Walter Dalton realizes you may not care who North Carolina's next lieutenant governor will be. But, he says, you should.

Dalton, a state senator who is among a long list of announced candidates for the state's second slot, was in Wilson Thursday on the campaign trail. He met with residents at the Wilson County Courthouse and at Wilson Community College.

In an interview at the Daily Times, Dalton said the lieutenant governor's seat "can be a forgotten race," ignored among the presidential, gubernatorial and local races.

But five times in the state's history, the lieutenant governor has had to replace the governor, he said.

"In a heartbeat, you step into the governor's seat, and you're going to need someone who can step up in a crisis situation," he said.

Most of the other announced candidates do not have legislative experience, he noted.

Dalton, a Rutherfordton attorney, has served in the General Assembly since 1997. Since 2002, the Democrat has been co-chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, which helps develop the state budget.

"Having that role, you really get to know the whole state," Dalton said.

Dalton said he was in the center of the discussions that allowed the state to take the burden of Medicaid payments off county governments.

He said he has also seen all the hard work that's gone into improving teacher pay, reducing class sizes and increasing school accountability. In recent years, the state has gone from 43rd in the nation on average teacher pay to around 21st.

Dalton also recently led an effort to add Chimney Rock, a natural landmark near his home, to the state park system. The state is still negotiating exactly how to run the former privately owned park.

Dalton, the son of former state Sen. Charles Dalton, grew up in Rutherford County in western North Carolina.

He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in business administration and went to work in banking. He later returned to UNC for a law degree and then opened a law practice.

In 1996, Dalton ran for his father's old seat in the N.C. Senate and won. He has served in the Senate since then.

He has been married since 1971 to his high school sweetheart, Lucille. They have two adult children, Brian and Elizabeth.

For more information, go to www.walterdalton.org.

mshaw@wilsontimes.com | 265-7878