For Lt. Governor, Linda Coleman

Linda Coleman, 67, is a former chair of the Wake County commissioners, a former member of the General Assembly and the retired director of State Personnel. She has had a long career in service and wishes to add to it with a victory in the race for lieutenant governor. Democrat Coleman has earned our endorsement, and the public’s support. Her experience at all levels of government forecasts that she would serve with distinction.

Unfortunately, that can’t be said of incumbent Dan Forest, 49, a Republican who came in thanks to the Republicans’ strong showing in 2012. Forest just hasn’t done much as lieutenant governor — granted, the office has few powers other than membership on the State Board of Education and the board of the community college system. But he’s certainly tried to shore up his base, which is rooted in the tea party movement.

Most objectionable is Forest’s defense of HB2, the disastrous “bathroom law” that he and some other Republicans have tried to characterize as protecting women and children from predators, when in fact it was an unnecessary attempt to slap down anti-discrimination laws.

Forest clearly wants to be governor, and sees his current position as a springboard to the state’s top job. Linda Coleman can stop his climb, which would be a positive step for North Carolina.

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This concludes The N&O’s 2016 endorsements. To see a list of our national, state and Wake County endorsements, visit: newsobserver. com/opinion/

This story was originally published October 27, 2016 at 4:09 PM with the headline "For Lt. Governor, Linda Coleman."