A New Job, a New Campaign, and a whole lot of fun.
Submitted by Blue South on Tue, 02/19/2008 - 6:23pm
As most of you probably know, I have been back in North Carolina for a few weeks now, following my adventure in the cold of New Hampshire for John Edwards.
Well, as of a few days ago, I have a new boss, and boy are we off to a fast start. I am now running Robin Anderson’s race for Commissioner of Labor.
Most of you probably know, our friend Wayne Goodwin decided in August not to run again for Labor Commissioner. Things were quiet after that, but now that filing is upon us things have started up.
Robin is a great candidate. She has boundless energy and enthusiasm for what she does. Her resume is incredibly impressive, and the details of what she has done during the past 18 years that she has spent practicing law on behalf of individuals and businesses are incredibly impressive. She is currently the Chair of the State Personnel Commission, and is the first woman to hold that position.
The only problem I have with her resume is that she went to UNC for law school, but if I can work for John I can work for her I guess.
In addition to her resume and everything on paper, Robin has an amazing grasp of the complexity of the issues that the Department of Labor has to deal with. I know that not only can she beat Cherie “Elevator Lady” Berry, but I know that once she does she will make an excellent, qualified and fair Commissioner of Labor.
As I said above, things are moving very quickly here, and today we put out a press release addressing the conditions at NC and SC House of Raeford Plants. I hope that all of you have read the recent articles in the Charlotte Observer detailing the working conditions at these poultry plants. If you haven’t, read up quick.
I won’t get into my opinions about the conditions detailed in these reports. Suffice it to say that the conditions are so deplorable they were even too much for Elizabeth Dole. Below I have put in Robin’s Press Release on the situation.
We are only just beginning, but this is going to be a fun ride, and I look forward to keeping BlueNC involved in the campaign.
Raleigh – Robin Anderson, a Democratic candidate for Commissioner of Labor, had strong words for incumbent Cherie Berry following newspaper reports surrounding conditions at House of Raeford plants throughout North and South Carolina.
“The Commissioner of Labor has a moral and legal responsibility to protect the health and safety of workers, and to protect the interests of businesses that play by the rules. The newspaper investigation has brought national attention to North Carolina for conditions that are tragic and deplorable,” Anderson said. “It shouldn’t take an investigation by the media or Congress for the Commissioner of Labor to do her job.”
The investigation by the Charlotte Observer revealed that Commissioner Berry has hamstrung her Department, keeping it from fulfilling its duty to protect the health and safety of the workers of North Carolina through the use of inspections and fines.
The response of Commissioner Berry to the investigation was that her department should work with the Hispanic Community to make sure they are reporting violations. Anderson countered that enforcement is a critical tool, both as a deterrent to violators and as a means of ensuring that businesses and workers alike understand that violations will not be tolerated.
“It is the Commissioner’s legal obligation to inspect these facilities and prosecute violations. It is obvious that Berry hasn’t done the job. It is time we replace her with someone who will.”
“You can't inspect a factory from inside an elevator.”
Anderson, currently the first female Chair of the State Personnel Commission, has practiced labor and employment law on behalf of individuals and businesses for 18 years. Prior to entering the private practice of law, Anderson served as a law clerk for Senior Justice Louis B. Meyer of the North Carolina Supreme Court. She earned her law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and her B.A. cum laude in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
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One thing at a time
No website quite yet. But I figured filling out the paper work so that the State Board of Elections was happy was much more important.
Let me know what you think!
"Keep the Faith"
Congratulations, Blue
And thanks for the run down on the next Commissioner of Labor! I look forward to hearing more as the campaign unfolds.
Great line.
Good Post BS
and congrats on your new job. Glad to have you back in the Old North State too. It's good to see a good Dem challenging Ms. Berry.
No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.
Progressive Discussions
Congratulations, Blue!
I knew a great candidate would snatch you up! You may now post events for the campaign. Let me know if you want someone else to take over that duty.
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.
Thank you for helping take down an incumbent
republican. But a bigger thank you for presenting information on a democratic candidate other than the ones we have already heard about. Hopefully this will start a trend.
