Wayne Goodwin

Editorial Summary

(from candidate's website) Wayne Goodwin is a native of Hamlet, North Carolina, where his family was active in agriculture and banking. He excelled in the local Richmond County public schools and became both the first Morehead Scholar and William Randolph Hearst / U.S. Senate Scholar from Richmond Senior High School. Wayne graduated from the UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL with Honors in Political Science, including receipt of the Terry Sanford Award. He then went on to graduate from the UNC School of Law. After returning full-time to Richmond County, he worked in private legal practice for 13 years. In 1996 the voters of the legislative district elected him to the North Carolina House of Representatives, the youngest State Representative at the time. During his four elected terms - eight years - in the North Carolina Legislature, he represented all of Richmond, Scotland, Montgomery and Stanly counties. He sponsored legislation that led to greater incentives for economic development in rural areas, increases in education spending, improved health care, and enhanced public and occupational safety, security, election and campaign finance reforms, and consumer protection. Among many other honors, he was presented the Leadership in Government Award by Common Cause and the A+ Legislator Award by the NC Association of Educators. Pfeiffer College named him an honorary alumnus. In 2004 Wayne decided to seek statewide office. He was the Democratic nominee for N.C. Commissioner of Labor, but did not prevail that November in his hard-fought bid. That same year, though, his wife, Melanie, was elected to succeed him in the N.C. House of Representatives. A few months thereafter, Insurance Commissioner Jim Long called on Wayne to return to public service. "Wayne's experience with State government and his intense desire to protect North Carolinians will serve him well here at the Department of Insurance," Long said. Insurance Commissioner Long asked Wayne to be his Assistant Commissioner of Insurance for North Carolina. In that capacity he also serves as the Assistant State Fire Marshal. In his role as Assistant Commissioner of Insurance he has worked hand-in-hand with the Commissioner to protect consumers and to promote a fair insurance market. As State Fire Marshal Wayne successfully fought for increased annual grant funds for volunteer fire departments statewide. In August 2007, the General Assembly appointed Wayne to serve on the e-NC Authority Commission, where he will focus on enhancing job growth and economic development related to the expansion of the Internet in today's marketplace. Wayne teaches his Sunday School class at First United Methodist Church in Rockingham and is a member of the Kiwanis Club and various civic, non-profit and other Boards including the NC Center for Voter Education and the Methodist Home for Children. His wife, State Rep. Melanie Wade Goodwin, continues to serve in the legislature in what is now her 2nd term. The couple has a daughter, Madison, who is five years old, and anticipates their second child in Spring 2008.