NC personnel chief running for lieutenant governor

State Personnel Director Linda Coleman said Thursday that she plans to run for lieutenant governor.

Coleman, 62, is seeking the Democratic nomination for the post now that Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton is running for governor, following Gov. Beverly Perdue's unexpected decision last week not to seek re-election.

"The timing is right, and I will offer the voters of North Carolina a platform that is focused on making key investments for our working families," she said in a statement. "My focus will be clearly directed at improving our public schools, strengthening our workforce training programs in our community colleges and making critical investments in our research universities."

Coleman served three terms in the state House and was chairwoman of the Wake County Board of Commissioners.

"We are going to run a grassroots campaign in every county across North Carolina,” she said.