news-record.com

Occupation
Assistant Insurance Commissioner of NC

Birthdate
Feb. 22, 1967

Address
528 Anson Ave., Rockingham NC 28379

Web site/e-mail address
www.WayneGoodwin.org
gwaynegoodwin@gmail.com and wayne@waynegoodwin.org

Party affiliation
Democrat

Elective experience
State Representative, NC GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
4 terms (8 years); district included Richmond,
Montgomery, Stanly and Scotland Counties.

Other relevant experience (boards and commissions):
(partial list)
Chairman, House Judiciary Committee
Chairman, House Occupational Safety and Health
Committee
Chairman, House Mental Health Committee
Member, House Business & Labor Committee
Joint Select Committee on Immunity from Negligence
Joint Select Committee on Mental Health, Disability and
Substance Abuse
e-NC Authority Commission
Study Committee on Autism and First Responders
Insurance Commissioner Jim Long's surrogate at
multiple meetings of insurance-related and
safety-related boards and commissions,
including the Safe Kids NC board, the
Arson Awareness Council, the House
Insurance Committee, the Senate Commerce
Committee; and, the NC Building Code Council
Methodist Home for Children Board of Directors
NC Center for Voter Education Board of Directors
National Association of Insurance Commissioners

Family
Wife, Melanie (who is running for her own 3rd term in the NC House); Daughter, Madison, 6 years old; Son, Jackson, 5 months old

Why have you chosen to run for this office?
I have chosen to run for NC Insurance Commissioner because citizens, families, and businesses all need a Commissioner who will champion the cause of low, fair, and appropriate insurance rates while also laboring to maintain a competitive insurance market in the State. It is a difficult balance, but one that can be met by a keen understanding of the office. In fact, when Insurance Commissioner Jim Long decided to retire, I considered it my obligation - presently as Assistant Insurance Commissioner - to continue the work expected of a competent, experienced leader of the Department of Insurance. We need a consumer watchdog to be our Insurance Commissioner.

Unlike anyone else in the race for Insurance Commissioner, I've already been a regulator of the North Carolina's insurance industry: I have served as Assistant Commissioner of Insurance for the State for more than three years. In that position I have held hearings, written administrative orders, handled complaints against both insurance companies and agents, and resolved a multitude of matters for consumers in most counties. Working alongside long-time Insurance Commissioner Jim Long - one of the strongest consumer advocates that Tar Heels have ever seen - I have learned firsthand what a regulator is to do.

My other duties as Assistant Insurance Commissioner have been to advise and counsel the Commissioner on legislative, political and administrative matters; draft legislation; consult with technical experts regarding insurance matters; negotiate agreements; manage 40% of the Department myself with approximately 100 of 405 Dept of Insurance employees reporting directly to me; and overseeing the Office of State Fire Marshal, the DOI Eastern Regional Office in New Bern, and the DOI Western Regional Office in Asheville.

Additional primary qualifications include: My eight years of elected service as State Representative, where I regularly worked on insurance-related legislation (e.g., Health Care Bill of Rights; Children's Health Insurance Program, CHIP; mental health parity; expanded insurance coverage for various illnesses and diseases) and stood up for consumers and a competitive insurance market; as well as my 13+ years working as an attorney in private practice representing individuals, working families, and small businesses who had been erroneously denied service or coverage by insurance companies. Furthermore, I also worked for a time as the Assistant General Counsel for the Department of Insurance.

In sum, I am the only candidate in this race to have experience as an insurance regulator, the only one with a college degree; and certainly the only one to have qualifications that are tempered by having served in State public office and in private legal practice. I understand the insurance industry, and have a balanced view that more than anything will always defer to the public interest and the consumer.

I chose to run for Insurance Commissioner because we need an experienced leader in this important post.

What distinguishes you most from your opponent?
Relevant experience is what distinguishes me most from my opponents. I know the office of Insurance Commissioner and the Department of Insurance inside and out, and am ready to lead it from Day One. (See my answer to the previous question.)

