Wayne Goodwin

Biography

Wayne Goodwin is a Democratic candidate for the Commissioner of Insurance.

Early Life and Education

Wayne Goodwin was born Feb. 22, 1967, in Hamlet, N.C., to George and Diane Goodwin. His father worked as a farmer and grocer. Diane worked as a mill worker before getting a job as a teacher's assistant.

Goodwin attended Richmond Senior High School in Rockingham, N.C. He was valedictorian, student body president and the first Morehead scholar from Richmond Senior High School.

After graduating high school in 1985, he attended UNC-Chapel Hill, where he graduated in 1989 with a bachelor of arts in political science. He also graduated with honors.

Goodwin then attended law school at UNC and graduated in 1992.

Family

He is married to Melanie Wade Goodwin, a state representative in his old legislative seat. They have a 5-year-old daughter named Madison and another baby due in May.

Professional Career

After law school, Goodwin worked for the law offices of Woody Gunter in Rockingham for six years.

Political Career 

In 1996 he was elected to the state House of Representatives. He was elected four times, representing Richmond, Montgomery, Scotland and Stanly counties.

In 2004 Goodwin unsuccessfully ran for labor commissioner.

After the election, longtime Insurance Commissioner Jim Long invited Goodwin to his staff. He served as assistant general council before becoming the assistant commissioner of insurance and the assistant state fire marshall, positions which he currently holds.

Insurance Commissioner '08

On the last day of filing in 2008, Long unexpectedly announced he would not run for a seventh term and endorsed Goodwin.

He faces David C. Smith in the Democratic primary.

Former Raleigh City Councilman John Odom has filed to run as a Republican.

He was endorsed by the state chapter of the AFL-CIO, former Gov. Jim Hunt, the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, the Raleigh-Wake Citizens Association, and Insurance Commissioner Jim Long.

Research and reporting by Matt Tomsic and Ryan Teague Beckwith.

Occupation

Raleigh Kiwanis Club, Vice Pres of N.C. Center
for Voter Education, member of Board of Directors of Methodist Home for Children, Chairman of Platform committee of N.C. Democratic Party, member of First United Methodist Church in Rockingham. 

Contact Info

Email: gwaynegoodwin@gmail.com

Education

Military

Issues

How will you measure success in your first year in office?

"I will measure my successs after my first term in office by my ability to ensure fair, reasonable and low insurance rates for North Carolina individuals and businesses while also ensuring a competitive market." 

Tell us about something you did for someone else.

"I was the first person to attend college in my family and that was because of the Morehead scholarship to UNC-Chapel Hill. After receiving the scholarship, I decided to spend the next several years preparing potential students from my area who also came from very humble and modest backgrounds, and I'm pleased to say that we had at least three more Morehead scholars in the years following my personal success." 

What is the biggest challenge facing North Carolina? Your county? Your district?

"In my opinion, the No. 1 challenge facing North Carolina in general is a provision of appropriate education to all citizens for the 21st century economy. As it relates to the office of insurance commissioner, the No. 1 challenge is affordable, accessible insurance, particularly health insurance for every Tar Heel." 

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