SEANC Executive Director Ardis Watkins and Communications Director Jonathan Owens take a deep dive into the results of Tuesday's Primary Election in North Carolina, including some unexpected outcomes and the implications all the races have on state employees. We react to Nikki Haley's departure from the Republican presidential primary, opening the floor for a rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Then, we take a look at the state gubernatorial election, which will pit Attorney General Josh Stein against Lt. Governor Mark Robinson. We also explore whether the "SEANC View podcast bounce" led to Wesley Harris's success in the nomination for State Treasurer, as well as some shocking upsets in Council of State and legislative races.

In this episode, SEANC Executive Director Ardis Watkins and Communications Director Jon Owens are joined by Government Relations Director Suzanne Beasley to discuss possible efforts to privatize the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles, the upcoming primary election, and more. Dale Folwell received more votes than Donald Trump, Josh Stein, and Mark Robinson in statewide general elections in 2020. He also beat Trump and Stein in 2016. So why isn't he the frontrunner for the GOP nomination for Governor? We tackled that question and discussed our interview with State Treasurer candidate Wesley Harris. Plus, a few fun topics are thrown in there.

In this special election episode of the SEANC View Podcast, hosts Jonathan Owens and Ardis Watkins sit down with Rep. Wesley Harris, a Democrat who has been endorsed by EMPAC for the office of State Treasurer. Harris shares his views on the state's finances, the state treasurer's office's critical role in the lives of state employees and retirees, and his vision and strategy if elected. The state treasurer's office is responsible for managing the retirement system and the State Health Plan, both of which greatly impact state employee families. Harris speaks about the similarities and differences between his approach and that of current State Treasurer Dale Folwell.  Early voting has begun in North Carolina for the March 5 Primary.  

State Treasurer Dale Folwell joins a special Election 2024 episode to discuss his run for governor. SEANC Communications Director Jonathan Owens and Executive Director Ardis Watkins discuss his efforts for state employees and retirees as Treasurer and his unparalleled focus on pension and State Health Plan transparency. Folwell, who has been endorsed by EMPAC, SEANC's political action committee, for governor, shares his vision for North Carolina, touching on his approach to leadership — one grounded in conservatism, common sense, humility, and ethical decision-making. He contrasts his own style with Lt. Governor Mark Robinson and outlines his initiative to restore customer service culture within the state government.  

In this episode, Executive Director Ardis Watkins and Communications Director Jonathan Owens sit down with SEANC President Kirk Montgomery to discuss his career in Information Technology and his vision for the future of the organization. Kirk details his career at UNC-Chapel Hill, the State Lab, and his current role as IT Director for the city of Mebane. He gives insight into how public IT infrastructure revolutionizes government operations, from his experiences working for the State Lab at the outbreak of COVID-19 to keeping his community members informed and engaged in the debate over a new Bucee's coming to town. Learn about the journey and dedication of SEANC's current president, his vision for engaging more young people in public service, and the crucial role of SEANC in enhancing the welfare of state employees. We also discuss early voting for the March 5 primary, the ongoing weight-loss drug debate, and the Super Bowl.

In this episode, SEANC Executive Director Ardis Watkins and Communications Director Jon Owens sit down with First Vice President Wendell Powell, a Captain at Harnett Correctional Institution. Powell delves deep into an urgent issue plaguing the North Carolina prison system – the ongoing correctional staff shortage.  Wendell talks about the changes he's seen in his 20+ years in corrections, from his early days having a team of 40 officers to the present dire scenario where less than ten officers are tasked with managing hundreds of inmates every day. Through this episode, Wendell highlights the grave impact of staff shortages, and emphasizes how detrimental they are to the primary rehabilitation missions of the prison. The episode also underscores the importance of respect in uplifting staff morale while pointing to the risks of privatization. Lastly, we touch upon the dire need to address the mental health of correctional officers, shedding light on the significance of individual roles in ensuring a smoothly functioning system.  We end with a little Taylor Swift Grammy talk and Ardis professes her love for Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car."