Janet Cowell endorses Dan Blue III to replace her as state treasurer

State Treasurer Janet Cowell, who’s not seeking re-election this year, says she’d like Raleigh attorney and fellow Democrat Dan Blue III to take her job.

Blue, a former Wake County Democratic Party chairman, faces Cary CPA Ron Elmer in the March 15 Democratic primary. The winner of the primary will face former Employment Security Division leader Dale Folwell, a Republican.

Cowell announced her endorsement Tuesday morning. “I know firsthand that we need strong, thoughtful leadership in the state treasurer’s office,” she said in a news release. “We need a leader who will continue to build upon our progress and protect meaningful retirement and health benefits for teachers, firefighters, police officers and public employees in North Carolina. We need a leader with knowledge about the issues we face and the vision to move our state forward. Dan Blue III is that leader.”

Before returning to Raleigh to practice law with his father, state Sen. Dan Blue Jr., the younger Blue was an investment banker with Bear Stearns in New York.

This story was originally published February 16, 2016 at 12:15 PM.