Walter H. Dalton

Walter H. Dalton (born May 21, 1949) is an American attorney and politician 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.[1]

Walter Dalton
33rd Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
In office
January 10, 2009 – January 7, 2013
GovernorBev Perdue
Preceded byBev Perdue
Succeeded byDan Forest
Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 46th district
In office
January 1, 2003 – January 10, 2009
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byDebbie Clary
Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 37th district
In office
January 1, 1997 – January 1, 2003
Preceded byDennis Davis
Succeeded byDan Clodfelter
Personal details
Born (1949-05-21) May 21, 1949
Rutherfordton, North Carolina, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Lucille Dalton
Children2
EducationUniversity of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (BS, JD)

Dalton was the Democratic nominee for Governor of North Carolina in 2012.[2] He 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.[3]

North Carolina Senate (1997–2009)
Dalton speaking at the 2012 Democratic National Convention

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.[4][5] Davis tried to win back the seat in 1998, but Dalton won by a larger margin, 54.86%–45.14%.[6] In 2000, he defeated Scott Neisler, 55%–45%.[7] In 2002, he defeated Republican nominee John Weatherly, 52%–45%.[8] In 2004, he defeated Republican nominee Jim Testa, 53%–47%.[9] In 2006, he defeated Republican nominee Wes Westmoreland, 54%–46%.[10]

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.[11] In 2003, Dalton sponsored the Innovative Education Initiatives Act, establishing North Carolina’s award-winning network of Early College High Schools.[12] 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 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.[13]

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.[14]

In 2006, Dalton helped establish Chimney Rock State Park.[15]

Committee assignments
  • Senate Education Committee (Co-Chairman)[16]
  • Senate Appropriations Committee (Co-Chairman)[17]

Lieutenant Governor (2009–2013)

Election
Main article: 2008 North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election

In 2007, Dalton announced that he would seek the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina in 2008.[18] He won the Democratic primary on May 6, 2008, defeating Hampton Dellinger, Patrick Smathers, and Dan Besse.[19] He won the general election on November 4, 2008 against the Republican nominee, former State Senator Robert Pittenger.[1]

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.[20]

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.[21]

Dalton helped establish a small business assistance fund to help businesses across the state secure the credit necessary to expand and create jobs.[22]

2012 gubernatorial election
Main article: 2012 North Carolina gubernatorial election

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.[2] 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.[23] 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."[24] Dalton won the May 8 primary, defeating former U.S. Congressman Bob Etheridge and State Representative Bill Faison 46%–38%–6%.[25]

During the general election, polls gave McCrory anywhere from a two to 14-point advantage. Rasmussen Reports released a poll August 4[26] showing Dalton trailing McCrory by 5 points. In first quarter campaign finance reports, Dalton reported raising about $1 million less than McCrory's campaign.[27][28] 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."[29] In 2008, the newspaper had endorsed McCrory.

[30]

Results
North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Pat McCrory 2,447,988 54.70% +7.82%
Democratic Walter H. Dalton 1,931,750 43.17% -7.10%
Libertarian Barbara Howe 95,154 2.13% -0.72%
Margin of victory 516,238 11.54% +8.14%
Turnout 4,474,892 67.30% -0.84%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

Career after politics

Following the end of his term as lieutenant 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][33]

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.[34]

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.[35]

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References
  1. Associated Press (2008-11-05). "Dalton wins race for lieutenant governor". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
  2. WRAL: Perdue will not seek re-election
  3. Lieutenant Governor Walter Dalton - Biography - Project Vote Smart
  4. "Recount confirms senate race". The Robesonian. AP. November 20, 1996. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
  5. "NC General Election Results 1996" (PDF). NC State Board of Elections. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
  6. "NC General Election Results 1998" (PDF). NC State Board of Elections. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
  7. ftp://www.app.sboe.state.nc.us/data/ElectResults/2000_11_07/20001107_results_NC_Senate_37.pdf%5B%5D
  8. Our Campaigns - NC State Senate 46 Race - Nov 05, 2002
  9. Our Campaigns - NC State Senate 46 Race - Nov 02, 2004
  10. Our Campaigns - NC State Senate 46 Race - Nov 07, 2006
  11. Robertson, Gary (September 24, 2001). "Education fares well in new budget". The Herald Sun.
  12. Way, Dan E. (March 16, 2011). "Dalton: Education is our future". The Chapel Hill Herald.
  13. Robertson, Gary (February 12, 2012). "Dalton begins NC gov campaign talking progress". Associated Press.
  14. Robertson, Gary (April 29, 2004). "N.C. legislative panel recommends more business incentives". Associated Press.
  15. Whitmire, Tim (July 19, 2006). "State offered $20 million for Chimney Rock". Associated Press.
  16. The Robesonian - Google News Archive Search
  17. Star-News - Google News Archive Search
  18. Rob Christensen (2007-03-12). "Dalton in race for lieutenant governor". The News & Observer. Archived from the original on 2008-09-18.
  19. Don Kane (2008-03-07). "Dalton vs. Pittenger in Nov". The News & Observer. Archived from the original on 2008-11-03.
  20. Robertson, Gary (October 12, 2009). "NC's Dalton leads high school curricula panel". Associated Press.
  21. "Dalton named chairman of NC logistics task force". Associated Press. December 8, 2009.
  22. "Tuesday at the North Carolina General Assembly". Associated Press. April 14, 2009.
  23. Charlotte Observer editorial Archived 2012-07-31 at Archive.today
  24. Winston-Salem Journal editorial
  25. Charlotte Observer: Dalton to face McCrory for governor Archived 2012-07-23 at Archive.today
  27. North Carolina Board of Elections 1Q Summary Report McCrory
  28. North Carolina Board of Elections 1Q Summary Report Dalton Archived 2012-12-24 at Archive.today
  29. Walter Dalton's edge Archived 2012-10-28 at the Wayback Machine
  30. "Election Results". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  31. Shelby Star
  32. WRAL.com: Dalton picked as NC community college president
  33. "Presidential Search". Isothermal Community College. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
  34. News & Observer: Dalton, sister make odd political couple Archived 2012-06-05 at the Wayback Machine
  35. Campaign site: Meet Walter Dalton Archived 2008-04-20 at the Wayback Machine
Party political offices
Preceded by
Bev Perdue		 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
Bev Perdue		 Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
2009–2013		 Succeeded by
Dan Forest
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