Wayne Goodwin
Encyclopedia
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. His prior district - the 32nd House district - also included Scotland and Montgomery Counties.
An attorney from Hamlet, North Carolina
, Goodwin was a Morehead Scholar and U.S. Senate/William Randolph Hearst Scholar. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
with honors in Political Science, and then went on to graduate from the UNC School of Law. After serving as President of the Young Democrats of North Carolina
, Goodwin served four full terms in the state House. Goodwin campaigned as the Democratic nominee for the position of North Carolina Commissioner of Labor
in the 2004 election, losing in a close race to incumbent Republican Cherie Berry. Wayne is married to Melanie Wade Goodwin
, the who succeeded him as Representative of the Richmond County area for three terms in the legislature. They have a daughter, Madison Wade Goodwin, and a son, Jackson. Following a family tradition, both children are named after U.S. Presidents. Goodwin has numerous family members also named after American leaders.
Goodwin served as the Assistant Commissioner of Insurance
and Assistant State Fire Marshal
for the State of North Carolina from 2005 through 2008. In 2008, Goodwin filed to run for Commissioner of Insurance after the surprise retirement of longtime Commissioner Jim Long
. Wayne Goodwin won the Democratic nomination for Insurance Commissioner with a solid victory, based on a broad, deep, and diverse team across the State and support from many sectors. Of great interest to political observers was his decision to become the first Insurance Commissioner candidate to refuse campaign contributions from special interests. The North Carolina State Board of Elections certified Goodwin's campaign for public financing in May 2008, the first of its kind for the pilot Voter-Owned Elections Program.
In 2007 he began operation of his own political blog, "Wayne's World", found at http://www.eighthdistrictdemsnc.blogspot.com.
Goodwin has also served as Vice Chairman of Southeast Zone of the North Carolina Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and the chairman of various consumer protection-related committees on the national level. In both his State and national work, Insurance Commissioner Goodwin has brought a level-headed, balanced approach to governance, focusing on consumer protection, fair pricing of products and services, a competitive/solvent market, and strong anti-fraud efforts.
Between taking the oath of office in January 2009 and June 2011, NC Insurance Commissioner Goodwin has saved individuals, families and businesses at least $1 Billion - through rate cuts, rebates, refunds, and other consumer protection measures.
Goodwin is the past president of the N.C. Center for Voter Education, a Raleigh-based nonprofit and nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving elections and strengthening civic engagement in North Carolina.
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...
in the 2008 election. Goodwin previously served as a Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
representing the state's sixty-eighth House
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....
district, including constituents in Richmond
Richmond County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 46,564 people, 17,873 households, and 12,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 98 people per square mile . There were 19,886 housing units at an average density of 42 per square mile...
and Stanly
Stanly County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 60,585 people. In 2000 there were 22,223 households, and 16,156 families residing in the county. The population density was 147 people per square mile . There were 24,582 housing units at an average density of 62 per square mile...
counties. His prior district - the 32nd House district - also included Scotland and Montgomery Counties.
An attorney from Hamlet, North Carolina
Hamlet, North Carolina
Hamlet is a town in Richmond County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 6,018 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hamlet is located at ....
, Goodwin was a Morehead Scholar and U.S. Senate/William Randolph Hearst Scholar. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
with honors in Political Science, and then went on to graduate from the UNC School of Law. After serving as President of the Young Democrats of North Carolina
Young Democrats of North Carolina
The Young Democrats of North Carolina are the official youth arm of the North Carolina Democratic Party . As an auxiliary organization of the NCDP, the officers of the YDNC serve as part of the State Executive Committee of the NCDP...
, Goodwin served four full terms in the state House. Goodwin campaigned as the Democratic nominee for the position of North Carolina Commissioner of Labor
North Carolina Commissioner of Labor
The Commissioner of Labor of North Carolina is the head of the state's Department of Labor.The Constitution of North Carolina provides for the election by the people every four years of a Commissioner of Labor whose term of office runs concurrently with that of the governor...
in the 2004 election, losing in a close race to incumbent Republican Cherie Berry. Wayne is married to Melanie Wade Goodwin
Melanie Wade Goodwin
Melanie Wade Goodwin is a Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly, representing the state's 66th House district since being elected in 2004. She announced that she would not seek a fourth term in 2010...
, the who succeeded him as Representative of the Richmond County area for three terms in the legislature. They have a daughter, Madison Wade Goodwin, and a son, Jackson. Following a family tradition, both children are named after U.S. Presidents. Goodwin has numerous family members also named after American leaders.
Goodwin served as the Assistant Commissioner of Insurance
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...
and Assistant State Fire Marshal
Fire Marshal
A fire marshal, in the United States and Canada, is often a member of a fire department but may be part of a building department or a separate department altogether. Fire marshals' duties vary but usually include fire code enforcement and/or investigating fires for origin and cause...
for the State of North Carolina from 2005 through 2008. In 2008, Goodwin filed to run for Commissioner of Insurance after the surprise retirement of longtime Commissioner Jim Long
Jim Long
Jim Long is an Irish-American entrepreneur, whose pioneering marketing concepts and creative “firsts” are iconic in the broadcast music industry....
. Wayne Goodwin won the Democratic nomination for Insurance Commissioner with a solid victory, based on a broad, deep, and diverse team across the State and support from many sectors. Of great interest to political observers was his decision to become the first Insurance Commissioner candidate to refuse campaign contributions from special interests. The North Carolina State Board of Elections certified Goodwin's campaign for public financing in May 2008, the first of its kind for the pilot Voter-Owned Elections Program.
In 2007 he began operation of his own political blog, "Wayne's World", found at http://www.eighthdistrictdemsnc.blogspot.com.
Goodwin has also served as Vice Chairman of Southeast Zone of the North Carolina Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and the chairman of various consumer protection-related committees on the national level. In both his State and national work, Insurance Commissioner Goodwin has brought a level-headed, balanced approach to governance, focusing on consumer protection, fair pricing of products and services, a competitive/solvent market, and strong anti-fraud efforts.
Between taking the oath of office in January 2009 and June 2011, NC Insurance Commissioner Goodwin has saved individuals, families and businesses at least $1 Billion - through rate cuts, rebates, refunds, and other consumer protection measures.
Goodwin is the past president of the N.C. Center for Voter Education, a Raleigh-based nonprofit and nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving elections and strengthening civic engagement in North Carolina.