Burris-Floyd announces candidacy for NC labor commissioner

Two years from now, Dallas native Pearl Burris-Floyd hopes she'll be seeing her photograph in elevators across the state.

The Gaston County Republican announced she's running for North Carolina Commissioner of Labor during the Gaston County Republican Party’s Trump Rally Watch Party on Monday night.

Current Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry, a Republican who refers to herself as the "Elevator Lady," announced earlier this year that she would not run for a sixth term after holding office since 2001.

Her decision leaves the state cabinet-level position open in the 2020 election.

The state Labor Department promotes safe work sites and fair labor practices, while also investigating violations.

Those who ride one of the state's 28,000 elevators see a photograph of the state labor commissioner on the wall of each of them.

While Burris-Floyd joked about the chance of having her photograph in all of the state's elevators, she said she has other ambitions in holding a statewide office.

While her interests in the position lie within what Berry has already established, she said a fit labor commissioner candidate should delve into bringing the Department of Labor’s operations into the 21st century and helping it adjust to a constantly changing society.

“That person is yours truly, Pearl Burris-Floyd,” she said.

If elected, Burris-Floyd will be responsible for implementing a positive aura inside North Carolina’s labor pool of 4 million people. She would also be North Carolina’s first African-American woman to hold the position.

In her Monday message, Burris-Floyd asked Gaston’s GOP to support her in the race as they’ve done in the past.

“You took a chance on a lil’ country girl from Dallas, North Carolina, and you selected her to be the representative of the Dallas Township on the county commission,” Burris-Floyd said. “And we made history. The party made history. So I stand before you tonight as humbly as I can to ask you to let’s do it again. Let’s make statewide history.”

Burris-Floyd has served on the University of North Carolina Board of Governors since 2015. She was the first and only black to ever serve on the Gaston County Board of Commissioners.

She went on to serve one term in the N.C. House, representing District 110 from 2009-2011.

The 63-year-old has stayed tied to Dallas over the years by working locally, studying within the state and serving on nearby boards.

She owns her own motivational training company and still serves on CaroMont Health’s board of directors.

At least three others have announced as candidates for labor commissioner.

Democrats Eva F. Lee and Jessica Holmes, both from Raleigh, as well as Republican state Rep. Josh Dobson of McDowell County, have already launched their campaigns.

Burris-Floyd also is not the only Gaston County resident seeking statewide office. Current Gaston County Commissioner Chad Brown, who represents the Riverbend Township, has already started a campaign to be elected secretary of state.

You can reach Gavin Stewart at 704-869-1819 or on Twitter @GavinGazette.