Janet Cowell
Janet Cowell | |
---|---|
File:ImagesQJUNN6CH.jpg | |
Treasurer of North Carolina | |
Assumed office January 10, 2009 | |
Governor | Bev Perdue Pat McCrory |
Preceded by | Richard Moore |
Personal details | |
Born | Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. | July 19, 1968
Political party | Democratic |
Alma mater | University of Pennsylvania (BA, MIS, MBA) |
Website | Government website |
Janet Cowell (born July 19, 1968) is the current North Carolina State Treasurer and is the first woman to hold that position in North Carolina. She was previously a two-term member of the Raleigh City Council and a two-term Democratic member of the North Carolina Senate (representing Wake County).
Early life and education
Cowell was born in Memphis, Tennessee.[1] She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania (BA), Penn's Wharton School of Business (MBA), and the Lauder Institute (Master's in International Studies).
Career
Cowell previously worked as an analyst with HSBC and Lehman Brothers, coming to Raleigh, North Carolina in 1997.[2] While in Raleigh she was also a consultant with SJF Ventures[3] as well as Sibson & Co. and, in 2000, went to work for the Common Sense Foundation.[4]
Political career
In 2001 Cowell decided to run for Raleigh City Council. She was elected to one of the At-large seats along with Neal Hunt.[5] She was re-elected with Hunt to the At-large seats in 2003.[6]
In 2004, Cowell ran for the District 16 State Senate seat held by the retiring Eric Miller Reeves. Cowell won the Democratic party primary with 49% of the vote over Jack Nichols, Carter Worthy and Mike Shea.[7] She went on to face Republican nominee Mark Bradrick, an insurance appraiser and Desert Storm veteran, and Libertarian Jason Mara in the general election.[8] Cowell won the seat with 59% to 38% for Bradrick and 3% for Mara.[9] She was completely unopposed in her 2006 re-election campaign.[10]
As State Treasurer
Cowell announced that she would seek the Democratic nomination for North Carolina State Treasurer in July 2007.[3] She faced Michael Weisel, a Raleigh attorney, and David Young, a Buncombe County Commissioner, in the primary election,[11] winning the nomination with 46.43% of the vote.[12] In the 2008 general election, Cowell defeated the Republican nominee, businessman and former State House member Bill Daughtridge, 53.62% to 46.38%.[13] She was re-elected in 2012 over Republican Steve Royal, 53.83% to 46.17%.[14]
On October 13, 2015, Cowell announced that she would not seek reelection or election to any other office in 2016.[15]
Awards and honors
In 2012, Cowell was recognized as a "rising state and local leader" by The NewDEAL.[16]
In July 2013, Cowell was ranked #21 globally on the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute's Public Investor 100.[17]
Electoral history
North Carolina State Senate 16th District Democratic Primary Election, 2004 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Democratic | Janet Cowell | 5,367 | 49.03 |
Democratic | Jack Nichols | 2,641 | 24.13 |
Democratic | Carter Worthy | 2,136 | 19.51 |
Democratic | Mike Shea | 802 | 7.33 |
North Carolina State Senate 16th District Election, 2004 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Democratic | Janet Cowell | 45,396 | 59.44 |
Republican | Mark Bradrick | 28,995 | 37.97 |
Libertarian | Jason Mara | 1,979 | 2.59 |
North Carolina State Senate 16th District Election, 2006 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Democratic | Janet Cowell (inc.) | 30,330 | 100.00 |
North Carolina Treasurer Democratic Primary Election, 2008 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Democratic | Janet Cowell | 585,012 | 46.43 |
Democratic | David Young | 456,272 | 36.21 |
Democratic | Michael Weisel | 218,713 | 17.36 |
North Carolina Treasurer Election, 2008 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Democratic | Janet Cowell | 2,179,665 | 53.62 |
Republican | Bill Daughtridge | 1,885,724 | 46.38 |
North Carolina Treasurer Democratic Primary Election, 2012 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Democratic | Janet Cowell (inc.) | 630,151 | 76.63 |
Democratic | Ron Elmer | 192,134 | 23.37 |
North Carolina Treasurer Election, 2012 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Democratic | Janet Cowell (inc.) | 2,313,877 | 53.83 |
Republican | Steve Royal | 1,984,827 | 46.17 |
References
- ^ Beckwith, Ryan Teague (August 13, 2007). "Janet Cowell". Raleigh News & Observer. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- ^ "Biography - Janet Cowell". Information Management Network. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- ^ a b Beckwith, Ryan Teague (July 5, 2007). "Cowell for Treasurer". Raleigh News & Observer. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- ^ Geary, Bob (June 27, 2001). "Fresh Start". IndyWeek. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- ^ "Municipal and Run-off Election". Wake County, North Carolina. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- ^ "Official Summary". Wake County Board of Elections. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- ^ "2004 Primary Election Results" (PDF). North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- ^ Hood, John (October 29, 2004). "A NC Senate Election Checklist". Carolina Journal. The John Locke Foundation. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- ^ "2004 General Election Results" (PDF). North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- ^ "2006 General Election Results" (PDF). North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- ^ Beckwith, Ryan Teague (October 26, 2007). "Young raises $180,000". Raleigh News & Observer. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- ^ "2008 Primary Elections". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- ^ "2008 General Election". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- ^ State Board of Elections - November 6, 2012 General Election
- ^ "NC treasurer Janet Cowell won't seek re-election in 2016". Retrieved October 13, 2015.
- ^ Christensen, Rob (June 12, 2012). "Cowell gets national recognition". Raleigh News & Observer. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- ^ http://www.swfinstitute.org/public-investor-100/janet-cowell/ Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute