Tar Heel of the Year: Republican NC Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey

RALEIGH – A weekly state politics show, NCSPIN, has named Republican Commissioner of Insurance ‘Tar Heel of the Year.’ It is an honor well-deserved, as Causey, caught in the middle of a dramatic political bribery and fraud scheme that ended in the indictment and conviction of the NCGOP chairman Robin Hayes, demonstrated the character with which we wish all public servants exhibited.

From the Sampson Independent:

“[…] Every year, the show’s moderator, Tom Campbell, along with his panel of analysts, selects one person who has made significant and important contributions to the state and honors them on the last show of the year. This year, Campbell also solicited input from viewers and readers.

“I am humbled by this distinction,” said Commissioner Causey. “It is truly an honor to be nominated alongside some of the most influential men and women in North Carolina,” Causey added. “Thank you, NC SPIN, for providing fair and balanced discussions on the issues that affect all of us in this state and thank you for this award, which I will cherish the rest of my life.”

Campbell says Commissioner Causey was named “Tar Heel of the Year” for his role in working with the FBI to indict N.C.’s largest political donor and insurance tycoon Greg Lindberg. Campbell added Causey’s call for the resignation of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina’s CEO Patrick Conway for driving under the influence with his children in the vehicle shows the Commissioner’s commitment to ensure sound leadership for the state’s largest insurer.

“We hold our elected public servants to high standards and Mike Causey lived up to and exceeded those expectations by discovering and revealing deceptive insurance practices and political corruption in our state,” said Campbell. “He also had the courage to call for the resignation of the CEO of our state’s largest insurer following misconduct and deceptive attempts to cover it up. These contributions, along with others, did not get a lot of media attention, but reveal character and leadership that impact every life in our state and are worthy of our recognition,” Campbell concluded. […]”

In an age replete with corrupt public officials, backroom deals, and cronyism, Mike Causey has proven himself a leader with integrity and an unimpeachable character. As covered above, it’s not as if he did the right things among a world of Boy Scouts. To the contrary, Causey was surrounded by a den of corrupt influences, all tugging on him. Yet, not only did he resist them; he confronted it head on in a corruption investigation and sting operation that seems straight out of the movies. Causey was the unassuming protagonist turned hero.

Congratulations to Mike Causey on the distinction. We could use a lot more like him.