Britt Cobb

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on January 7, 2009 - 12:30pm.
Tags:

Office District Status
Administration Secretary Statewide Appointee
Party In Office Since Term Ends
Democrat 2005
Level of Government  
Cabinet  
Date of Birth Birthplace Now Lives In
November 15, 1949 Elm City, NC Raleigh, NC

Synopsis

Britt Cobb is secretary of the N.C. Department of Administration and the only member of Gov. Mike Easley's Cabinet to stay under Gov. Beverly Perdue. A longtime state government employee, Cobb was appointed commissioner of agriculture by Easley after Meg Scott Phipps resigned amid scandal. He narrowly lost a campaign for the office in 2004, conceding only after a three-month battle over a faulty electronic voting machine. In 2006, Easley appointed him secretary of Administration. In 2009, Perdue announced she would retain Cobb in the post. 

Trivia

He still owns his parents' farm in Wilson County. 

Endorsements

Biography

Marital Status
Married
Spouse
Ann
Children

Britt Cobb is secretary of the N.C. Department of Administration and a member of Gov. Beverly Perdue's Cabinet. He is also a former state agriculture commissioner. 

Early Life and Education

Willard Britt Cobb Jr. was born on Nov. 15, 1949, to Willard and Mary Edwards Cobb, in Elm City, N.C.

He was raised on a tobacco farm.

He graduated from Elm City High School in 1967. 

He earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1971. 

He earned a certificate in international marketing from the American Graduate School of International Management in Phoenix in 1976.

Professional Career

Cobb began working for the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in 1972 as a food-distribution representative. 

From 1976 to 1979, he served as the first director of agriculture for the state's European Office in Dusseldorf, West Germany. 

From 1991 to 2003, he was assistant director of marketing, participating in trade talks with more than 60 countries.

Political Career

Cobb's first political post came from a need for fresh blood. 

After Agriculture Commissioner Meg Scott Phipps resigned over a fundraising scandal, Gov. Mike Easley appointed Cobb as interim commissioner in June of 2003. 

He appointed Cobb commissioner in December.

In 2004, Cobb ran as a Democrat for the post, losing to Republican Steve Troxler in the November elections by about 2,300 votes.

A faulty electronic voting machine in Carteret County caused more than 4,400 votes to be lost, leading to a three-month battle over how to resolve the election. On Feb. 4, Cobb conceded the race.

On Aug. 11, 2005, Easley appointed Cobb deputy secretary for government operations in the N.C. Department of Administration.

On Feb. 1, 2006, Easley appointed Cobb secretary of the department, replacing Gwynn Swinson.

In that post, he implemented an alternative fuel vehicle replacement program, expanded the Historically Underutilized Businesses outreach initiatives, created a utility savings initiative throughout state government and standardized business contracts. 

Perdue Administration

In December of 2008, Cobb said he would step down at the end of the year and not seek to stay in his position. 

However, on Jan. 6, 2009, Gov. Beverly Perdue announced she would retain Cobb in the post.

He is the only member of Easley's Cabinet to stay under Perdue.

Research and reporting by Ryan Teague Beckwith and Ben Niolet. 

Occupation

Administration Secretary





Community Involvement:
Not specified.

Contact Info



Education

bachelor of science
UNC-Chapel Hill
Graduated: 1971



Military

Not specified.

Links










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