N.C. Insurance Commissioner Will Not Run for Another Term

When asked how his colleagues and staff took the news from North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Jim Long that he was departing public life, he said, “I think they’re just wondering who will stir things up and joke around now.”

Long’s approach of keeping humor in the mix has added to the success of his 24-year tenure as the state’s insurance regulator. He began his sixth term in office in January 2005.

According to Long, his office currently regulates 1,400 insurance companies and 145,000 insurance agents. During his time in the elected position, the commissioner said he built the department up to 402 authorized personnel.

Long, a Democrat who turns 68 next month, was first elected commissioner in 1984, and as such also serves as the state fire marshal and oversees numerous other industries and activities in the state, including bail bondsmen, auto clubs, the state building code and injury prevention programs. He also is the longest serving member of the Council of State, a panel of 10 statewide elected officials.

In 1985, Long introduced the insurance commission to the relatively new technology of e-mail. An innovative leader, Long championed full automation early on and served as an example for the rest of the nation in that regard.

“We process so much data,” he said.

Long is also proud of the comprehensive nature in which his commission deals with natural disasters and situations where the insurance industry is called upon to react quickly and decisively.

On the issue of smoke detectors that is currently facing the state’s building industry, Long’s preference is clear. “I fully support the idea of new construction being sprinkled. Builders are saying the cost is prohibitive, but it’s really no more than the cost of quality carpeting. Adding sprinkler systems is worthwhile for saving the lives of citizens,” he said.

He is perhaps best known for keeping automobile insurance rates among the nation’s lowest; his work has saved North Carolina consumers nearly $4.2 billion in auto insurance premiums by his agency’s estimate.

An Alamance County native, Long served in the North Carolina House of Representatives (as did his father and grandfather) prior to being elected insurance commissioner. In addition, he previously served as legal counsel to the speaker of the House and chief deputy commissioner of the Department of Insurance. This experience led him to making improvements in the state’s oversight of insurance when he took office in 1985.

Long has endorsed his own assistant commissioner, Wayne Goodwin, as his successor to the elected position. “He is a great advocate and is doing a great job for the state,” Long said.

Two other candidates for insurance commissioner filed last week. Democrat David Smith is a Durham attorney and president-elect of the North Carolina Association of Health Underwriters. Republican John Odom is a former Raleigh city councilman who owns three muffler repair shops.

“I felt it was time to pass the torch to a new generation of leadership for the department,” Long said in an e-mail to his employees. “It has been my honor to work side by side with you in service to the people of North Carolina.”

Long will remain in office until January 2009.

Associated Press contributed to this article
Source: North Carolina Department of Insurance

Topics North Carolina