North Carolina's Council of State seats can be ballot afterthoughts, even in years when the state doesn't have hotly contested presidential and gubernatorial races.
But those positions have tremendous influence over workplace safety, the food we eat, the cost of insurance and how children are educated, among other things.
All eight offices will be up for grabs in November.
Both parties have primary elections for the position of state superintendent of public instruction. Democrats also have choices for auditor, treasurer, labor commissioner and insurance commissioner.
There are no primaries for agriculture commissioner, secretary of state or attorney general.
The state superintendent of public instruction oversees the Department of Public Instruction, which has around 530 positions to serve local school districts across the state. DPI also administers around $7 billion in federal and state funding to 100,000 teachers and administrators statewide.
The superintendent works at the direction of the State Board of Education.
The auditor is the state's watchdog, doing regular investigations into the efficiency and performance of government programs.
The state treasurer serves as the state's banker and chief financial officer. Duties include overseeing the state employees' retirement fund; investing public funds to earn consistent returns; and supervising the state's banking system.
The insurance commissioner is responsible for the licensing and supervision of insurance companies inside the state. The department regulates insurance rates, much as the state's utilities commission does electric rates, and investigates claims of fraud.
The insurance department also includes the office of the State Fire Marshal; the licensure of bail bondsmen; and handles the insuring of all state-owned properties.
The labor commissioner oversees the department charged with promoting the "health, safety and general well-being" of more than 4 million workers in the state. It conducts more than 5,500 safety and health inspections, plus it investigates work-related deaths and accidents.
mshaw@wilsontimes.com | 265-7878
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STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
REPUBLICANS
JOE JOHNSON
Born: Feb. 2, 1982
Hometown: Tryon
Political background: First run for office
Other background: Formerly worked as public affairs director for Henderson County sheriff.
Family: Single
Web site: www.electjoejohnson.org
RICHARD MORGAN
Born: July 12, 1952
Hometown: Eagle Springs
Political background: N.C. House, 1990-2006; unsuccessful runs for N.C. House in 1976 and insurance commissioner in 1984
Other background: He suffered a backlash from his party after brokering a deal with Democrat Jim Black to be co-speakers of the N.C. House.
Family: Wife, Cindy
Web site: www.richardmorgan2008.com
ERIC H. SMITH
Born: Sept. 14, 1974
Hometown: Reidsville
Political background: He ran unsuccessfully for local office in Texas in 2002 and for county school board in 2006.
Other background: He has worked as a shiitake mushroom farmer since 2002.
Family: Wife, Kelly; two sons
Web site: www.smithfornckids.com
DEMOCRATS
JUNE ST. CLAIR ATKINSON
Born: Aug. 19, 1948
Hometown: Raleigh
Political background: State superintendent for public instruction since 2005
Other background: She worked for four years as a teacher in Charlotte, then for the N.C. Department of Public Instruction in various positions for 27 years.
Family: Husband, William Gurley
Web site: www.juneatkinson.com
EDDIE DAVIS
Born: May 8, 1949
Hometown: Durham
Political background: Making his first run for office
Other background: President of the N.C. Association of Educators, 2003-present; vice president, NCAE, 2001-03; public school teacher, 1971-2001
Family: Wife, Harriette; two children
Web site: www.supereddiedavis.com
AUDITOR
DEMOCRATS
FRED AIKENS
Born: 1950
Hometown: Raleigh
Political background: First run for office; served as deputy secretary, N.C. Department of Correction, 1997-2006, and deputy secretary, N.C. Department of Transportation, 1993-96
Other background: Retired and working as part-time consultant; fiscal analyst for the N.C. General Assembly, 1978-1993
Family: Wife, Lucy; two adult daughters; grandson
Web site: www.fredaikens.com
BETH A. WOOD
Born: April 22, 1954
Hometown: Raleigh
Political background: First run for office
Other background: She worked for 15 years in the state auditor's office, most recently as director of training. She left after announcing that she was running for auditor.
Family: Single
Web site: www.bethwoodcampaign.com
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
DEMOCRATS
WAYNE GOODWIN
Born: Feb. 22, 1967
Hometown: Rockingham
Political background: N.C. House, 1996-2004; ran unsuccessfully for labor commissioner, 2004
Other background: His wife, Melanie Wade Goodwin, serves in the N.C. House in his former seat.
Family: Wife, Melanie; a daughter
Web site: www.waynegoodwin.org
DAVID C. SMITH
Born: April 19, 1968
Hometown: Durham
Political background: This is his first run for office.
Other background: He is a Durham attorney. He formerly worked as a policy and research advisor for former Lt. Gov. Dennis Wicker.
Family: Single
Web site: www.electdavidsmith.com
TREASURER
DEMOCRATS
JANET COWELL
Born: July 19, 1968
Hometown: Raleigh
Political background: N.C. Senate, 2005-present; Raleigh City Council, 2001-2005
Other background: Business consultant
Family: Single
Web site: www.cowellfortreasurer.com
DAVID YOUNG
Born: Nov. 11, 1959
Hometown: Asheville
Political background: Buncombe County commissioner, 1992-present; board chairman, 2000-2003; ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 1998
Other background: From 1983-86, he worked for BB&T as a commercial lender, including time in Wilson. He then moved to Asheville where he bought a travel agency. He also invests in real estate.
Family: Wife, Leigh; three daughters
Web site: www.davidyoung2008.com
MICHAEL WEISEL
Born: Sept. 13, 1957
Hometown: Raleigh
Political background: Ran unsuccessfully for state treasurer in 1996; chairman of the Wake County Democratic Party, 1999-2003.
Other background: Attorney; has worked as a pension fund manager
Family: Wife, Deborah; two daughters
Web site: www.weisel2008.org
LABOR COMMISSIONER
DEMOCRATS
ROBIN ANDERSON
Hometown: Cary
Political background: This is her first run for office
Other background: A labor and employment attorney; currently serving as chairwoman of the State Personnel Commission
Web site: www.andersonforlabor.org
JOHN C. BROOKS
Born: Jan. 10, 1937
Hometown: Raleigh
Political background: Commissioner of Labor, 1977-1993
Other background: Staff attorney, N.C. Industrial Commission
Family: Wife, Nancy; two adult children
Web site: www.brookslaborcomm.com
MARY FANT DONNAN
Born: May 29, 1962
Hometown: Winston-Salem
Political background: First run for office
Other background: Works for the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation on community economic development; formerly the director of research and police at the Labor department
Family: Husband, Robert; three children
Web site: www.maryfantdonnan.com
TY RICHARDSON
Born: Jan. 14, 1950
Hometown: Middlesex
Political background: This is his first run for office.
Other background: He is a former Marine and employee of the N.C. Department of Crime Control and Public Safety. His Web site says he is currently an "export/import entrepreneur."
Family: Single
Web site: www.tyrichardson.org
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THE WILSON DAILY TIMES is running special coverage this week of the races on the May 6 ballots. The schedule is:
Saturday: Presidential candidates
Monday: Congressional races
Tuesday: Governor
Wednesday: Lieutenant Governor
Today: Statewide races
Friday: Judicial primaries
Saturday, May 1: Sales-tax referendums
To see past stories on the May 6 primary go to wilsontimes.com.