] but lost the general election to former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory.

Early life, education, and law career

Dalton was born in Rutherfordton, Rutherford County, North Carolina to Charles Dalton, a former State Senator, and Amanda Dalton, a schoolteacher. He earned a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1971, and earned a J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law in 1975.

Dalton worked in the Audit Department of Union Trust Company between 1971 and 1972. He clerked for Woodrow W. Jones, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, between 1975 and 1977. He worked for many years as an attorney based in Rutherfordton, North Carolina. He joined the law firm of Hamrick, Bowen, Nanney & Dalton, LLP in 1977 and left in 2000.[4]

North Carolina Senate (1997–2009)

Elections

Dalton represented constituents in Cleveland and Rutherford counties in the North Carolina General Assembly. His district was originally the 37th Senate district, but it was renumbered as the 46th in the redistricting following the 2000 United States Census.

Dalton's legislative career began in 1996 when he challenged freshman incumbent Republican State Senator Dennis Davis. The general election was close, with Dalton being declared the winner by a margin of 50.38%–49.62%, after a recount.[5][6] Davis tried to win back the seat in 1998, but Dalton won by a larger margin, 54.86%–45.14%.[7] In 2000, he defeated Scott Neisler, 55%–45%.[8] In 2002, he defeated Republican nominee John Weatherly, 52%–45%.[9] In 2004, he defeated Republican nominee Jim Testa, 53%–47%.[10] In 2006, he defeated Republican nominee Wes Westmoreland, 54%–46%.[11]

Tenure

In the State Senate, Dalton served as co-chair of the Senate Education Committee and co-chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

During his time as a State Senator, Dalton focused on improving education. Dalton worked to increase teacher pay while also reducing class sizes.[12] In 2003, Dalton sponsored the Innovative Education Initiatives Act, establishing North Carolina’s award-winning network of Early College High Schools.[13] The Early Colleges are a system of high schools partnered with institutions of higher learning that allow students to graduate with both a high school diploma and either an associate’s degree or college credit in five years. He also supported increasing funding for the state’s public university and community college systems during his tenure.[14]

As a State Senator, Dalton developed a reputation as a pro-business Democrat. He promoted incentives to help attract new businesses to North Carolina and relief to small business owners.[15]

In 2006, Dalton helped establish Chimney Rock State Park.[16]

Committee assignments

  • Senate Education Committee (Co-Chairman)[17]
  • Senate Appropriations Committee (Co-Chairman)[18]

Lieutenant Governor (2009–2013)

Election

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Main article: North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2008

In 2007, Dalton announced that he would seek the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina in 2008.[19] He won the Democratic primary on May 6, 2008, defeating Hampton Dellinger, Patrick Smathers, and Dan Besse.[20] He won the general election on November 4, 2008 against the Republican nominee, former State Senator Robert Pittenger.[2]

Tenure

As Lieutenant Governor, Walter Dalton continued his work to improve education in North Carolina and served as the chairman of the Joining Our Businesses and Schools (JOBS) Commission. The commission included 20 business and education leaders. Through his work on the JOBS Commission, Dalton led a bipartisan effort to strengthen the relationship between private businesses and schools to help improve job training.[21]

Dalton also served as the Chairman of the North Carolina Logistics Task Force. Through his work on the task force, he helped the state identify new ways to help move goods and people across the state.[22]

Dalton helped establish a small business assistance fund to help businesses across the state secure the credit necessary to expand and create jobs.[23]

2012 gubernatorial election

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Main article: North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2012

After first-term Governor Beverly Perdue announced that she would not seek a second term in 2012, Dalton announced that he would be a candidate for Governor.[3] Ahead of the May 8 Democratic primary, Dalton was endorsed by The Charlotte Observer, which described him as "well-versed in both the legislative and executive branches and in the crucial issues facing the state" and as "battle-tested," making him the strongest general election candidate.[24] The Winston-Salem Journal also endorsed Dalton, writing that he had "considerable success as a legislator and played a major role in launching North Carolina's successful Early College program."[25] Dalton won the May 8 primary, defeating former U.S. Congressman Bob Etheridge and State Representative Bill Faison 46%–38%–6%.[26]

During the general election, polls gave McCrory anywhere from a two to 14-point advantage. Rasmussen Reports released a poll August 4[27] showing Dalton trailing McCrory by 5 points. In first quarter campaign finance reports, Dalton reported raising about $1 million less than McCrory's campaign.[28][29] Dalton also reported having $670,356.14 cash on hand at the end of the reporting period on April 21. McCrory reported having $3.1 million.

First Quarter 2012 Fundraising results reported the NC Board of Elections

In October 2012, the (Raleigh) News and Observer endorsed Dalton for the general election, writing that "on the merits of experience, knowledge, vision and judgment, [Dalton] is extraordinarily well equipped to give North Carolina the executive leadership it needs."[30] In 2008, the newspaper had endorsed McCrory.

2016 gubernatorial election

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Main article: North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2016

Career after politics

Following the end of his term as Lt. Governor, Dalton was hired by Gardner-Webb University to teach a class on Southern politics and to serve as a special counsel to the university's president.[31] Several months later, he was selected as president of Isothermal Community College, where he had once served as board of trustees chairman.[32]

Personal life

Dalton's father, Charles, was also a North Carolina state senator, who died when Walter was 8 years old. His elder sister, Laura, helped their mother, Amanda, raise young Walter. She later became active in Republican politics and married Chuck Neely, a Republican who served in the state legislature and unsuccessfully ran for Governor in 2000.[33]

Dalton's wife, Lucille, is a former teacher and former local school board member. Walter and Lucille Dalton are the parents of two children, Brian and Elizabeth.[34]

References

  1. ↑ WRAL: Forest sworn in as NC lt. governor
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 WRAL: Perdue will not seek re-election
  4. ↑ Lieutenant Governor Walter Dalton - Biography - Project Vote Smart
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ ftp://www.app.sboe.state.nc.us/data/ElectResults/2000_11_07/20001107_results_NC_Senate_37.pdf
  9. ↑ Our Campaigns - NC State Senate 46 Race - Nov 05, 2002
  10. ↑ Our Campaigns - NC State Senate 46 Race - Nov 02, 2004
  11. ↑ Our Campaigns - NC State Senate 46 Race - Nov 07, 2006
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ The Robesonian - Google News Archive Search
  18. ↑ Star-News - Google News Archive Search
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Charlotte Observer editorial
  25. ↑ Winston-Salem Journal editorial
  26. ↑ Charlotte Observer: Dalton to face McCrory for governor
  27. ↑ [1]
  28. ↑ North Carolina Board of Elections 1Q Summary Report McCrory
  29. ↑ North Carolina Board of Elections 1Q Summary Report Dalton
  30. ↑ Walter Dalton's edge
  31. ↑ Shelby Star
  32. ↑ WRAL.com: Dalton picked as NC community college president
  33. ↑ News & Observer: Dalton, sister make odd political couple
  34. ↑ Campaign site: Meet Walter Dalton

External links

Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
2008		 Succeeded by
Linda Coleman
Democratic nominee for Governor of North Carolina
2012		 Succeeded by
Roy Cooper
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
2009–2013		 Succeeded by
Dan Forest
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