Walter Dalton

Biography

Walter Dalton is a state senator the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor.

Early Life and Education

Walter Harvey Dalton was born May 21, 1949, in Rutherford County.

He graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a bachelor of science in business administration in 1971.

He then earned a law degree from UNC in 1975.

Professional Career

Dalton is a partner in the Dalton and Miller law firm. He works as a general practice attorney.

Political Career 

Dalton was elected to the state Senate in 1996, representing the 46th District.

In office, he has been a co-chairman of the education and the appropriations committees.

He worked on the Learn and Earn Program, which helps high school graduates get an associate's degree.

He also pushed for an unsuccessful bill to require minors to get parental permission to go on social networking sites like MySpace.

In 2008, he was ranked the sixth most effective state senator by the N.C. Center for Public Policy Research. He has been in the top  10 in each biannual survey since 2001. 

Lt. Governor '08 

Dalton is running for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor.

He defeated Canton Mayor Pat Smathers, former legal aide to the governor Hampton Dellinger and Winston-Salem City Councilman Dan Besse in the Democratic primary, winning by 46 percent of the vote.

He was endorsed in the primary by the Simkins PAC, former U.S. Rep. Eva Clayton, former state Auditor Ralph Campbell, the entire state Senate Black Caucus and the National Rifle Association.

He faces former state Sen. Robert Pittenger in the November election.

Research and reporting by Ryan Teague Beckwith. 

Occupation

Contact Info

Email: walterd@ncleg.net

Education

Military

Issues

How will you measure success in your first year in office?

"I would measure success in the first year if at the end of the first year we continue to move North Carolina forward and improve education, if we increase 20th century jobs for our people, expand health care, and if all these improvements are penetrating all of North Carolina." 

Tell us about something you did for someone else.

"In 2004 I created the Home Protection Pilot (program). I represented two counties that faced (job) losses. If you are a displaced worker, we'll give you a loan to put off costs for 18 months for you to retrain and get a new job. That program not only saved people's homes, it saved their self-esteem and gave them hope." 

What is the biggest challenge facing North Carolina? Your county? Your district?

"I think our biggest challenge is to continue to move forward. Growth is one of our huge challenges, we've got to continue to focus on improvements we've made in education and continuing to expand health care." 

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