| Paul Coble | |
|---|---|
| Wake County Board of Commissioners | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2010 |
|
| Preceded by | Tony Gurley |
| Wake County Board of Commissioners | |
| In office 2006 – incumbent |
|
| Preceded by | Herb Council |
| Mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina | |
| In office 1999–2001 |
|
| Preceded by | Tom Fetzer |
| Succeeded by | Charles Meeker |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 19, 1953 Raleigh, North Carolina |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Connie Kearney Coble |
| Residence | Raleigh, North Carolina |
| Alma mater | Wake Forest University |
Paul Y. Coble (born October 19, 1953 in Raleigh, North Carolina) 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.[1] In 2011, Coble announced that he would run for the U.S. House in North Carolina's 13th congressional district.[2]
Coble was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. 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.
Coble served on Raleigh City Council 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%. [3]
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%. [4]
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%. [5]
In December of 2008, Coble downplayed reports that he was considering running for Governor of North Carolina in the 2012 election, challenging Bev Perdue.[6] Instead, he later announced that he would run for the U.S. House in North Carolina's 13th congressional district.[7]
In private life, Coble is in the insurance business. He is married to Connie Coble and has two daughters, Courtney and Paige.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Tom Fetzer |
Mayor of Raleigh 1999– 2001 |
Succeeded by Charles Meeker |