The job best known for a photo in NC elevators will be open come 2024

The state job best known for having a photo in every elevator will turn over again in 2024.

North Carolina Commissioner of Labor Josh Dobson, a McDowell County Republican, announced Tuesday that he will not run for a second term in 2024. Nor will he run for any other office.

The state labor commissioner is best known as the face you see in every elevator next to the official inspection information, a tradition started by former Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry. In the 20 years Berry held the job, the Republican’s elevator-related fame spawned T-shirts and a parody Twitter account. A popular TikTok post this year showed a man who was alarmed that Berry’s photograph was replaced by someone else’s photo. That was Dobson’s photo.

Dobson made the announcement Tuesday in downtown Raleigh during a meeting of the Council of State, the group of 10 statewide elected officials including the governor.

Dobson said that he appreciated it when Berry announced in 2019 that she wasn’t seeking reelection, so others interested in running had time to put together a campaign, and he wanted to do the same. He said that he made the decision not to run “after much soul searching.”

“Nor will I be a candidate for any office in 2024. I will finish my term and for the next two years dedicate myself to doing all I can. First and foremost, I want to keep people safe at work. Second, I want to try to help tone down the political rhetoric that frankly doesn’t solve any problem, and only adds to the challenges hardworking North Carolinians are facing every single day,” Dobson said.

“Finally, I want to have a hand in helping solve the workforce shortage that we have all across our state, particularly in state government,” he said.

North Carolina state agencies have had a vacancy rate of at least 20% this year, The N&O previously reported.

Dobson said the reason why he’s leaving is “very simple. When this term is up, I will have served 14 consecutive years in three different offices. And I feel the time is right for me to step out of elected office. It’s nothing more and it’s nothing less than that.”

Dobson served in the state House, where he chaired the powerful Appropriations and Health committees, and before that served on the McDowell County commissioners. He won his first and current term as labor commissioner in 2020.

The job is much more than just an elevator photo, of course. The commissioner is in charge of the administration of state laws about labor and the workforce. The job includes oversight of workplace conditions and safety.

“What’s next for me after my term is up? All I can tell you is that I still have a passion for public service. And for health care policy, in particular. Closing the coverage gap would be one. So I hope to stay engaged in some capacity,” Dobson said.

Medicaid expansion has been an issue for several years at the legislature, most recently stalled out over disagreements between the House and Senate, though Republican leadership of both chambers want it to happen. Expansion has also long been a priority of Gov. Roy Cooper.

Dobson to finish out term

As Dobson read from his speech while sitting at the Council of State conference table, he said he doesn’t know what he’ll do next.

“However, as we all know, at this table especially, one’s time in the arena is fleeting, and it’s limited. So as to what my future looks like after my term at Labor is over, I have no earthly idea.”

Dobson also thanked Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler for his “friendship and support.”

The annual salary for labor commissioner, and other Council of State positions aside from the governor, is $136,699.

Jessica Holmes, the Democratic nominee for commissioner who was defeated by Dobson in the 2020 general election, responded to an N&O reporter’s tweet about Dobson’s plans with “so noted.”

Cooper, a Democrat, commended Dobson for his work as labor commissioner and in the General Assembly, bringing people to consensus on issues.

“You and I both have two years and 24 days [left in their terms]. So that’s a lot of time to get some things done. So I look forward to continuing to work with you,” Cooper said.

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