Wayne Goodwin Campaign Continues to Gain Re-election Momentum:

Has 20 to 1 Advantage Over His 2012 Opponent in One Key Area

There are several ways to measure a successful political campaign.

Most obviously would be to count votes.

But what about before the election – how do you measure success before the votes are cast?

It comes down to (1) money raised; (2) organization; (3) a ground game; and (4) supporters.

NC Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin appears to be winning on all fronts.

As for money raised, Insurance Commissioner Goodwin has raised more funds for this election cycle than any other person has raised for the office since its inception in 1899. Since he was sworn in, he had raised in excess of $520,000. As of the last campaign report, Goodwin had over $300,000 cash-on-hand and a few more scheduled fundraisers to go for the year.

His opponent, Mike Causey, had only mustered less than $30,000 total and had approximately $14,000 on hand as of June 30 before a costly run-off primary election.

At the organizational level, Goodwin has strong support among various constituent groups and keys in every county.

As for Goodwin’s ground game, the state’s elected Insurance Commissioner has been barnstorming the state almost non-stop since 2008 but has ultra-ramped up efforts especially over the last eight months. Every week he delivers multiple speeches to myriad groups, attends functions at fire departments or community gatherings, or is quoted in various newspapers all around North Carolina.

And then there are his supporters. His Facebook supporters alone outnumber his opponent’s list 3 to 1 and his contributors outnumber his opponent’s by 10 to 1. It probably also helps that Goodwin’s goals of consumer protection, fighting for low and fair insurance rates, and helping our firefighters are substantive – plus he has a significant, proven record to back it up -- while his opponent uses worn phrases like he’ll “bring more insurance companies to the State” and he’ll lower rates in certain areas of the State.

“To do what Causey is promising would mean many fewer consumer protections, insurance rates set at any level the companies wanted, and making the rest of the State pay more for insurance coverage than other areas,” pointed out Goodwin. “Voters need to listen closely to what he is saying and remember that Mr. Causey is the fox wanting to guard the henhouse.”

While Goodwin is running for re-election on a strong consumer protection record, his opponent – a retired insurance industry executive and paid lobbyist – is seeking the same office for the fourth time in 20 years. Unlike Causey, Goodwin has never worked for the insurance industry and has never been a lobbyist.

“We need an insurance commissioner with a successful track record and who knows how to fulfill the obligations of this office,” said Insurance Commissioner Goodwin. “I have bipartisan support and a team that champions consumer protection, saving $1.3 Billion during my term, and succeeding in the conviction of 330 persons for insurance fraud. This is not the time to change horses midstream and certainly not the time to try out this important office on someone who is untested and unready.”

Insurance Commissioner Goodwin Pleased With Property Ratemaking Reforms

Says There is Still More Work to Do for Consumers & the Marketplace

The North Carolina General Assembly, with the support and strong encouragement of Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin, recently enacted a package of property rate-making reforms.

"I'm pleased that the various stakeholders had input into the final product," said Goodwin. "Like with lawmaking in general, the results were in large part a series of compromises. Codifying my own personal practice of requiring public comment periods and granting me additional flexibility to negotiate or decide homeowners' rate cases were particular high marks of the new law."

A previous discussion about Goodwin's interest in reforms appeared on this blog several months ago.

The new law, introduced by GOP Senator Harry Brown after receiving a report from a select legislative study committee, will please persons in each of North Carolina's geographical regions, including the eastern/coastal area.

"I believe these measures contribute to my focus on targeted reforms and more fairness and setting adequate rates," added Commissioner Goodwin. "I'm doing what I can to strike the appropriate balance as we try to respond to the 'hard market' of the homeowners' insurance line of business. Taming that crisis is a goal of my administration."

Goodwin reminds us what this is ultimately about: Money and fairness. Consumers want to pay as little as they can for the promise that their claims will be paid; insurance agents want the ability to serve their customers with the best-priced, most-available products; and, of course, insurance companies want to make a reasonable profit so they will continue to do business and compete more in North Carolina.

