Editorial: For governor

On Nov. 4, North Carolina voters will head to the polls for the general election. The Daily Reflector will recommend candidates in races prior to that vote, and today focuses on the race for governor.

The gubernatorial race between Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory bears the hallmarks of a classic East-West, rural-urban battle — but only until voters look closely at those seeking the state's highest office. It is then North Carolinians will find two talented candidates, each with the skills to competently and professionally lead the state for the next four years.

While both McCrory and Perdue would be strong leaders for North Carolina, Perdue better meets the needs of a growing state with a particular eye to the concerns of the East. She is the candidate who deserves voters' support.

A daunting primary election saw both candidates face strong challenges. Perdue emerged from a hotly contested race with State Treasurer Richard Moore to win the Democratic Party's nod, while McCrory bested three other candidates in a wide-open race to become the Republican standard bearer.

In the months that followed, the statewide campaign experience of Perdue has been matched by McCrory. The two have crisscrossed the state to meet with voters, sharing their concerns and the issues that promise to define the next four years for North Carolina.

Those can be hard to predict, but some are readily evident.

North Carolina faces a projected budget shortfall, which promises to constrict state spending for the next two years. Though out-going Gov. Mike Easley has called for a 2 percent budget reduction from all state agencies, the next governor will be limited by declining revenue collections and will need innovative solutions to continue to provide public services effectively.

Energy independence draws considerable focus in Washington, but Raleigh should lead on this issue as well. Both candidates now favor some form of offshore drilling — a short-term and piecemeal approach to a much larger problem — but North Carolina's technology sector and natural resources make it well suited to be an incubator for green energy initiatives.

The faltering national economy is squeezing a state economy still reeling from the declining manufacturing, textiles and tobacco industries. Economic development and job creation are desperately needed, particularly in the rural East and West, that can spread the bounty of prosperity to a greater share of state residents.

And, of course, the next governor needs to be an education leader. North Carolina cannot tolerate a public school system that lags behind its peers across the country, and it needs an individual who sees the tremendous value in improving the state's universities and community colleges.

On these and many other issues, Perdue is the superior choice for North Carolina. Her experience as a lawmaker and executive provide the seasoning needed to make needed progress on these issues. And, as a resident of the East, she knows the plight of towns and cities here, and recognizes that job creation and a strong investment in infrastructure and education remain the best course for this region.

McCrory has proven himself as a strong candidate whose skills on the campaign trail support the argument that he would be a reasonable leader for the state. But Perdue's stance on the issues reflects a more promising vision and makes her the right choice for North Carolina.