Insurance Commissioner Jim Long Kicks Off 2008 Re-election Campaign

Having announced on Election Night 2004 and also last September 2006, Insurance Commissioner Jim Long kicked off his 2008 re-election campaign last night at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Durham.

It has become tradition for Long to jumpstart his re-election at the ANNUAL SALUTE TO JIM LONG. The longest-serving Insurance Commissioner in state history and the second-longest currently serving in the Nation, at 22+ years he is also the senior member of the Council of State.

In attendance this year for the occasion were supporters of his from around North Carolina, many of whom have been with him through six successful statewide campaigns.

Among the officials present were State Treasurer Richard Moore, Senator Tony Forriest, Representative Melanie Wade Goodwin, Senator Janet Cowell, Representative Jennifer Weiss, former Agriculture Commissioner Britt Cobb, Senator Doug Berger, and former lawmakers such as George Miller, Al Adams, and Howard Twiggs. Jon Williams, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, and Daryl Jernigan of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program also attended. Serving as master of ceremonies was Wayne Goodwin, former legislator and now the Assistant Commissioner of Insurance. Beth Wood, a Democratic candidate for State Auditor, joined the throng of attendees as well.

Jim Long’s record on behalf of both consumers and a viable insurance market is a mighty one: Through his efforts, for example, North Carolina has the fifth-lowest automobile insurance premiums in the country. Through his leadership he has saved consumers and small businesses alike more than $5 billion since he first took the oath of office in 1985. Commissioner Long remains a stalwart supporter of both firefighters across North Carolina and State employees, and has made his consumer services division second to none in state government. Insurance investigators working in Jim Long’s administration have arrested hundreds of persons committing insurance fraud and helped secure millions of dollars in restitution for insurance scam victims every year.

As he shared with friends at last night’s gala, he has no plans to stop serving North Carolinians any time soon.

“Like Jim Graham before me, and with the abundant faith of the voters, I look forward to continuing my service as dean of the Council of State and doing good things for our great State a long time to come,” said Long.