newsobserver.com projects - Miller's replacement - Comments

Re: Miller's replacement

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 22:24:15 -0400

That's my wording, for the record. My point was simply that she's someone who has considered running for higher office before.

Re: Miller's replacement

ekinsinger — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 21:20:53 -0400

Senator Cowell's "ambition is well known"? Yes, it is, but not in regards to Miller's replacement. Her ambition is obvious in the slate of Bills she is sponsoring or cosponsoring. Her ambition is, and has always been, to do the best at whatever she does and to do it for the public good. Anybody who knows her knows that her ambition is not for personal advancement, quite the opposite, in fact. Thanks goodness she's ambitious -- the state will be well served.

Re: Miller's replacement

CLizak — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:03:13 -0400

I certainly wouldn't describe Sen. Cowell as a politician who's "ambition is well known". She ultimately decided not to run for Treasurer, not because she couldn't win, but because the duties of the Treasurer are very narrow, and not where she wants to concentrate her efforts.

If she were ambitious, she would be neglecting the important work occurring at the General Assembly while campaigning for Treasurer (much like some of the gubernatorial candidates are doing).

Instead, she has championed a number of very fine bills during the current long session.

The very fact that Grier Martin is considering the race, after Janet's name had already been floated around, shows that she has made no attempts at intimidating others into staying away, as an ambitious politician eyeing the race would do.

I guess that just the act of running for political office makes one "ambitious" in the eyes of Mr. Beckwith and Ms. Bonner.

Re: Miller's replacement

jerimee — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 11:33:10 -0400

I've found Janet Cowell to be a good speaker. She sounds passionate without being pushy. Come to think of it, a bit like Miller himself.

Re: Miller's replacement

danmanley2299 — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 11:21:08 -0400

If a bullfrog had wings it wouldnt bump its tail when it jumped. There are lots of if's in all these scenarios. I dont think Miller will do it, the timing is not right.

I think a Cowell v. Martin showdown would be interesting. Could be the only way for Raleigh to lose the seat. Those two battle it out, Sen. Hagan from Greensboro runs, and she takes it when they split the Raleigh vote. Just my two cents.

Re: Miller's replacement

charliereece — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 08:35:31 -0400

tjrutledge, you could be right. Then again, Grier Martin has an issue profile that closely fits the 13th, he actually lives in the district, and he's got a great personal story.

Oh, and the netroots absolutely loves the guy.

Re: Miller's replacement

tjrutledge — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 20:14:18 -0400

Janet Cowell would be the frontrunner in this race, for sure (if it happens). The district is dominated by Wake County, and Cowell has represented the entire city of Raleigh while on council, and she now represents Raleigh and other parts of Wake in the Senate.

Re: Miller's replacement

rgc_cary — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 19:24:08 -0400

This morning we were drafting Coop to run against Dole, why wouldn't a 13th District race be a good next option for him?

Re: Miller's replacement

Jprotzman — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 17:23:47 -0400

One possibility?

I can think of hundreds of possibilities . . . what's the point of zeroing in on this one?

Janet's great, don't get me wrong, but it seems more than a little strange for this story to focus exclusively on her. As another commenter said, for example, Grier Martin is an in-district possibility that has already spawned lots of interesting conversations.

Re: Miller's replacement

charliereece — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:58:27 -0400

State Rep. Grier Martin is a better choice -- and he lives in the district.

Miller's replacement

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:40:40 -0400

With U.S. Rep. Brad Miller mulling a run for the Senate, talk inevitably has moved on to his potential replacement.

One possibility for the 13th District seat is state Sen. Janet Cowell, a Raleigh Democrat.

When asked this afternoon, Cowell refused to rule it out, reports Lynn Bonner.

"I'm just waiting to see what he does," she said.

Cowell's ambition is well-known. She moved from the Raleigh City Council to the state Senate in 2004. Earlier this year, she briefly considered a run for state Treasurer.

One small hangup: Cowell lives in the adjacent Fourth District. Though that didn't stop Vernon Robinson from running for the seat in 2006, and it's not a legal requirement.