This year’s contest for North Carolina governor matches two experienced public servants, each of whom represents the more moderate wing of his party. We recommend Republican Pat McCrory, based on his executive experience as mayor of Charlotte and in the hopes he will be better able to control the excesses of a GOP General Assembly.

As mayor, McCrory demonstrated an understanding of 21st Century needs. He was a champion of both planning and mass transit, stands that put him at odds with more conservative members of his party.

As governor, he pledges a unified approach to the state’s big issues (“We’d better work together as a team”). The issues he singles out are energy exploration, tax reform, educational reform and creation of a customer-service culture in state government.