Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton raised $2.5 million by the end of the year.

According to campaign finance reports submitted to the State Board of Elections, the Rutherfordton Democrat raised $145,000 in the final quarter of the year.

Major donors during that period included Carolina Crossroads event coordinator Elizabeth Branham, Greenville attorney Marvin K. Blount III, Chapel Hill developer Michael Cucchiara and former UNC-Wilmington Chancellor Jim Leutze.

The political action committees for BB&T, the Carolina Asphalt Pavement Association, Caremark Rx employees, Dominion, the Eastern band of Cherokee Indians, John Deere, McGuire Woods, and the N.C. Association of Educators.

He also received donations from the campaigns of state Sens. Dan Clodfelter and Tony Rand, retiring Rep. Jim Harrell, Congressman Heath Shuler, among others.

In addition, Dalton received a total of $95,000 from the N.C. Democratic Party. 

Tony Moore may run for state Senate.

The former state senator told Dome that he is considering running for the seat of retiring Sen. John Kerr, a Goldsboro Democrat.

"As a former senator from this district I feel my experience would help serve the district's needs," he wrote in an e-mail.

Moore switched from Democrat to Republican to unsuccessfully run against Kerr in 2004. He told Dome that he switched back to his old party on Jan. 2 of this year.

According to the State Board of Elections, he is currently registered as a Democrat. 

Already announced: State Board of Education member Kathy Taft, Snow Hill Mayor Don Davis and retired community college president Edward Wilson. Greenville attorney Marvin Blount III may also run. All are Democrats.

Edward H. Wilson Jr. will run for state Senate.

The retired president of Wayne Community College announced today that he will run for the seat of retiring Sen. John Kerr, a Goldsboro Democrat.

"I believe that my experience in education and economic and workforce development and my knowledge of the legislative process that came from working directly with the legislature for nearly 10 years, position me to be an effective voice for the Fifth District and all of Eastern North Carolina," he said in a statement.

Wilson was the N.C. Community College System's President of the Year in 2004. His father served five terms in the legislature.

He faces state Board of Education member Kathy Taft and Snow Hill Mayor Don Davis in the primary. Greenville attorney Marvin Blount III may also run. 

Hat Tip: Jerry Allegood 

Kathy A. Taft is running for state Senate.

A member of the N.C. State Board of Education, Taft announced today that she would run for the seat of retiring Sen. John Kerr, a Goldsboro Democrat.

"Senator Kerr is a great public servant, and has served the eastern part of our state for over 20 years," Taft said in a statement. "I have great admiration for John."

Taft, a Democrat, was appointed to the state board in 1995 by Gov. Jim Hunt and is now in her second term. She previously served on the Pitt County Board of Education.

Snow Hill Mayor Don Davis, a Democrat, is also running. Greenville attorney Marvin Blount III, also a Democrat, said he will decide on a run after the holidays.