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Dan Forest took office as the state's No. 2 in a private ceremony Monday at the Capitol.

In an interview after the event, the Republican lieutenant governor said he hopes to establish a better relationship with new Gov. Pat McCrory, noting that his predecessor wasn't too close to Bev Perdue.

Forest's main role is to preside over the N.C. Senate and serve on various boards and commissions. But the lieutenant governor is often delegated duties from the state's chief executive. McCrory told Dome that he expects Forest to play a role in drafting a 25-year transportation infrastructure plan, drawing upon his experience as an architect, and consult on education policy.

UPDATED:Incoming Dan Forest is holding an even more private swearing-in ceremony than Gov.-elect Pat McCrory.

The son of former Republican Congresswoman Sue Myrick will hold a family-only ceremony with about 20 guests in the old Senate chambers Monday at the Capitol. NC Supreme Court Justice Paul Newby will officiate. Hal Weatherman, Forest's new chief of staff, said only one reporter and one TV camera are allowed to attend even though the chamber includes more than 50 seats.

Republicans are crying foul about a scathing attack ad against lieutenant governor candidate Dan Forest.

The State Employees Association of North Carolina paid for the spot, which touts Democratic candidate Linda Coleman. But the 30-second spot didn't meet a legal requirement that the ad show the picture of the person who is reading the "paid for" disclaimer.

The N.C. Republican Party sent a complaint to state election officials Wednesday and SEANC fixed the ad the same day.

If elected, Republican lieutenant governor candidate Dan Forest says he wants to emphasize education. He might want to start with spelling.

His latest campaign flier misspelled "responsibility." The N.C. Republican Party paid for the mailer -- which Forest authorized. Dome's not immune to typos so it's a good thing we're not running to control the state's No. 2 elected post like Forest.

If it worked for Walter Dalton -- first as a lieutenant governor candidate and so far in his gubernatorial race -- then Tony Gurley hopes it works for him. 

Gurley, a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, continues to riff on Dalton's name-repetitive ad (and many other ads before) to boost his own recognition among voters. The minute-long Gurley ad mentions his name 16 times -- averaging once every four seconds, much like his TV ad earlier this year. Listen below.

Tony Gurley isn't the only candidate for lieutenant governor airing TV advertising. Republican rival Dale Folwell, the House speaker pro tem, says he began airing two 15-second "bookend" spots March 26 on Fox News across the state.

The first spot is a silent piece with the line: "Your TV isn't broken ... but your government is." It airs on the front end of a second 15-second commericial, or sometimes with another unrelated ad in between, that touts Folwell's legislative record.

The first is above. See the second one below. Folwell said he will stay on the air with advertising through the election.

Tony Gurley has named a former aide to Renee Ellmers and Mitt Romney as the manager of his lieutenant governor campaign.

Patrick Sebastian, a Raleigh native and East Carolina University grad, took the helm of Gurley's campaign in recent days as the Wake County commissioner seeks to separate himself from the crowded Republican primary in the bid for the state's No. 2 post.

One more unexpected candidate who filed Wednesday: state Rep. Grey Mills.

Mills entered the Republican primary for lieutenant governor becoming the fifth candidate in the race. He will  face off against one of his Republican House leaders, Speaker Pro Tem Dale Folwell.

Mills announced last year he would retire from the House. "It's something I've been thinking about. I've been watching the field develop," he said. "I think I can add a lot."

His entrance seems to assure the primary race will go to a runoff in July.

Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, one of three announced Democratic candidates for governor, jabbed Republican candidate Pat McCrory Thursday during a visit to a community college in McCrory’s backyard.

During a tour of Central Piedmont Community College’s Cato campus, Dalton criticized the Republican legislature for cutting education.

“I think candidate McCrory has embraced pretty much what they did,” Dalton said. “What they did can be very harmful to our economic recruitment today and harmful to our economy tomorrow.”

Democratic Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton suggested Tuesday that he wouldn't release his tax returns, even though his political party is asking Republican Pat McCrory to do so.

After the official launch of his gubernatorial campaign, Dalton said McCrory's situation is different. "There has been some question ... about whether he is a lobbyist or not," he said. "I don't know of any questions" about my record.

At the same time, Dalton left the door open to reassess the situation. "We'll look at that as it goes along," he said.