Commissioner of Labor Race: Cherie Berry (R, incumbent) vs. Charles Meeker (D)
Cherie Berry, the incumbent Commissioner of Labor, has probably the most recognizable face on the whole Council of State. That’s because her picture is in every elevator. This notoriety has gained her a nickname, “the Elevator Queen.” The picture, and her memorable name, are actually two key political assets and two reasons why it will be difficult to dislodge her from her throne.
But this year, Democrats think the Elevator Queen could be going down. They have a formidable candidate, former Mayor of Raleigh Charles Meeker. Meeker is running because he believes the current department is failing the workers of North Carolina and is in vast need of updating. Berry supporters, on the other hand, believe she’s more than just a pretty face and the department is already doing a good job at protecting North Carolina workers.
Typically, women on the Council of State enjoy the greatest level of job security in North Carolina politics. Meeker supporters are hopeful that Berry will be vulnerable anyway. They feel that finally they have a candidate who will have the resources to give voters a look at what they feel is the real picture of Cherie Berry. But they know they’ll need some luck, too.
That’s where Donald Trump comes in. If Trump proves to be a disastrous candidate, he’ll take down Republicans all across North Carolina with him, even those who have been proven vote-winners in the past, like Berry. If that happens, the Elevator Lady’s picture will be coming down – and Meeker promises that he won’t replace it with his own picture.
Meeker is a strong candidate with a path to victory. But it’s going to take a lot of hard work to get his message across to voters. It wouldn’t hurt if Hillary Clinton won the state by a significant margin as well. Berry will have to fight for reelection – but right now, the name and the face favors the incumbent.
Race Rating: Leans Republican
2012 Result
53.3% Berry
46.7% Brooks
Voter Registration
40.2% Democratic
30.5% Republican
28.9% Unaffiliated
70.3% White
22.3% Black
7.4% Other
Results in Other Elections
2014 Senate
48.8% Tillis
47.3% Hagan
2012 President
50.4% Romney
48.4% Obama
2012 Governor
54.6% McCrory
43.2% Dalton
2010 Senate
54.8% Burr
43.1% Marshall
John Wynne is the “conservative voice” at PoliticsNC, where he also provides polling analysis and commentary on legislative campaigns. When not writing about politics, he enjoys gardening and listening to opera. Contact: johncwynne@gmail.com.
No mention of how much it cost taxpayers to have her photo in every elevator?
Funny, sometimes I see moustaches drawn on them.
Wow.
Well- researched and well-documented media investigations/reports showing how Berry has done as little a possible to get employers to pay up on the honest, hard-earned wages owed to workers; how Berry “hates” —and rarely applies— the regulatory tools at her disposal to help workers; and how DOL under Berry disregards its own policies by not advancing litigation against companies at which workers aren’t paid, and does not seek restraining orders against companies who illegally withhold worker pay. And despite all of this, nary a mention in this blog of any of these failures, or how such inaction on Berry’s part might just make her a tad more vulnerable come November. Shameful omissions, IMO.
Delete this blog, Mr Wynne, and try again.
And I am not alone saying such things:
http://www.maginnislaw.com/2015/10/the-recent-investigation-of-cherie-berry-and-the-nc-dol/
Wow.
Well- researched and well-documented media investigations/reports showing how Berry has done as little a possible to get employers to pay up on the honest, hard-earned wages owed to workers; how Berry “hates” —and rarely applies— the regulatory tools at her disposal to help workers; and how DOL under Berry disregards its own policies by not advancing litigation against companies at which workers aren’t paid, and does not seek restraining orders against companies who illegally withhold worker pay. And despite all of this, nary a mention in this blog of any of these failures, or how such inaction on Berry’s part might just make her a tad more vulnerable come November. Shameful omissions, IMO.
Delete this blog, Mr Wynne, and try again.
And I am not alone saying such things:
http://www.maginnislaw.com/2015/10/the-recent-investigation-of-cherie-berry-and-the-nc-dol/
Do you really think Mr. Wynne would include any factual information on “his” GOP candidate that casts her in anything other than a white and shining light? Being honest like that would get him drummed out of the Republican Party in a heartbeat.
The only reporting he ever does on Republicans is horse-race stuff; it’s when he opines on Democratic candidates that he suddenly decides “warts and all” is good political reporting.
I will say that I have never seen an election like this one and will not make any predictions.
But I am hoping that people turn out the insane people currently in office in NC. NC Republican policies have been devastating to the state.