Endorsements: Our choices for Lt. Gov, NC Superintendent and Agriculture primaries
The Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina doesn’t have much power, but that doesn’t stop candidates from lining up every four years for a job that’s seen as a pathway toward the governor’s office. In 2020, 15 candidates are running to replace Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, who is favored heavily to win the Republican primary for governor and face Gov. Roy Cooper in November.
In the Democratic primary, three candidates stand out: N.C. Reps Yvonne Lewis Holley of Wake County and Chaz Beasley of Mecklenburg, and N.C. Sen. Terry Van Duyn of Buncombe. Lewis Holley, in her fourth term in the House, would bring an emphasis on poverty and family instability to the Lt. Governor’s office. Beasley, in his second term, is a sharp young lawmaker whose accomplishments include a sexual assault reform bill that passed the House in 2019.
The best fit for the Lt. Gov role, however, is Van Duyn. In only her third term, she’s quickly earned the respect of Senate colleagues, and as the former Democratic Whip she’s uniquely qualified to rally support for Cooper’s agenda if he is re-elected. We recommend her in the Democratic primary.
The Republican primary also features a solid lineup of qualified candidates, including NC Sen. Andy Wells and U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services appointee Renee Ellmers. We believe former NC Rep. Scott Stone would be the most effective Republican lieutenant governor.
Stone, from Mecklenburg, is a strong but not bombastic conservative who brings a thoughtful, deliberate approach to his work. He’s also a successful businessman who is the kind of public face Republicans should want to express their values. While Ellmers would bring star power and perhaps a better shot at winning in November, we recommend Stone in the Republican primary.
NC Superintendent
Seven candidates will be on the primary ballot to replace Mark Johnson, who is running for lieutenant governor. All are highly qualified, and within their respective parties, little separates the candidates on the issues.
Five Democrats are contending in their primary: Jen Mangrum, a professor of education at UNC-Greensboro; Michael Maher, the assistant dean of professional education at NC State University; James Barrett, a former member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board; Keith Sutton, the current chair of the Wake County school board; and Constance Lav Johnson, a Charlotte educator and activist.
Among these, both Mangrum and Maher stand out for their experience, vision and skill sets. Maher, in particular, shines for his expertise in education policy and ability to articulate the strategies needed to reform education in the state. But if Democrats don’t get a legislative majority this election, more than policy expertise will be needed. Mangrum, a public school teacher for 14 years, ran a credible campaign in 2018 against N.C. Senate leader Phil Berger. Strongly supported by teachers, Mangrum is best situated to successfully engage in the political debates that will decide how North Carolina will treat its students and educators. We recommend Mangrum in the Democratic primary.
On the Republican side, State Rep. Craig Horn faces Catherine Truitt, the chancellor of Western Governors University, an online university. Truitt’s experience as a school teacher and in higher education gives her valued credibility, but Horn’s five-term experience in the legislature and years as chair of both the House’s K-12 Education and Education Appropriation Committees uniquely positions him to work on education. We recommend Horn in the Republican primary.
Agriculture commissioner
Three Democrats are competing to take on N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler in November. It will be a tall order keeping the four-term Republican incumbent from a fifth term, but Democrats think farmers and a majority of voters may be ready for a change in the office that oversees North Carolina’s No. 1 industry.
The candidates are Walter Smith Jr., 67, a Yadkinville farmer who has lost twice to Troxler as the Democratic nominee; Jennifer Wadsworth, 31, a member of the Wake County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors; and Donovan Alexander Watson, 25, a Durham County farmer and operator of his family’s produce business.
Smith is a solid candidate who wants to protect family farms and help farmers diversify their crops, but after two campaigns that fell short, it’s time for a new challenger. We recommend Wadsworth, a advocate for small farmers, who wants to stem rising farm bankruptcies and preserve farmland amid North Carolina’s urban growth. Wadsworth is brimming with ideas to make a low-profile office a driver of economic change. She supports legalizing marijuana to give farmers a new crop, better workplace protections for farm workers and using the bounty of North Carolina farms to address food insecurity within the state.
This story was originally published February 26, 2020 at 4:08 PM with the headline "Endorsements: Our choices for Lt. Gov, NC Superintendent and Agriculture primaries."