I would be remiss if I wrote another blog post about North Carolina politics without first talking about Mark Binker. Mark was a reporter who covered politics in the state for the past dozen years. He was as much a part of the political dynamic here as the politicians he covered. He died unexpectedly this weekend at only 43 years old.

After more than 20 years of working in politics, I’ve come to realize that the real heroes in politics aren’t the politicians but the beat reporters who hold them accountable. They are an essential, if less heralded, component of a healthy democracy. Unlike the “personalities” that have grown up around cable news networks, beat reporters keep the focus on the story, not themselves. They give us facts, no matter how inconvenient, and ask for little more recognition than a by-line while partisans from both sides routinely accuse them of bias. Mark was one of those unsung heroes.

He was not flashy or arrogant and more matter-of-fact than outgoing. That’s not to say that he didn’t have much personality. He just seemed rather unimpressed by status or position. He had a dry and biting wit and managed to balance respect for his subjects, the politicians in Raleigh, with skepticism for their motives. He understood and respected the boundaries between reporters and the people they cover.

I first met Mark a decade or more ago when he was working for the Greensboro News and Record. Over the years, we developed a friendly working relationship. We occasionally sparred about the angle of a story, especially when it concerned a client of mine, but we always understood that the disagreements were professional, not personal. The next call always started on a cordial note.

More recently, Mark called to ask for quotes about situations in government or to ask about something I had written in my blog. A few years ago, he called around Christmas for a quote for a year-in-review piece. By the time I called him back, I was in the car with two kids heading to my parents. He was traveling with his family, too. Throughout the conversation, we were interrupted by noises emanating from our respective backseats. Needless to say, it was quick interview and we ended it chuckling.

The testament of Mark’s impact on North Carolina politics is the response to his death. Governor Roy Cooper, House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate President Pro-tem Phil Berger all released statements. So did both state parties.

In his statement, Berger noted that after almost fifteen years, he didn’t know Binker’s personal politics. Neither did I. As Berger says, that’s the among the highest compliments you can pay a political reporter.

We need more reporters like Mark, not fewer. At a time when trust in our government and public institutions is so low, we need people who can keep our leaders honest. Mark told us the story with as little bias as possible, searching for answers and truth instead of accolades or glory. He got the story right.

Thanks, Mark. Rest in peace.

Thomas Mills

Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >