Coleman enters NC lieutenant gov. race

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina state government's personnel director has decided she'll run for lieutenant governor this year.

Linda Coleman said Thursday she'll seek the Democratic nomination in May opened because Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton is running for governor in the wake of Gov. Beverly Perdue's decision not to run again.

Coleman said the timing is right to run what she calls a statewide grass-roots campaign that will focus on improving public schools, strengthening work force training at community colleges and investing in the state's research universities.

Coleman is a 62-year-old former state House member and previous chairman of the Wake County commissioners.

Supporters of 2008 Democratic primary runner-up Hampton Dellinger of Durham have been circulating a letter urging him to run again for lieutenant governor.