Paul Coble
Encyclopedia
Paul Y. Coble served one term as Mayor
of Raleigh from December 1999 to December 2001. In November 2006, Coble was elected to the Wake County Board of Commissioners
and became Chairman of the board in December 2010. In 2011, Coble announced that he would run for the U.S. House in North Carolina's 13th congressional district
.
. His aunt and uncle were Dot and U.S. Senator
Jesse Helms
. Paul attended public schools in Raleigh where he was a Captain on the Needham B. Broughton High School
wrestling team. He then went on to Wake Forest University
where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in business. Later, Paul earned a Registered Health Underwriter degree from Northeastern University in 1992.
from 1993 to 1999. Like his predecessor, Mayor Tom Fetzer
, he was a conservative
Republican
. During Coble's term as Mayor, the city recovered from a record 25-inch snow storm and opened the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts
.
Coble lost a heated re-election campaign after just one term in 2001 against former city councilman Charles Meeker
. Initially Coble led Meeker on the October ballot, but went on to lose the November ballot by a margin of 50.97% to 48.87%.
The following year, Coble ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the North Carolina State Senate against Democrat Eric Reeves. Despite a strong turnout of Republican
voters from the coattails of Elizabeth Dole
's campaign for United States Senate
, Coble was unable to win the Democratic
-leaning seat. Reeves defeated Coble 49.29% to 48.39%.
In 2006, Coble sought a comeback to elective office by running for an open seat on the Wake County Board of Commissioners
. He handily defeated Air Force
veteran Rodger Koopman 54.42% to 45.58%.
In December of 2008, Coble downplayed reports that he was considering running for Governor of North Carolina
in the 2012 election
, challenging Bev Perdue
. Instead, he later announced that he would run for the U.S. House in North Carolina's 13th congressional district
.
In private life, Coble is in the insurance
business. He is married to Connie Coble and has two daughters, Courtney and Paige.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Raleigh from December 1999 to December 2001. In November 2006, Coble was elected to the Wake County Board of Commissioners
Wake County Board of Commissioners
The Wake County Board of Commissioners are a seven-member governing board for Wake County, which includes the City of Raleigh. They elected at-large to serve four-year terms. Terms are staggered so that, every two years, three or four Commissioners are up for election...
and became Chairman of the board in December 2010. In 2011, Coble announced that he would run for the U.S. House in North Carolina's 13th congressional district
North Carolina's 13th congressional district
The Thirteenth congressional district of North Carolina was re-established in 2002 after the state gained population in the 2000 United States Census. Previously, the state had 13 districts from the first election following the 1810 United States Census until the reapportionment following the 1840...
.
Early Life
Coble was born and raised in Raleigh, North CarolinaRaleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
. His aunt and uncle were Dot and U.S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Jesse Helms
Jesse Helms
Jesse Alexander Helms, Jr. was a five-term Republican United States Senator from North Carolina who served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 1995 to 2001...
. Paul attended public schools in Raleigh where he was a Captain on the Needham B. Broughton High School
Needham B. Broughton High School
Needham Bryant Broughton High School, or simply Broughton High School, is one of the flagship schools of the Wake County Public School System. It is located at 723 St. Mary's Street, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Broughton was named after the Raleigh aristocrat, Needham B. Broughton, who...
wrestling team. He then went on to Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in business. Later, Paul earned a Registered Health Underwriter degree from Northeastern University in 1992.
Political Career
Coble served on Raleigh City CouncilRaleigh City Council
Raleigh City Council is the governing body for the city of Raleigh, the state capital of North Carolina.Raleigh is governed by council-manager government. It is composed of eight members, including the Mayor of Raleigh. Five of the members are elected from the five districts that cover the city. ...
from 1993 to 1999. Like his predecessor, Mayor Tom Fetzer
Tom Fetzer
Thomas Harrison Fetzer served three two-year terms as Mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina from December 1993 to December 1999...
, he was a conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. During Coble's term as Mayor, the city recovered from a record 25-inch snow storm and opened the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts
Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts
The Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts is the main venue for the performing arts in Raleigh, North Carolina.The naming rights to the center currently are held by Progress Energy, which purchased them from the city in 2005 for a 20-year term at the cost of $7.5 million...
.
Coble lost a heated re-election campaign after just one term in 2001 against former city councilman Charles Meeker
Charles Meeker
Charles Carpenter Meeker is the Democratic mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. He was first elected in 2001 over Republican Paul Coble, and reelected for a fifth two-year term in 2009. A fifth term tied Meeker with Avery C. Upchurch as Raleigh's longest-serving mayor...
. Initially Coble led Meeker on the October ballot, but went on to lose the November ballot by a margin of 50.97% to 48.87%.
The following year, Coble ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the North Carolina State Senate against Democrat Eric Reeves. Despite a strong turnout of Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
voters from the coattails of Elizabeth Dole
Elizabeth Dole
Mary Elizabeth Alexander Hanford "Liddy" Dole is an American politician who served in both the Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush presidential administrations, as well as a United States Senator....
's campaign for United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, Coble was unable to win the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
-leaning seat. Reeves defeated Coble 49.29% to 48.39%.
In 2006, Coble sought a comeback to elective office by running for an open seat on the Wake County Board of Commissioners
Wake County Board of Commissioners
The Wake County Board of Commissioners are a seven-member governing board for Wake County, which includes the City of Raleigh. They elected at-large to serve four-year terms. Terms are staggered so that, every two years, three or four Commissioners are up for election...
. He handily defeated Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
veteran Rodger Koopman 54.42% to 45.58%.
In December of 2008, Coble downplayed reports that he was considering running for Governor of North Carolina
Governor of North Carolina
The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...
in the 2012 election
North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2012
The 2012 North Carolina gubernatorial election will take place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election, U.S. House elections, statewide judicial elections, Council of State elections and various local elections....
, challenging Bev Perdue
Bev Perdue
Beverly Eaves "Bev" Perdue is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party currently serving as the 73rd Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina. She is the first female governor of North Carolina....
. Instead, he later announced that he would run for the U.S. House in North Carolina's 13th congressional district
North Carolina's 13th congressional district
The Thirteenth congressional district of North Carolina was re-established in 2002 after the state gained population in the 2000 United States Census. Previously, the state had 13 districts from the first election following the 1810 United States Census until the reapportionment following the 1840...
.
In private life, Coble is in the insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
business. He is married to Connie Coble and has two daughters, Courtney and Paige.