Comments by John Smith | Eastern North Carolina Now
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Thank you, Mr. Deatherage, for you and BCN for providing this forum. Despite my previous posted comment a few hours ago, though, which has facts you cannot refute, your lead article about the September 17 debate in Morehead City (as of the time of this comment) still alleges Mr. Goodwin will try to "defend his record" of "scheduling" "exorbitant rates" for Downeast counties. I respectfully suggest that your promotion of that upcoming debate between Causey and Goodwin NOT rely upon a false premise. Goodwin rejected the rate increases; he has NOT raised homeowners insurance rates during his term. Perhaps the article could be amended/updated to say incumbent Goodwin and challenger Causey will discuss the serious problem of higher homeowners' insurance rates in coastal North Carolina. Just a suggestion, and one that keeps the issue rightly on your mind intact while removing the erroneous part. FWIW.
Commented: Saturday, August 25th, 2012 @ 12:24 am
By: John Smith
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Dear Sir: As a journalist it is important to print facts and not state baseless claims. Mr. Goodwin's PREDECESSOR, Jim Long, is the one who raised homeowners' insurance rates by approving an increase in the base rate in 2008. North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin has NOT raised the base homeowners' insurance rates in eastern North Carolina. In fact, Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin rejected the recent 2011 attempt by insurance companies to raise the base rate. (If anyone's rates have changed over the last few years it is because certain insurance companies have voluntarily chosen to reduce some discounts for homeowners, etc., and the legislature made some amendments to the Beach Plan laws, things that Mr. Goodwin has no control over.) It is the disinformation and/or errors that you and others have stated that has confused the public as to whom the real defender of coastal homeowners is. Mr. Causey has worked 30 years for various insurance companies and worked as a legislative lobbyist. Mr. Goodwin is being sued by the insurance companies BECAUSE Mr. Goodwin rejected the rate increases that the insurance companies sought against the coast and eastern North Carolina. Mr. Goodwin also has worked closely with members of NC-20 to obtain changes in certain processes regarding ratemaking. Where has Mr. Causey been over the last four years? He only pops up in certain election years -- namely, 1992, 1996, 2000 and now in 2012. Just because Mr. Causey announced his campaign in Dare County doesn't make him your best friend. And just because he pops up in election years doesn't make him the best person to represent coastal North Carolina as state insurance commissioner. I encourage you to check Mr. Goodwin's actual record. In the insurance commissioner's race, it is Wayne Goodwin who has a proven record of fighting against the insurance companies, including ordering insurance companies to send back $1.3 billion back to people and businesses,and ordered insurance companies to return $16 million to the Beach Plan surplus. I hope to attend the Morehead City debate and hear Mr. Causey's arguments melt when exposed to the heat of the truth. And, most respectfully, I hope you will not make baseless assertions against an elected official such as Mr. Goodwin without verifying the facts. I bet the debate is going to be very enlightening.
Commented: Friday, August 24th, 2012 @ 9:40 pm
By: John Smith
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