Tricia Cotham

Representative
Tricia Cotham
Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
from the 100th district
In office
2007–2017
Preceded by James B. Black
Succeeded by John Autry
Personal details
Born (1978-11-26) November 26, 1978
Charlotte, North Carolina
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Jerry Meek
Residence Matthews, North Carolina
Alma mater University of North Carolina at Charlotte (B.A.)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (MPA)
Occupation Legislator, Educator, Business Owner
Website http://www.triciacotham.org

Patricia (Tricia) Ann Cotham (born 1978) is a former member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 100th district (Mecklenburg County) and congressional candidate. In March 2007, she was appointed by Governor Mike Easley, upon the recommendation of local Democratic Party leaders, to replace state Representative James B. Black, who had resigned.

At 28 years old, Cotham became the youngest member of the 2007-2008 session of the state legislature and the youngest woman to ever serve in the NC House of Representatives. In her second term, Cotham was appointed to Co-Chair the House's K-12 Education subcommittee. Cotham also served as Vice-Chair of the House Education Committee and as a member of the Education Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). She also represents North Carolina on the Southern Region Education Board, having been appointed by North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue.

Cotham served as a Trustee to the North Carolina Teacher Academy. In 2008, she was honored as UNC Chapel Hill's School of Education Young Alumna of the Year. The North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) also honored Cotham as an "A+" Legislator.

Cotham is the owner of a drop-in childcare center in Charlotte. Prior to serving in the legislature, Cotham was Assistant Principal of Instruction in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System. Prior to this leadership role, she was a social studies and AVID teacher, teaching both middle and high school. In 2002, Cotham was honored as the Charlotte Mecklenburg Most Outstanding Teacher. In 2003, she was honored as “Teacher of the Year” in Mint Hill, NC.

Cotham chose not to run for re-election in 2016.[1] She later said she would consider running for the U.S. House of Representatives in the newly redrawn 12th congressional district.[2] Cotham filed to run for the seat on March 21, 2016, but lost the primary to incumbent Congresswoman Alma Adams.[3]

Family

Cotham’s mother, Pat Cotham, is a former Democratic National Committee member and currently a member of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners, having being elected in 2012.[4] Cotham's cousin, Emily Cain, also a Democrat, was elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 2004 at age 24 as its youngest female member. Cain served as the Minority Leader for the Maine House Democrats.

Cotham is married to Jerry Meek, partner at Poyner Spruill, LLP, and former North Carolina Democratic Party chairman. Cotham and Meek have two sons.[5] Cotham lives in Matthews, NC.

References

  1. ↑ Charlotte Observer
  2. ↑ WSOC-TV
  3. ↑ NC State Board of Elections
  4. ↑ News & Observer: Cotham wins spot on Democratic National Committee Archived April 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ Campaign site
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