Voters in four states — California, Georgia, Kansas and Oklahoma — will decide today who will be their next insurance commissioner.
In California, voters will choose between Sen. Ricardo Lara, a Democrat and Steve Poizner, an independent.
Lara is the chairman of the state Senate Appropriations Committee. According to his campaign website, he “recently co-introduced a single-payer health care system for the state, and also spearheaded the groundbreaking law that provided health care for 170,000 immigrant children, and has played a strong, dynamic role in shaping, implementing and expanding Covered California. Senator Lara also recently the co-introduced Californians for a Healthy California Act (SB 562), which would create a single-payer healthcare system for the state.” He had served as Associated Student Inc. vice president while studying at San Diego State University and worked as a legislative staffer for State Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and for now-State Senate President pro tem Kevin de Leon.
Poizner previously served as insurance commissioner from 2007-2011. According to his campaign website, he has founded several technology companies, including SnapTrack and Strategic Mapping Inc. Originally from Houston, he did his undergraduate work at the University of Texas before moving to California to attend Stanford University. He was also a White House fellow from 2001-2002. He was a co-founder of the California Charter Schools Association and EdVoice.
Voters in Georgia will choose between Democrat Janice Laws, Republican Jim Beck and Libertarian Donnie Foster.
Laws is an industry veteran who “has been recognized as a leader and pace-setter in the industry by Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. and Nationwide Insurance.” According to her campaign website, she has managed her own agency and worked with the Women’s Professional Development Network, e-Women Network and Landmark Worldwide. She founded Total Life Empowerment where she mentors entrepreneurs and agents.
Beck’s website states, “Jim’s background includes working in an independent insurance agency, as well as, serving for 12 years as director for a Fortune 150 property and casualty insurance company. During his public service, he served as deputy insurance and safety fire commissioner for the state of Georgia and most recently, chief of staff for Insurance Commissioner Ralph T. Hudgens. Most recently, he led an operation that provides property insurance to those who are locked out of the open market.”
Foster is an army veteran and ex-sheriff’s deputy.
In Kansas, the choice is between Democrat Nathaniel McClaughlin and Republican Sen. Vicki Schmidt.
McClaughlin received a bachelor’s of science degree from Winston-Salem State University before completing undergraduate and graduate studies at Wake Forest University. According to his campaign website, he joined Marriot Management Services in 1980 before becoming a district executive for Sodexo Healthcare Services. He served as president of the Kansas City, Kansas NAACP Branch and the Kansas State NAACP. He also served as commissioner on the Kansas City, Kansas Housing Authority Board.
Schmidt graduated from Kansas University’s School of Pharmacy before spending 40 years as a local pharmacist. She currently serves as the chair of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee.
Voters in Oklahoma are choosing between Democrat Kimberly Fobbs and Republican Rep. Glen Mulready.
Fobbs graduated from the University of Texas at Austin before becoming a strategic data manager at Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. According to her campaign website, she also served as a marketing director for Luxa Enterprises and business intelligence analyst for Blackhawk Industrial. She is the president and managing consultant at FCG Group, Business Consulting, HUBZone WOSB.
According to his campaign website, Mulready has spent 35 years in the insurance industry. He is currently the majority floor leader and previously served as the chair of the House Insurance Committee.