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Monday, May 14, 2012

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Brad Crone at 919-834.8994

MARLOWE FOSTER CALLS FOR RUNOFF IN RACE FOR NC LABOR COMMISSIONER

RALEIGH – Democratic candidate for NC Labor Commissioner Marlowe Foster today called for a runoff in the Democratic primary to face the Republican incumbent in the fall.

“I have decided to call for a runoff in the Labor Commissioner’s race.  As I traveled North Carolina over the past several months, I heard people say time and time again they want new energy, fresh ideas and a fresh approach to the office responsible for workplace safety. The voters deserve to have their say, and so we will give them that opportunity on July 17th.”

“I am so grateful for all the support and encouragement our family has received throughout this campaign, and know our momentum going into May 8will continue and carry us to victory in the runoff.  Running statewide for the first time, and facing opponents who have appeared on a ballot no less than 9 times before, we met the challenge of getting our message out to voters in the first primary.  Those who come out in a runoff are committed, engaged voters, and it’s with them I have the greatest connection.”

In his first run for statewide office, Marlowe Foster received over 254,000 votes or 33% of the total votes cast in the three-way primary; Foster won 13 counties outright, including Wake, Durham, Orange, Forsyth, and Guilford, and finished first or second (including Alamance, Buncombe, and Mecklenburg) in the 39 counties that make up 51% of North Carolina’s registered voters.

www.marlowefoster.com

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Much discussion is taking place behind the scenes to avoid fatiguing runoff elections, particularly at the statewide level.

John Tedesco, a Republican state superintendent candidate, is quietly using intermediaries to ask his runoff rival Richard Alexander not to push for an overtime contest and trying to align the support of those he beat.

Two other candidates remain uncertain on whether they will challenge in the July 17 runoff. Marlowe Foster said he is still considering whether to take on top finisher John Brooks for the Democratic nomination for labor commissioner. And Kenn Gardner said he won’t make up his mind until later this week on a battle with leading vote-getter Ed Goodwin in the GOP secretary of state election.

Greg Dority is certain he will seek a two-person race for the GOP state auditor nomination, challenging Debra Goldman, who finished short of the 40 percent needed to win outright.

Likewise, Tony Gurley will request a runoff in the Republican lieutenant governor’s race against leading candidate Dan Forest. State Rep. Dale Folwell finished –according to unofficial results — .57 percent behind Gurley. But the threshold for a recount of a statewide race is .5 percent.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Democrats John Brooks and Marlowe Foster are headed toward a summer runoff in their bid to become North Carolina’s top official responsible for protecting the safety of the state’s 4 million-plus workers. Brooks and Foster topped a three-candidate field for labor commissioner in Tuesday’s statewide primary election, but neither was able to get 40 percent of the vote needed to avoid a runoff. The winner faces Republican Cherie Berry, who has been labor commissioner since 2001. Brooks was labor commissioner from 1977 to 1993. In 1991, he fined a Hamlet chicken-processing plant where 25 workers died more than $800,000, the largest such fine in state history at that time. Foster has been a state lobbyist for drug maker Pfizer and previously represented health insurance companies.

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/dd5638a59ed94f109e4fee77984066a0/NC–Primary-Labor/

Two old political hands looking for a comeback survived Tuesday’s primary but likely will need to win again to earn their party’s nomination.

Former House co-speaker Richard Morgan appeared in a dead heat for the Republican nomination for insurance commissioner with Mike Causey, with 2 percent separating them, according to early voting returns. James McCall finished in third place but posted strong enough numbers to keep one candidate from winning in the first ballot.

Former Democratic labor commissioner John C. Brooks also led his field with about 37 percent, early results indicated, but the tight race for his old post meant he didn’t get the 40 percent needed to win. Brooks faces a runoff against Marlowe Foster, a Raleigh pharmaceutical lobbyist, who sat in the second spot with 33 percent. Ty Richardson pulled in about 30 percent, enough to force the race to extra innings.

Morgan lost his state legislative seat in 2006 when Republicans conspired to oust him for striking a House power-sharing deal with Democrat Jim Black. Since then he has lost a 2008 race for state superintendent and a 2010 campaign for state Senate.

Both Morgan and Causey used similar messages of less regulation to win votes. The two will need to differentiate themselves as they move toward a runoff. The eventual nominee will face Democratic incumbent Wayne Goodwin in the general election

Brooks served as labor commissioner from 1977 to 1993. He tried to win back his seat in 2008 but lost in a runoff. Foster, 39, is making his first statewide bid.

The nominee will face incumbent Cherie Berry in the fall.

Source: WRAL News
http://www.wral.com/news/state/nccapitol/story/11054752/

• Reporter: Laura Leslie
• Photographer: Bill Herrero
• Web Editor: Matthew Burns

The 2012 race for North Carolina Commissioner of labor is on.  Check out our candidate, Marlowe Foster!

RALEIGH – Democratic candidate for NC Labor Commissioner Marlowe Foster today released a new round of big name endorsements.

Over the weekend, Foster secured the endorsement of the coveted Durham Committee. He has also secured support and endorsements from the following: The Durham People’s Alliance, The Fairmont Committee on Black Affairs, 2008 Labor Commissioner Democratic Nominee Mary Fant Donnan, State Senator Doug Berger, Representative Deborah Ross, The Honorable Norman A. Mitchell, Sr., Transportation Secretary Gene Conti, Former Democratic Party Chair Jerry Meek, Representative Tricia Cotham, Representative Grier Martin and Councilman Steve Rao.

“I am proud to have received these endorsements. Our campaign has the momentum and we look forward to a strong performance on April 19th when early voting begins.”

Monday, February 13, 2012

Marlowe Foster, along with his wife, Evelyn and children, Noah and Kristiahn

Raleigh businessman Marlowe Foster, 39, filed for the office of North Carolina Labor Commissioner at the State Board of Elections in Raleigh today. Foster, along with his family, said he was enthusiastic about placing his name on the ballot and “fighting to move North Carolina forward.”Foster said he will mount a vigorous campaign for the Democratic nomination.

“We all know that education is what sets North Carolina apart from other states. As your next Labor Commissioner, I will continue the fight to ensure that education in North Carolina remains a top priority. Our state’s Community College System provides a critical pipeline for employers across North Carolina. If I am elected Labor Commissioner, my priority will be to ensure our community colleges have the resources they need to train and re-train our state’s workforce,” said Foster.

Foster released a number of prominent Democrats who have joined his campaign:
The Honorable Linda Garrou, Winston-Salem
The Honorable Rick Glazier, Fayetteville
The Honorable Garland Pierce, Laurinburg
John Davis, Winston-Salem
Betsy Annese, Winston-Salem
Fred Terry, Winston-Salem
The Honorable Allen Joines, Winston-Salem
Beth Briggs, Raleigh
Redge Hanes, Winston-Salem
Kevin Bunn, Raleigh
Ken Eudy, Raleigh
Gerda Stein, Raleigh
Debra Bryant, Southern Pines
Zander Guy, Surf City
The Honorable Molly Leight, Winston-Salem
The Honorable Earline Parmon, Winston-Salem
The Honorable Beverly Earle, Charlotte

www.marlowefoster.com