Consumers and the industry benefit from the changes.

The new law is effective immediately in some parts and later this year in others. Learn more about this law and other related topics by visiting the website of the North Carolina Department of Insurance, www.ncdoi.com.

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Join Insurance Commissioner Goodwin on NCHurriClaims.com -- an online resource during hurricane season.

June 1st was the beginning of hurricane season in 2012. NC Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin said:

"To help me reach even more persons about the paramount need to prepare for the next big storm, my team and I at the Department of Insurance have created a special online presence here at www.NCHurriClaims.com."

Insurance Commissioner Goodwin Signs Onto $40 Million Settlement: Individuals, Families, Businesses and Public Schools to Benefit

Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin has entered into a $40 Million settlement with a group of MetLife insurance companies. North Carolinians will receive approximately $1 Million in the interstate settlement that may eventually be valued at $400 Million for consumers.

"This decision is further evidence of my strong support for consumers, whether they be individuals, families or small businesses," said North Carolina's Commissioner Goodwin.

He also stated:

“MetLife has agreed to improve its business practices in ways that enhance consumer protection and may benefit North Carolinians,” said State Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin “And, as a result of this settlement, many life insurance beneficiaries may receive the benefits they’re owed.”

Benefitting from this decision will also be the public schools of North Carolina.

Goodwin is seeking re-election this year, and points out that over the course of his term he has saved consumers more than $1.3 Billion. "My November opponent, a perennial candidate, is closely aligned with the insurance industry, which makes me wonder where he'd stand on this," he added.

To learn more about the MetLife settlement, go to this link here or to this additional link.

And with it being an election year, you can follow Goodwin on Twitter, @WayneGoodwinNC, or via www.waynegoodwin.org over the coming months.

Goodwin Gains More Momentum, Continues to Outpace Opponents at Critical Time

Recently filed campaign reports with the North Carolina Board of Elections are quite clear: Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin has tremendous momentum and organization in his 2012 re-election bid.

Goodwin’s campaign has raised $452,164 from over 1,660 contributors and presently has $272,542 cash-on-hand as of April 23. And, his campaign has no debt. Supporters flock to events of his in every corner of North Carolina. And he’s in the newspaper or other media most days.

On the other hand, his top two opponents are nowhere close to that level of financial or organizational support.

The top Republican vote-getter on May 8th and Republican opponent to Goodwin had raised $52,000 by the April 23rd report, but that came from only two contributors (he and his spouse) and 97% of that was a personal loan from that opposing candidate -- and, by the way, a loan for which that candidate is charging his own campaign 5% percent interest. That opposition candidate also has an outstanding campaign debt of $162,500, mostly from failed campaigns of his in 2006, 2008 and 2010. That is Richard Morgan. He had $10,436.83 cash-on-hand as of April 23rd.

The second-place vote-getter on May 8th had raised approximately $14,000 by that report, and, unlike Morgan, his financial contributors were 214 in number. Mike Causey, who has now requested a run-off election between him and Morgan for July 17, had $4,241 cash-on-hand as of April 23rd, two weeks before that May primary.

Reflecting on the contrasts between his campaign and that of his opponents, incumbent Insurance Commissioner Goodwin said:

“I am humbled by the personal and financial support I’ve been shown so early in the election cycle. Folks who know me know that I am out working for citizens every day, and it’s energizing that such a deep, diverse, bipartisan pool of North Carolinians and friends want me to continue doing this job.”

His contributors are quite bipartisan and reflect a broad-based level of support. Funds raised by the Goodwin campaign are - by all known indications - the most gathered at this stage of an Insurance Commissioner campaign in North Carolina.

It is also interesting to note that Morgan and Causey have run and lost four previous campaigns for the same office of Insurance Commissioner between them over the last 28 years. And when you count the current election, Goodwin's two GOP opponents will have run six times for this office!

