Treasurer trove redux

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.
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In recent years, Weisel also was counsel to House Speaker Pro Tempore Richard Morgan, a Republican. Weisel represented Morgan last year in a campaign finance complaint against a political group (the Art Pope Puppetshow) that sent out mailers critical of GOP House members aligned with Morgan. Weisel ran unsuccessfully for treasurer in 1996, losing in the Democratic primary to longtime treasurer Harlan Boyles.

State Sen. Janet Cowell and Chris Mintz, president of a Raleigh investment management company, also are seeking the Democratic nomination in the May primary. Reps. Bill Daughtridge of Rocky Mount and Dale Folwell of Winston-Salem want the Republican nomination.

Oooooo. I guess that makes me an insider! Now I know TWO of the candidates for this important office. When she first ran for office, I supported Janet Cowell in Raleigh. And I got to know Michael Weisel during the Art Pope's electioneering escapades. Both are capable progressives and solid Democrats.

Should be interesting.