Meeker makes campaign stop in city
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on June 8, 2016 1:46 PM
Charles Meeker
Charles Meeker is interested in expanding the role of the North Carolina labor commissioner with a focus on economic development in his Democratic bid in the November election.
Meeker also plans to remove photos of Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry from elevators across the state, a move he says has become popular with voters.
"It's a picture of a politician engaging in self-promotion," said Meeker during a campaign stop in Goldsboro Tuesday. If elected, Meeker said he'll remove Berry's well-known N.C. Department of Labor operation certification photos from elevators and replace them with pictures of North Carolina workers.
Meeker will face Berry, a Republican incumbent of 16 years, in the Nov. 8 general election.
Meeker, a former 18-year veteran of the Raleigh City Council, including 10 years as mayor, sees the labor commission post as a natural fit due to his more than 40 years experience as an attorney.
Meeker previously considered a bid for governor but backed off when he realized voter support was more aligned with Roy Cooper, state attorney general who is seeking to unseat Gov. Pat McCrory in the November race.
"I was looking at that a couple years ago," Meeker said. "After talking with folks, it was apparent that Roy Cooper has a lot of support, and it would be hard to win the primary.
"I looked around, and the Department of Labor is one where the incumbent has not been doing much for years, and it's one that's a natural fit for a lawyer in terms of regulations. I thought I'd give this one a shot."
Meeker served as Raleigh mayor until 2011. It only took a couple years for him to consider a higher political office.
"I took some time off, and then after two or three years, the political bug started biting again," he said.
As labor commissioner, Meeker plans to focus on improving worker safety, making sure employees are properly classified and working to ensure employers are paying workers wages owed.
He believes the Department of Labor needs to more heavily enforce state laws involving employee wages.
"I would make sure that's followed up on," Meeker said. "Once it's known the department is going to pursue that, then there'll be a lot fewer employers who will let that occur."
Employees who are not paid or not paid on time typically call the Department of Labor in an effort to collect their wages. The department can push the issue into the court system, a process Meeker plans to pursue.
Meeker is also concerned about workplace injuries and job-related deaths across the state.
"What happens so much is the bad accidents occur in the first month or two when someone's operating machinery or a vehicle, and they aren't trained," Meeker said. "That's when so many of the accidents occur."
Employee classifications need a closer look as well, he said. Meeker said some construction workers will be incorrectly classified as contract workers and not employees, with benefits. The lower employee cost leads to companies bidding lower on projects, which undercuts competition, Meeker said.
Meeker is also interested in expanding the role of labor commissioner by working with other members of the Council of State.
"The commissioner of labor traditionally is not the head of economic development," he said. "It's always been more of a regulatory role. I'm wondering if it shouldn't be broadened a bit.
"The department of labor is on the Council of State, and you work with other department heads, like the commissioner of agriculture, on initiatives that might benefit the whole state. I'm hoping that group can be used to focus on some of these things that aren't so partisan that can move our whole state forward.
"Quite often, it takes two to three departments to get there."
During his visit to Goldsboro, Meeker met with the Wayne County Development Alliance in an effort to better understand the economic needs and goals of the area. Goldsboro was his first stop on a six city eastern tour that includes future visits in Fayetteville, Greenville, Kinston, Smithfield and Wilson.
Meeker is a partner of the Parker Pole law firm in Raleigh. His legal experience includes a focus on municipalities, counties, commercial litigation and administrative law. Meeker practices in state and federal courts throughout North Carolina.
He is a member of the Wake County Bar Association, N.C. Bar Association, the N.C. State Bar and the District of Columbia Bar, in Washington, D.C.
Meeker is a graduate of Yale University and Columbia University Law School. He served on the Raleigh City Council, from 1985-1989 and 1991-1995, and as mayor from 2001 to 2011.