May 24, 2012
State Sen. Eric Mansfield of Fayetteville says he's running for lieutenant governor, saying he believes bickering in the Legislature has prevented North Carolina from moving forward.
The Fayetteville Observer reported that the freshman Democrat he could do more as lieutenant governor than he could if he were to remain as a member of the minority party in the Senate. He says he was surprised and frustrated by the partisanship and politics in lawmaking.
Mansfield is a physician and former soldier. He faces at least one other announced Democrat in the May primary, Linda Coleman, the state personnel director and a former legislator.
Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton is running to replace Gov. Beverly Perdue, who's not seeking a second term.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
