RALEIGH – EMPAC, the political arm of the State Employees Association of North Carolina, announced two endorsements in the upcoming elections today. 

EMPAC endorses Rep. Jonathan Jordan (R-Ashe) and Sen. Shirley Randleman (R-Wilkes) in their respective primary races for the Republican nomination. Both are recipients of EMPAC’s Lisa B. Mitchell Legislator of the Year awards. Randleman received the honor in 2015 and Jordan in 2017.

“We feel it is important for EMPAC to support candidates who support us,” said EMPAC Chairman Tony Smith. “Sen. Randleman and Rep. Jordan have proven time and time again that they understand and support state employee and retiree issues.”

Rep. Jordan stood up for retirees in the 2017 legislative session by filing House Bill 497, which would have given state retirees a much-needed 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment. The bill received bipartisan support in the house and built the foundation of support that resulted in the first true COLA in years in the state budget. Jordan also filed a bill to give equal pay raises to all state employees, as well as a bill to give a Christmas bonus to state employees.

A former state employee and longtime SEANC member herself, Sen. Randleman has been a tireless advocate for state employees and retirees. She was instrumental in SEANC’s fight to bring sunshine to investment fees paid by the state retirement system in 2014. She also sponsored legislation that would expand benefits associated with the Bailey Settlement to all state retirees, and supported or sponsored countless other bills to enhance state employee and retiree issues.