RALEIGH, N.C. — A veteran administrator from the North Carolina Labor Department has been appointed to temporarily lead the agency following the resignation of Commissioner Josh Dobson. Governor Roy Cooper made the announcement on Friday, designating Kevin O’Barr to fill the role for the next couple of months.

O’Barr, who has been with the department for 24 years, will act as commissioner until Republican Luke Farley, who won the election against Democrat Braxton Winston earlier this week, officially takes office in January.

Dobson, a Republican, decided against running for a second four-year term and informed his team of his resignation on Wednesday.

According to the North Carolina Constitution, the governor, currently a Democrat, has the power to appoint a commissioner to serve for the remaining weeks of the outgoing official’s term. The commissioner typically is elected statewide, overseeing an executive branch department that operates independently from the governor’s admin. The Department of Labor manages the state’s labor laws and workplace regulations, which include overseeing wages and safety compliance.

Before stepping into this interim role, O’Barr served as the bureau chief of consultative services within the agency. His experience includes various positions throughout the department, particularly focused on occupational safety and health compliance.

Governor Cooper expressed confidence in O’Barr’s ability to facilitate a seamless transition for the incoming Commissioner-Elect Farley. He acknowledged O’Barr’s extensive knowledge and background within the department as integral to fulfilling the agency’s critical duties until the end of the year.