ANOTHER ONE seeking to be L.T.

(Feelin’ kinda poetic this evening.)

It appears former state senator Deanna Ballard from Watauga County is jumping into the gettin’-crowded GOP field for lieutenant governor.   She’s a longtime employee of Franklin Graham’s Watauga-based Samaritan’s Purse who established herself as a leader in and an authority on education policy while serving in the state senate.

Ballard was double-bunked with fellow Republican incumbent Ralph Hise in 2022.  She lost a close primary race to Hise that year.

With her background, Ballard deserves to be included in the list of marquee candidates for the #2 job in Raleigh.  She joins a crowd that includes:  political consultant Hal Weatherman, pastor and retired businessman Allen Mashburn, Rockingham County sheriff Sam Page, and current state Rep. Jeff Elmore.