James E. Long
Encyclopedia
James Eugene "Jim" Long (March 19, 1940 – February 2, 2009) was the North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance
from 1985 through 2009 retiring as the senior Democratic
member of the North Carolina Council of State
. He was the third-longest-serving statewide elected official in North Carolina history as of 2009.
to a political family Long served in the North Carolina House of Representatives
(1971–1975) as had his father and grandfather. He also worked as legal counsel to the state house speaker
and as Chief Deputy Commissioner of the North Carolina Department of Insurance from 1975-76. Commissioner John R. Ingram fired Long as his deputy in 1976 and Long ran unsuccessfully against his former boss in 1980.
Long became the state's insurance commissioner
in January 1985 having been elected in November 1984. He won a sixth term in the 2004 statewide elections
. In 2008 he chose not to run for a seventh term.
Long endorsed Wayne Goodwin
to succeed him as Commissioner of Insurance.
. He died at Rex Hospital
in Raleigh on February 2, aged 68.
North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance
The North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance regulates the insurance industry in North Carolina, licenses insurance professionals in the state, educates consumers about different types of insurance, and handles consumer complaints...
from 1985 through 2009 retiring as the senior Democratic
North Carolina Democratic Party
The North Carolina Democratic Party is the North Carolina affiliate of the national Democratic Party in the United States. It is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. They are located in the historic Goodwin house which is located in the downtown area of Raleigh at 220 Hillsborough Street...
member of the North Carolina Council of State
North Carolina Council of State
The Council of State is a group of popularly elected executive offices in North Carolina, USA. It is separate from the North Carolina Cabinet, which is appointed by the Governor of North Carolina, and makes up the rest of the executive leadership of the government...
. He was the third-longest-serving statewide elected official in North Carolina history as of 2009.
Political career
Born in Alamance CountyAlamance County, North Carolina
Alamance County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It coincides with the Burlington, North Carolina, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
to a political family Long served in the North Carolina House of Representatives
North Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....
(1971–1975) as had his father and grandfather. He also worked as legal counsel to the state house speaker
Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives
The Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives is the presiding officer of one of the houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The Speaker is elected by the members of the house when they convene for their regular session in January of each odd-numbered year...
and as Chief Deputy Commissioner of the North Carolina Department of Insurance from 1975-76. Commissioner John R. Ingram fired Long as his deputy in 1976 and Long ran unsuccessfully against his former boss in 1980.
Long became the state's insurance commissioner
Insurance commissioner
Insurance commissioner is an executive office in many U.S. states, some in the state cabinet. The office differs state by state:...
in January 1985 having been elected in November 1984. He won a sixth term in the 2004 statewide elections
North Carolina Council of State election, 2004
Elections to choose members of the North Carolina Council of State were held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004....
. In 2008 he chose not to run for a seventh term.
Long endorsed Wayne Goodwin
Wayne Goodwin
George Wayne Goodwin was elected North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance in the 2008 election. Goodwin previously served as a Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's sixty-eighth House district, including constituents in Richmond and Stanly counties...
to succeed him as Commissioner of Insurance.
Personal life
Long was married to Peg O'Connell and had two children -Dr.Rebecca Long & James Long, and five grandchildren -Steven Long, Morgan Long, Matthew McNeal, Hannah Englehart and Kristin Mcneal Vatcher. In 2009, less than one month after leaving office as Insurance Commissioner, Long suffered a hemorrhagic stroke leaving him in a comaComa
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
. He died at Rex Hospital
Rex Hospital
Rex Hospital is a general hospital located in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is the capital city's oldest hospital, founded by a bequeath from John T. Rex , a tanner and respected member of the local society. Originally located on what is now Dorothea Dix campus, and later on St...
in Raleigh on February 2, aged 68.