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Columnist Mike Causey Announces Candidacy for Commissioner of Insurance Position in North Carolina Mike Causey, a sometime Autobody News columnist, announced his candidacy for North Carolina’s Commissioner of Insurance position in Greensboro in early January. Causey chose Dare County to launch his campaign he said, “…to bring focus on the problem of insurance in the coastal counties. Premiums for Mike Causey household insurance, especially windstorm insurance, have skyrocketed in recent years in
eastern North Carolina, worse yet in the coastal counties.” Causey said he was urged by North Carolina Republican leaders to seek the office this year because of widespread and bipartisan criticism of how the State Office of Insurance has been administered. Causey is also known as a consumer advocate and lobbyist for the Independent Auto Body Association (IABA) as well as healthcare groups and Organic farming and Healthy Eating advocacy. This will be Causey’s fourth atSee Candidate Causey, Page 42
California’s DOI Calls Meeting, Drafts Reforms to Labor Rate Surveys, DRPs, and Steering In a letter to ‘Certain Interested and Affected Parties’ the California DOI has taken a second step to address concerns of collision industry stakeholders. In November the DOI’s legal division hosted a meeting to discuss proposed revised aftermarket part regulations. The results of that discussion are under review by the department (see http://tiny.cc/ydvp6). Now the DOI, under Commissioner Dave Jones, is taking on the issue of Labor Rate Surveys, DRPs, and Steering. Departmental attorney, Teresa R. Campbell has organized a January 25th meeting (10–12:00 noon at the DOI in Sacra-
mento, after this issue goes to press) and has drafted contemplated revisions to the California Code of Regulations, impacting Direct Repair Programs and Labor Rate Surveys. Steering is also addressed in language concerning insurer recommendations of automobile repair dealers. Although welcoming input and discusssion, the ‘rulemaking file’ will not be opened until formal notice is given by DOI and that comments must be submitted during the formal public comment period. The language (complete text at autobodynews.com) proposes that in-
VOL. 1 ISSUE 11 FEBRUARY 2012
‘Standards’ Replace Non-OEM Parts as Focus of Debate at Latest CIC by John Yoswick
A report at the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) on the findings of a study into what consensus exists within the industry about the development and implementation of formalized repair standards led to as much discussion about the value and validity of the study as it did to discussion of standards themselves. “I do believe this has set us backward instead of forward,” Dusty Womble of Roger Beasley Collision Center in Austin, Texas, said of the study. “I’m sorry, but honestly, I don’t see any value in the research that has been done.” But Massachusetts shop owner Chuck Sulkala—who has not participated on the committee that organ-
ized the study but was one of those interviewed by the consultant conducting the research—said some at CIC were incorrectly presuming that the committee was trying to make more of the report than it was. “Some of the conversations here are getting us down into the weeds right now when I don’t think we’ve even gotten in the boat yet,” Sulkala said. “We’re still looking to see where the boat and lake is, to see what’s going on rather than trying to catch fish. I think we’re still in the very beginning stages.” The Study and Findings Russ Thrall of the Repair Standards Advisory Committee (an off-shoot of CIC) was clear in presenting a portion See CIC Palm Springs, Page 47
Rich Evans’ Charity Build for PatriotOutreach (see p. 58) and also Baby Cancer Foundation Autobody News custom columnist Rich Evans had a busy fall and holiday season at his shop in Huntington Beach, CA. As they have for the past four years, Rich and Patricia Evans held their Christmas party at Huntington Beach Body Works on Saturday, December 17. The party benefitted America’s
Baby Cancer Foundation. The party also included a special appearance from Santa with gifts,
See CA DOI Page 49
Rich Evans with party attendees showing off some of the gifts they received
Benefit attendees lined up for a chance to visit with Santa
food, drinks, and special motor sports themed entertainment. For more information please visit www.babycancer.org or www.huntingtonbchbodyworks.com. See Rich’s column this issue.
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