Hampton's Announcement Video Transcript

Hi.  My name is Hampton Dellinger and I am running for Lieutenant Governor.

I had the good fortune to be raised, educated in the public schools, and married…all in North Carolina.  Jolynn and I are blessed with two children, Jackson and Austen Grace.

Over the past 40 years -- my lifetime -- our state has made tremendous strides.

We have diversified our economy from one where a single crop dominated both our farming and our manufacturing to one where North Carolina is a leader not just in tobacco but also in bio and information technologies, in medicine and banking, in tourism and advanced textiles.

And thanks to decades of progressive leadership and taxpayer support, North Carolina has instituted pivotal programs for children like universal kindergarten, Smart Start, and More at Four.

But for all our advances, there is more – much more -- we need to do.

For our schools, we need to join the many states that require kids to stay in school past the age of sixteen. We need Truth-in-Testing so we know where North Carolina’s students really stand. And we need to ensure that schools are free of violence, drugs, and intimidation.

When I was a volunteer schoolteacher, I started off each class with a poem – words that can inspire as well as instruct. As we demand student accountability, safety, and performance, we must not overlook the goal of instilling in every child an appreciation of the joy of learning and the gift of the mind.

Engaged students in small classes led by skilled and valued teachers will improve the State’s graduation and college-entrance rates, and prepare our future workers to compete and win in the global economy.

To promote economic development right now, we need to insist that North Carolina be a national leader in government ethics and campaign reform so business leaders know that, when they operate here, their company’s fortunes will not depend on their politics but rather on the strength of their goods and services.

We also need to provide a competitive, predictable business environment.

But as we offer companies large and small a great state in which to do business, we must insist that hard won workplace protections – disability and civil rights, family and medical leave – are respected. And corporations must understand that the cleanliness, safety, and health of our communities must always come first.

For better individual public health, we must put patients first by demanding that affordable, comprehensive, and high-quality health care never be held hostage by politics.  North Carolina should be a stem cell research leader, protect reproductive health and freedom, insist that non-profit insurers and providers fulfill their chartered missions, expand health insurance risk pools, ensure the availability of mental health and dental care, and better meet the medical needs of our growing senior population.

And for improved public safety, we must increase the use of advanced technologies in law enforcement. As a deputy Attorney General, I went into court to keep violent criminals behind bars.

As Lieutenant Governor, I will target the court backlogs and jail crowding that threatens public safety and erodes public confidence. At the same time we promote public safety, public officials also have a responsibility to stand up for individual rights including equal justice for every North Carolinian.

Now we’ve all seen political promises be easily made and quickly forgotten. I have a track record of teaming with other state employees to make government operate fairly, effectively, and cost-efficiently. At the same time, I have stood up and challenged state agencies when citizens have not been served well.

I am proud that I was part of successful efforts to protect the Appalachian Trail in the mountains and public beach access on our coast.

As the Governor’s Chief Legal Counsel, I aided with the appointment of judges and am glad that those named were of the highest quality while also reflecting our state’s wonderful diversity.

I’m also proud that I fought a state agency ready to waste taxpayer money by overpaying for office supplies. Indeed, the commonsense plan I put forward would save millions – millions -- of taxpayer dollars.

Now we all know the Lieutenant Governor has to be prepared to lead this state through any challenge. As a top official in the Governor’s Office and the Attorney General’s office, I’ve seen firsthand the crises that can confront state leaders.

On 9/11, and in the days and months that followed, I joined Governor Easley and other officials as the issue of how best to protect our state’s people and assets was addressed.

I have been part of the state’s response to summer hurricanes and winter storms, persistent drought and possible pandemics.

I’ve helped major employers keep factory doors open so that thousands of workers could stay on the job, and I aided negotiations that averted a major mass transit strike.

As for the budget, the state constitution’s demand that it be balanced must always be heeded. But the constitution also requires that the public pension fund be protected and college tuition be low. As Lieutenant Governor, I’ll work with both the legislature and the Governor to make sure that every budget is both fiscally and constitutionally sound.

Of course, elected officials always face new and unpredictable challenges. People can’t say how they’ll answer an unknown question, but I can say this: as Lieutenant Governor, I’ll champion decision making in the open. Our public records and open meeting laws must be taken seriously, and the end goal must always be the public good.

Having worked in the Governor’s office I know the daily demands on a Governor's time. The Lieutenant Governor has an opportunity to take a longer view, to think not just about the next meeting but about the next year, the next decade, the next generation. I’ll use that opportunity to develop policy proposals on our most serious challenges such as immigration, energy production, and environmental protection.

These are some of the reasons why I’m running. I also believe how candidates run for office tells a lot about whether they’ll represent us well if elected. Over the past twenty years, I have worked for candidates who I believed could make a positive difference for all North Carolinians. I’m proud to have helped others and now I’m doing the hard and humbling work of asking you and others to help me.

If you are willing to lend a hand, I promise you this in return. I will run a clean, positive, energetic campaign that you will be proud to be a part of.

Through public service, I’ve been honored to give back to the state that has been such a wonderful home for Jolynn and me. As Lieutenant Governor, I’ll do everything I can to make this a great, safe, and prosperous place for North Carolinians old and new.

Thank you for your interest in this campaign…OUR campaign.