Raleigh, N.C. — Lorrie Dollar, wife of House budget writer Nelson Dollar, R-Wake, will serve as deputy to Department of Public Safety Secretary Kieran Shanahan.

The announcement was made this morning. Dollar's title is DPS' chief deputy secretary of administration. No salary was indicated in the release. 

Dollar is currently an attorney in private practice, but she's had plenty of experience in state government. She served as chief deputy auditor to former Republican auditor Les Merritt. She also worked at the N.C. Industrial Commission and the state's Human Resources department.

In a quote from the press release, Shanahan said, “Mrs. Dollar brings with her a wealth of experience in legal, financial and personnel matters in both state government and the private sector, and I am very pleased to have her on our team.”

She also brings close ties to the House leadership. Nelson Dollar is senior budget chairman this year. State lawmakers control the budget for all cabinet agencies, including DPS.