Candidate Biography (submitted by campaign):

I was born in Hamlet, North Carolina, and lived on a farm.  My father was a farmer and a grocer, and my mother worked in the mills before becoming a teacher’s assistant.  Later my father became seriously disabled, and that required me to start work as an assistant janitor and then at a local radio station.  The first to go to college in my family, I was a Morehead Scholar at UNC-Chapel Hill.  Later, I graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill law school. 

Returning home to Richmond County, I was elected the youngest member of the State legislature from there, starting in 1996 and lasting through 2004.  During my service I sponsored legislation fostering improvements in public education, higher teacher and state employee salaries, economic development, safe communities, campaign finance reform, and public safety.  My legislative work earned me awards from the State’s educators, community colleges, and also from election reform advocates.

I have also operated several successful small businesses.

In 2004 I was the Democratic Party nominee for NC Labor Commissioner.  After a narrow loss to the GOP incumbent, NC Insurance Commissioner Jim Long then asked me to serve as his Assistant General Counsel in the Dept of Insurance.  For 3+ years thereafter I have served and still serve as Assistant Commissioner of Insurance.  My job also has made me the Assistant State Fire Marshal, thereby giving me experience with 44,000 firefighters statewide and allowing me to visit 200+ fire departments.  I am the only candidate in this race with experience as a state regulator of insurance and as a state legislator.

I am married to State Representative Melanie Wade Goodwin, now seeking her 3rd term in the NC House.  We have a 5-year old daughter, Madison, and are expecting our 2nd child in early May 2008.  We are United Methodists.

With Insurance Commissioner Jim Long’s endorsement, I pledge: 

low insurance rates for consumers and businesses, and a competitive, stable insurance market;

to work diligently to defend and fight off certain legislative and insurance industry attempts to strip the Insurance Commissioner of regulatory authority;

a stronger voice for firefighters and first responders as State Fire Marshal; and,

to crack down on insurance fraud, whether by unscrupulous insurance agents, companies or claimants.

My public service and private sector experience make me best prepared to start from Day One as Insurance Commissioner.

I am the only candidate fully understanding the Commissioner’s job.  My years as Assistant Insurance Commissioner and as a legislator provide skills that’ll help keep rates low.  I persuaded the legislature to expand monetary grants for fire departments statewide.  That helps keep homeowner’s insurance rates low.

What distinguishes me from my opponent?  I am NOT affiliated with the insurance industry.  I am for the People.  We desperately need an Insurance Commissioner with “clean hands”, one who has neither worked for nor represented the insurance industries and their agents. 

I have received numerous key endorsements.  They include Jim Long, firefighters, former Governor Jim Hunt, former Chief Justice Henry Frye, and a multitude of African-American political groups and lawmakers.  See www.waynegoodwin.org.

I’m the first Insurance Commissioner candidate to refuse special interest money, and the first to accept fundraising limits.  On information and belief, my opponents are being bankrolled by special interest money.  Do we want the fox to guard the henhouse?  No!

It’ll be my honor to continue Jim Long’s legacy.  Let’s have an Insurance Commissioner who’ll be a watchdog for you, and not an Insurance Commissioner allied with the insurance industry.  I want it to remain the Department of Insurance, not the Department for Insurance. 

I ask for your vote.