CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — In one week, Josh Stein will be sworn in as North Carolina’s next Governor. While he will make history as the state’s first Jewish chief executive, one of his appointees will also be the state’s first Latino cabinet member.
Charlotte resident Gabriel Esparza will serve as Secretary of Administration. NC Democratic voters may recognize Esparza, he ran to be the nominee for state treasurer in 2024.
“I wanted to contribute in a realm that I was passionate about and where I thought I could make a difference. And you’re always measuring the political trade winds to see, whether there’s an opportunity to run. And I thought it was good timing,” he told Queen City News.
While Esparza came up short in that primary, he said he appreciated the chance to travel across the Tar Heel State to talk about the issues that matter to people. In a press release, Governor-Elect Stein said Esparza has a “demonstrated ability to manage complicated organizations and get things done.” The soon-to-be secretary has more than 25 years of experience in both the private and public sectors, with stints at the Small Business Administration and American Express.