Please send Person Co. some campaign materials as soon as possible - brochures, palm cards what have you.
Person County Democrats
Congratulations!
I will be delighted to vote for Ms. Anderson, someone who will actually understand labor relations, and I'll also be glad not to see Cherry-Berry's name in every damn elevator I get into.
Good Luck - please let us know what you need.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Heh!
My elevator experiences could be elevated as well with a name change!
North Carolina. Turning the South Blue!
Out of the frying pan, into the fire with you!
Anderson looks to be a very good candidate, with excellent judgment in staff.
I think I heard...
on NPR yesterday that North Carolina had the lowest union numbers in the country? Or, the smallest gain in union employees, or something equally bad about labor. So, while this isn't directly linked - labor and labor - it would be nice to have someone on our side given the lack of union support.
One of the pitfalls of childhood is that one doesn't have to understand something to feel it. - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Per Capita
I am pretty sure that North Carolina has the lowest level of union members per capita of any state, holding that distinction for 50 years or so.
"Keep the Faith"
Yes, NC is the lowest per capita.
Followed closely by Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.
North Carolina. Turning the South Blue!
We may have a guest columnist who is willing to
tackle labor issues in North Carolina. I'm hoping to hear from him this week. I know nothing.
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.
Awesome, bluesouth.
NC needs a real Labor Commissioner -- one who works for NC's labor force and actually enforces worker health and safety laws with tools corporations understand ... fines that bite hard enough to get their attention.
Go get 'em, BlueSouth
YAWP!
Wayne's World ran the following today re Robin Anderson
As long-time readers, Tar Heel partisans, and friends of mine know, I chose not to run for Labor Commissioner in 2008. (See my August 2007 posting for the detailed reasons here at Wayne's World, http://eighthdistrictdemsnc.blogspot.com/2007/08/wayne-goodwin-announces-his-plans.html)
Within weeks thereafter from that posting, a slow trickle of prospective Democratic candidates for the job began contacting me. Naturally, they sought counsel, advice, and an endorsement. Due to my position as Chairman of the Eighth Congressional District Democratic Executive Committee I am prohibited from making an endorsement in a contested primary race. So, all I could do was to share my best advice and counsel to those who contacted me. And that I did.
Until last week, though, none of the prospective candidates wanted to "go public." With filing having commenced it is now okay for me to relay information about the race - in my discretion - to inquiring readers and partisans such as yourself.
Out of no fewer than than the seven persons who expressed an interest to me in running, thus far only two candidates have filed for the 2008 Democratic nomination for Commissioner of Labor.
The first to file was Tyrone (Ty) Richardson of Middlesex, North Carolina. He is a graduate of the Institute of Political Leadership.
The second to file was Robin Anderson, a Wake County attorney who is chairman of the North Carolina Personnel Commission and an appointee of Governor Mike Easley.
There is at least one other potential candidate considering a bid for Labor Commissioner. If she decides to throw her hat into the ring, then I will provide a posting here at Wayne's World about her as well.
With all of the above particulars now being said, Wayne's World wanted to share with you a press release received last night from the Robin Anderson campaign. It is a product of the highly-enlightening, highly-disturbing recent investigative series published in the Charlotte Observer about poultry workers in North Carolina and how state and national OSHA officials have dropped the ball. (Entitled "The Cruelest Cuts", I have linked this blog post to the series, and strongly encourage you to read it when you get a chance.)
Now on to the first punch of the political boxing match, this one thrown by Robin Anderson:
If this press release is any indication, it is that Robin Anderson is going to run an aggressive campaign for Labor Commissioner. Voters, no doubt, will learn in an aggressive campaign how important the position is and perhaps come to realize that the news media sadly chose not to investigate the above (and related) issues about OSHA failings four years ago when the Wayne Goodwin campaign made a valiant effort to unseat the incumbent.
Wayne's World will publish information about other Democratic candidates for Labor Commissioner as it is received.
ORIGINAL POSTING:
http://eighthdistrictdemsnc.blogspot.com/2008/02/robin-anderson-labor-commissioner.html