RALEIGH, N.C. (WECT) - Imagine moving from the home you raised your three children in to a 35,000 square foot mansion. That's what Anna Stein and her husband, Josh, had to do after he was elected Governor of North Carolina last November.
While her husband was elected to the state's highest office, she assumed a new role, too. She became North Carolina's latest First Lady, a title dating back to the 1700s.
WECT's Frances Weller recently traveled to Raleigh to interview First Lady Anna Stein. She said she's still getting accustomed to the new position.
"It's surreal--for sure," First Lady Anna Stein said. "We actually had a First Lady's luncheon. The Junior League of Raleigh puts on a First Lady's luncheon to raise money for charity, and I gave remarks at that luncheon. One of the things I said was 'I bet you're all wondering what is this like--what I feel like right now.' And I said, 'It feels like freaky Friday.'"
Anna Stein says it's the history of the First Ladies that makes this even more surreal.
"To read some of the history books about this mansion and the first families that lived here and to know that- that's now me taking that place in history, I mean, that is bizarre."
Surprisingly, moving from their home into Raleigh's most famous house was really a piece of cake.
"It was funny how quickly we did it," said First Lady Stein. "We just loaded up my minivan a couple times with our stuff. I really liken it to moving into a dorm room. Because you just bring your clothes, your shoes, your toiletries, because all the furniture is here."
Josh Stein had been North Carolina's attorney general--so Anna Stein was confident in his transition as head of the state's executive branch. What didn't come naturally was her new role as North Carolina's First Lady.
The mother of three now grown children is described by those who know her best as very down to earth--not caught up in the pomp and circumstance, which at times makes this role a challenge for her.
"We have a portrait of First Lady Jeanelle Moore in the hallway in this beautiful ladies' parlor. And she was, by all counts, just this dynamic hostess, everything you would expect in a First Lady. And sometimes I'm like, am I too down to earth to--you know, be the First Lady, but I don't know how else to be other than myself."
While she may be down-to-earth, Anna Stein has impressive credentials of her own. She has a law degree and a master's in public health, both from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She practiced law while her husband was the state's top attorney. But now, as First Lady, she has a new platform--three in fact.
"So my first platform is to reduce stigma with mental health disorders and substance use disorders. And then my second it to try to improve rehabilitation and re-entry for people who are in our state prisons. And then my third platform is world tourism."
Before her husband became attorney general, Anna Stein was on the opioid overdose prevention team for the North Carolina Division of Public Health. She says after he was elected, she strongly urged him to work on the opioid epidemic. And as attorney general, Stein became a national leader in securing billions of dollars in settlements from opioid manufacturers.
Making mental illness a top state priority is also top on her agenda. She spoke of the recent mass shooting in Southport, where three people were killed and six were injured. The accused gunman is believed to be mentally ill.
"To watch as shooting incidents happen around the country, your heart goes out to other people in other parts of the country," said First Lady Stein. "And then to have it happen in North Carolina is just absolutely devastating."
While her role as First Lady requires her to be out and on the road just about daily, she is able to break away from North Carolina business and occasionally get back home for a few hours. She has to. The four-legged family members go back home every day and stay until it's time to come back in the evening. The Steins own two dogs, described as mutts.
"Lyla is one of the dogs, and she loves to do zoomies on the first floor of the mansion. She'll do them up there, too," said First Lady Stein, pointing to the second level.
While life as the Governor's wife is quite different with a round-the-clock staff and constant security, the First Lady says they are still just Josh and Anna, who, on occasion, actually get to have a date night.
"It seems like many nights there is some event--somewhere we need to be, but there are nights that there aren't, and we will go out to dinner somewhere in the neighborhood," she said.
While it has been an adjustment for this modest mom and wife, Anna Stein embraces the honor.
"It is a privilege to be the first lady of this state. I love North Carolina. I've always been a big cheerleader of this state, and so it is again kind of the freaky Friday that I am the First Lady of this state that I love."