Michael Weisel

It's official. Michael Weisel has joined the chase to fill the job Richard Moore will be leaving.

Raleigh attorney Michael Weisel has added his name to the growing list of candidates to succeed Richard Moore as state treasurer. Weisel announced his campaign for the Democratic nomination over the weekend. If elected, Weisel said, he would retain the state’s top credit rating while protecting the $75 billion government employee pension funds and promote financial literacy among children.

The race to replace Richard Moore as NC Treasurer in 2008 will be a wild one. At least three Dems who will be running (Janet Cowell, Michael Weisel and Chris Mintz), plus Bill Daughtridge and Dale Fowell from the party of greed.

I don't have a preferred Democratic candidate for this position yet, but I do have a preferred philosophy: the power of State Treasurer should not be in the hands of someone looking for higher office. It should not, in other words, be a stepping stone to somewhere else.