While his potential, perennial General Election Republican opponents continue to be hyper-partisan, Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin stresses how he, his job and his Team are all bipartisan in outreach and support, non-political in its work, and solely focused on doing what’s right and what’s expected of a popularly-elected state insurance commissioner.

And if his fundraising and organization are any indication, Goodwin’s re-election campaign has major momentum heading into the General Election while his opponents spend the next two months running against each other as they await the July run-off election.

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Source: All information above is publicly available at http://www.app.sboe.state.nc.us/webapps/cf_rpt_search_org/

To stay up-to-date on the Goodwin campaign, follow it on Twitter @WayneGoodwinNC or become a Facebook friend by liking this link here.

"We must reform property insurance ratemaking," says Insurance Commissioner Goodwin

As indicated in his public press release here, Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin expressed his appreciation to the members of Legislative Research Committee on Property Insurance Rate Making for their diligent study in the area of homeowners insurance. Goodwin addressed the committee on March 21, 2012, and recommended five ways to improve property insurance rate making through greater transparency in rate filings, public comment periods, more flexibility in the insurance commissioner’s authority to set rates and other measures.

"My job, ultimately, is a balancing act,” said Goodwin. “Consumers want to know they’re getting a fair insurance rate, particularly in the coast areas of North Carolina. The insurance industry wants to know it has the opportunity to make a fair and reasonable profit."

But he stressed how imperative it is that the State reform its property insurance ratemaking laws. "Homeowners' insurance is the insurance crisis in North Carolina, not car insurance," he added. Changes should be targeted so that no there are no negative, unintended consequences, the statewide-elected official posited. The committee issued its final recommendations on April 12. The General Assembly will consider the committee's report and is expected to take up some of the suggestions. To read the full text of the Insurance Commissioner’s remarks, click here at this hyperlink.

Barry Goldwater & Other Republicans Support Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin!

To the surprise of some who follow partisan politics in North Carolina, former U.S. Congressman Barry M. Goldwater, Jr., heartily endorsed NC Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin at two March 2012 events in the Tar Heel state. Goldwater told those gathered that he supported Goodwin, though of a different party, because Goodwin is a stalwart advocate both for State-based insurance regulation and consumer protection, and has a successful record of accomplishment as Insurance Commissioner. The Congressman even reported how his namesake father, the late U.S. Senator from Arizona and 1964 GOP presidential nominee known for being the father of the modern Republican party, crossed party lines himself to support candidates.

"Commissioner Goodwin has my strong personal support because of his unmatched track record of protecting consumers, preserving state-based insurance regulation and helping to bring new insurance companies and jobs to North Carolina," said Goldwater. “Wayne’s work transcends partisan politics. He is trustworthy, hard-working and one of the most accessible public servants I've ever seen."

Goodwin has saved citizens and businesses more than $1 billion in the last four years through rate cuts, rebates, refunds and restitution. His administration has made unprecedented strides in promoting greater transparency and good government initiatives.

"I greatly appreciate Congressman Goldwater's endorsement and the support of so many folks across the political spectrum,” Goodwin said. “Even though I am on the ballot under one party label, my job is not really a partisan job at all. My job is to get remedies for the people North Carolina and to protect them from unscrupulous practices."

It is important to note, however, that having bipartisan support is not a new concept for Insurance Commissioner Goodwin. Not only have Republicans voted for him and will vote for him, a review of his public campaign reports indicates a plethora of Republicans who also believe in him enough to make a personal contribution for the re-election efforts.

"I do not see my job as partisan. My job of protecting consumers from excessive insurance rates, fighting insurance fraud, promoting a competitive and reasonably profitable insurance market, and serving the best interests of the firefighters (as State Fire Marshal) has nothing to do with political parties whatsoever: It is about doing what is right and best and fair for all stakeholders, preserving the appropriate balance among them," said Goodwin.

Goodwin told the Raleigh News & Observer that an endorsement does not mean he agrees with Goldwater on everything. The Council of State member is heartened and humbled by the strong showing he has all across the political spectrum. And he works every day to serve all North Carolinians, just as they expect.