Key qualifications you would bring to the job:
One key qualification right off the bat: I've already been a regulator of the insurance industry for North Carolina -- I have served as Assistant Commissioner of Insurance for the State for the last three-plus years. In that position I have held hearings, written administrative orders, handled complaints against both insurance companies and agents, and resolved a multitude of matters for consumers in most counties. Working alongside long-time Insurance Commissioner Jim Long - one of the strongest consumer advocates that Tar Heels have ever seen - I have learned firsthand what a regulator is to do.

My other duties as Assistant Insurance Commissioner have been to advise and counsel the Commissioner on legislative, political and administrative matters; draft legislation; consult with technical experts regarding insurance matters; negotiate agreements; manage 40% of the Department myself with approximately 100 of 405 Dept of Insurance employees reporting directly to me; and overseeing the Office of State Fire Marshal, the DOI Eastern Regional Office in New Bern, and the DOI Western Regional Office in Asheville.

Additional primary qualifications include: My eight years of elected service as State Representative, where I regularly worked on insurance-related legislation (e.g., Health Care Bill of Rights; Children's Health Insurance Program, CHIP; mental health parity; expanded insurance coverage for various illnesses and diseases) and stood up for consumers and a competitive insurance market; as well as my 13+ years working as an attorney in private practice representing individuals, working families, and small businesses who had been erroneously denied service or coverage by insurance companies. Furthermore, I also worked for a time as the Assistant General Counsel for the Department of Insurance.

In sum, I am the only candidate in this race to have experience as an insurance regulator; the only one with a college degree; and certainly the only one to have qualifications that are tempered by having served in State public office and in private legal practice. I understand the insurance industry, and have a balanced view that more than anything will always defer to the public interest and the consumer.

List your top three campaign issues and your stances on those issues (briefly, please)
My top three priorities in addressing these issues are:

Fighting always for low, fair and reasonable insurance rates for consumers, working families, and businesses - while maintaining the availability of a competitive insurance market in North Carolina. I favor reforming the Beach Plan so we can solve the coastal insurance crisis, and reforming our rate making system for auto insurance so that the best drivers always pay the best rates and the worst drivers the worst rates.

Protecting consumers and industry alike from insurance fraud, including fighting fraud by unscrupulous insurance companies and collection agencies who take advantage of persons in a time of need, injury, or loss. I will seek additional sworn officers and investigators in the Department of Insurance.

Defeating any attempts to strip the Insurance Commissioner (and, by inference, the Department of Insurance) of authority in the rate-setting process and defeating attempts by the insurance industry to allow multiple rate requests per year. ... Basically, we cannot allow special interests to neuter our consumer watchdog. ... With all that has been happening on Wall Street lately, we also do not need an Insurance Commissioner who will be inexperienced or turn a blind eye to insolvent insurance companies. Our citizens and businesses need the protection that a strong, stable, knowledgeable, and prepared Insurance Commissioner brings to the table.

To read about specific proposals, please go to my website, www.WayneGoodwin.org, and review the news links and issues page.

Should there be changes in the state's lobbying law?
Yes, to the extent that it guarantees even further transparency and prevents special interests from dictating or controlling our government.

Should the Secretary of State's office make more information available on line?
Yes. But so should the Department of Insurance. To the extent allowed by federal and state law, including HIPPA and various privacy statutes, I want the Department of Insurance website to offer even more information. I have proposals to make the Department website even more user-friendly, and to help make the process of interacting with the Department and the Insurance Commissioner even more paperless and responsive.

Are there sufficient safeguards in place to prevent security breaches?
At the Department of Insurance we have very strong safeguards to prevent security breaches, but are ever vigilant with our software and have a crackerjack team of computer experts who keep our system at the highest levels of protection possible. Notwithstanding, I always believe we can do even better. We also have regular updates and training within the Department to assist in maintaining security of data and personal information.

Should the state auditor once again audit this office?
Yes. It helps any State agency to have regular audits so we find any inefficiencies and to help ensure that laws are followed and taxpayer funds are spent appropriately. However, do note that Insurance Commissioner Jim Long has already put in place an internal auditor to review Department activities even more regularly that the State Auditor is able. As Insurance Commissioner, I will continue reliance upon an internal auditor so that future reviews by the State Auditor have even better results.