John W. Oxendine was first elected Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner on November 8, 1994. He has since won three consecutive elections and is now serving in his fourth term of office. Oxendine has gained the reputation as a strong advocate for Georgia consumers while maintaining a vigorous competitive environment for Georgia based insurance companies.

In addition to being Georgia's Insurance Commissioner, Oxendine is also the Safety Fire Commissioner, Industrial Loan Commissioner, and Comptroller General. His duties include regulating approximately 1,600 insurance companies, licensing 137,000 insurance agents, and regulating over 1,000 industrial loan offices (companies that make loans of $3,000 or less).

Oxendine is a senior member of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) where he has received national recognition as co-chair of the Military Sales Working Group – a committee dedicated to protecting American military personnel from unscrupulous insurance sales practices. In previous years he has served in leadership positions at the NAIC as Chairman of the Tax Policy Task Force, Chairman of the Southeastern Zone of Commissioners, Chairman of the Reinsurance Task Force, and as a member of the NAIC Executive Committee.

During his tenure as Commissioner, Oxendine has championed policies aimed at protecting the interests of Georgia consumers and promoting a competitive market place. He successfully fought for legislative proposals to increase the portability of health insurance policies and to ensure more affordable choices of health insurance products. He was instrumental in pushing through reform stabilizing the workers compensation market and bringing about lower rates. Oxendine has worked to maintain affordable and available property insurance products for Georgia homeowners during times of deteriorating national market conditions. He has also stood against Pay Day Lending legislation to ensure that Georgians are not subject to unfair lending practices.

In 2005, Oxendine initiated a $126.5 million Rural Georgia Healthcare Initiative. In addition to private dollars invested in rural healthcare facilities, the Initiative created one of the largest and most comprehensive telemedicine networks in the country. Today, the Georgia Partnership for Telehealth consists of a total of 77 telemedicine and teleradiology sites across the state. The program allows Georgians living in rural areas of the state convenient local access to specialty care usually found only in Georgia’s largest metropolitan areas.

Oxendine’s office has a Consumer Services Division dedicated solely to helping Georgians who have claims disputes with their insurance companies. In times of natural disasters, representatives are rapidly deployed to affected areas to assist policyholders with their insurance needs. To date, Oxendine’s Consumer Services Division has helped Georgians recover more than $182 million in disputed claims payments, money that Georgia policyholders might not have received without his help.

As Safety Fire Commissioner, Oxendine appoints the State Fire Marshal, oversees the state arson unit, regulates explosive and hazardous materials, and is responsible for the inspections of public buildings for compliance with the state fire code.

Oxendine has received numerous awards for his public service including the Dr. Nathan Davis Award for outstanding statewide elected official from the American Medical Association, the Friend of Housing Award from the Georgia Apartment Association, the Chairman’s Hope Award from Operation Hope, and the Special Presidential Award from the Georgia State Firefighters Association.

He has served on the Executive Board of the Northeast Georgia Boy Scouts of America, the Board of Directors of Safe Kids of Georgia, Chairman of the Gwinnett Neighborhood Leadership Institute, and on the Southeastern Regional Board of Directors of Operation Hope, a nonprofit organization focusing on inner city investment banking needs.

Prior to taking office, Oxendine was with the law firm of Oxendine & Associates. He also served with distinction on the State Personnel Board, and was elevated to Chairman of the Board by Governor Joe Frank Harris in 1990.

In 1980, he enrolled at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, where Oxendine received his bachelor degree in 1984 and his law degree in 1987.

Currently he resides in Gwinnett County with his wife Ivy and their children J.W., Philip and Caroline. John and Ivy are members of Mount Pisgah Methodist Church in Roswell, Georgia.

Rev: 06-11-2008