Charlotte Observer Endorses Wayne Goodwin for NC Insurance Commissioner!

Wayne Goodwin's campaign received a tremendous boost with the April 25, 2008 endorsement of his Insurance Commissioner campaign:

EDITORIALS
Three big seats
Insurance commissioner, auditor, state superintendent
Party voters in the May 6 N.C. primary will nominate candidates seeking offices on the Council of State, including state treasurer, state auditor, labor commissioner, insurance commissioner and state superintendent. Candidates for those offices are among the least visible on the N.C. ballot; yet the people who are elected perform work of critical important to citizens. An example: The auditor examines and reports on the financial operations of all state agencies.

Here are our recommendations in contested primary races for auditor, insurance commissioner and state superintendent of public instruction. ...

Insurance Commissioner

Look no further than your auto insurance bill to understand why the office of insurance commissioner is important to citizens -- and consumers. Everybody has to have insurance. The department oversees the rates that companies can charge in North Carolina. It also investigates fraud by insurance companies and sees to it residents of high-risk areas -- such as hurricane-prone eastern North Carolina -- have access to basic coverage.Longtime commissioner Jim Long, a Democrat, did not seek re-election. Two candidates are seeking the Democratic Party's nomination for the job: Wayne Goodwin of Rockingham, currently assistant commissioner, and David C. Smith of Durham, who practices employee benefits law. The winner faces Republican John Odom in November.

Mr. Smith, ... is president-elect of the N.C. Health Underwriters Association, ...

Mr. Goodwin served four terms in the state House of Representatives, where he amassed a record that made him one of the best young legislators in Raleigh. He wants to focus on keeping insurance rates fair and low, fight legislative efforts to water down the insurance office's watchdog authority and beef up investigation of fraud, particularly by unlicensed companies. His firsthand knowledge of the insurance department, his track record there and his relationships in the legislature can make him a capable, effective -- and independent -- commissioner. We recommend Wayne Goodwin.

* * * * *

To read the endorsement piece in its entirety, go to http://www.charlotte.com/opinion/story/595310.html

* * * * *

Wayne Goodwin had this to say in response to the Observer's April 25th endorsement:

It is my understanding that the Charlotte Observer is the only statewide newspaper endorsing in all the Council of State races for the May 2008 Democratic Party primary, particularly Insurance Commissioner. This means that my endorsement in this race has even greater weight. Other regional newspapers have also endorsed my candidacy. They include The Independent Weekly in the Triangle, the Winston-Salem Chronicle in the Triad, and The Richmond County Daily Journal in the Sandhills.

I am both humbled and honored by the Observer's endorsement today. For many years, voters in the Carolinas have looked to the Charlotte Observer for guidance on which candidates, in its well-informed opinion, are the best-suited and best-prepared for various offices at election time. I pledge to campaign and to serve in such a way that will make the Observer and its countless readers remain proud of this endorsement for Insurance Commissioner.

* * * * *

Learn more about the Goodwin campaign: www.waynegoodwin.org