NC attorney general discusses possible run for governor in 2016

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina's attorney general is sounding a lot like a Democratic candidate for governor these days. Roy Cooper visited the WSOC studios Tuesday for a wide ranging one-on-one interview.

Cooper said it's too early to make an announcement about challenging Gov. Pat McCrory but he admits he's considering it.

Cooper said he plans to become more outspoken on issues facing voters.

"Over the last 10 months, I've become very concerned about the direction of our state," Cooper said.

Cooper also weighed in on a number of issues facing Charlotte residents. Cooper said he's fighting a rate hike for Duke Energy despite its approval by the N.C. Utilities Commission.

"It's not just this case we're talking about. It's cases in the future, potential rate hikes as we go along," he said.

Cooper also said he opposes efforts to release police dash cam video that shows the shooting of a Charlotte man by police. Jonathan Ferrell was shot more than 10 times by Officer Randall Kerrick.

Police said Ferrell was unarmed and have charged Kerrick with voluntary manslaughter. Attorneys for Ferrell's family have been pushing for a public release of the dash cam video. Cooper said his attorneys and investigators, who have taken over the case from CMPD, are telling him the video should remain private.

"They believe it's important not to release it at this point," he said.

Cooper said he expects to keep a high profile in the coming months but said it's too early to announce his intentions in the 2016 race for governor.

WSOC