| Born in NC and I have lived here fifty of my 61 years. |
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Candidate Biography (submitted by campaign):
Commissioner Berry was elected NC's first female labor commissioner of Jan. 6, 2001 and re-elected in 2004.
A native of Catawba County, she is the former business owner of LGM, Ltd., a company that produces spark plug wires for the automotive industry.
Berry served in the NC House of Representatives from 1993-2001, representing the 45th District.
Commissioner Berry received the 2007 Holmes-McBride Memorial Award from the NC Association of Agricultural Fairs for her contributions to improve the agricultural fairs throughout the state.
Commissioner Berry in 2005 received the Chairman's Award from the NC Manufacturer's Association for her commitment to safety in the manufacturing industry.
In 2004, the National Association of Home Builders named Commissioner Berry the U.S State Official of the Year. The N.C. Home Builders Association chose Commissioner Berry for her focus on education and outreach in the construction industry.
In 2003 Commissioner Berry received the "Build with the Best" Pinnacle Award from the Carolinas Associated General Contractors for her contributions to the betterment of the construction industry and to the economic welfare of North Carolina.
Commissioner Berry was married to the late Norman H. Berry, Jr. and has two daughters, a stepdaughter and stepson. She is the daughter of Lena Carrigan Killian and the late Earl Killian.
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| Candidate Statement:
When I was sworn in as North Carolina's Labor Commissioner on Jan. 6, 2001, North Carolina was not even in the top ten safest states in the country in which to work. We went to work immediately to change that sad statistic. Our workers deserved better.
Our top priority is and always has been creating and maintaining safe and healthy workplaces for hard working men and women. We also strive to apply the labor laws in a fair and consistent way across the state.
By working hand in hand with our business community and our workers as partners, we have been able to achieve for the past seven years, the lowest injury and illness rates for our workers in the history of the state. We will continue with your help to bring those numbers lower and to continue drive down the number of workplace fatalities, which are also the lowest ever recorded. However, we cannot rest until no worker is injured or dies simply because they punched a time card and every worker goes home safe and healthy at the end of the day to their families, loved ones and friends.
I hope that you will take the time to learn more about the many responsibilities and duties of your Department of Labor and take advantage of the services that we provide to the employers and employees of the state.
It is both an honor and a privilege to serve as your labor commissioner and I ask for your continued support as we grow North Carolina's economy together.
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