Britt Cobb
Encyclopedia
W. Britt Cobb, Jr. is the chief of staff for North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue and the former Secretary of Administration (a member of the Governor's Cabinet
).
Cobb was Commissioner of Agriculture
for the state of North Carolina
between June 2003 and February 2005. He was appointed to the post in June 2003 following the resignation of Agriculture Commissioner Meg Scott Phipps
and lost a hotly disputed race for the seat in 2004 to Republican Steve Troxler
.
Cobb was born in Elm City, North Carolina
, and earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
. Cobb began working for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture shortly after his graduation as a food-distribution representative, and was the first agriculture director at North Carolina's European Office in West Germany
during the late 1970s.
In 1991, Cobb was named assistant director of marketing for the Agriculture department, and he was appointed to the post of interim agriculture commissioner in June 2003 following the resignation of Meg Scott Phipps
. His appointment by Governor Mike Easley
as North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture was made official in December 2003; that same month, he announced his candidacy for the post in the 2004 statewide general elections
. Cobb faced Republican Steve Troxler
and finished only about 2,000 votes behind his opponent; however, 4,000 lost votes in Carteret County
led to an extended legal dispute, in which Cobb and his attorneys pressed for a new statewide election for the race. On February 4, 2005, Cobb conceded the race and Troxler was sworn in as Agriculture Commissioner on February 8.
In 2005, Cobb became a Deputy Secretary in the North Carolina Department of Administration, and in January 2006, Gov. Easley appointed him Secretary for the Department, succeeding Secretary Gwynn Swinson. In 2009, newly elected Gov. Beverly Perdue chose to keep Cobb in her cabinet.
North Carolina Cabinet
The Cabinet is the group of unelected heads of the executive departments of North Carolina, which form part of the top executives in the government of the state. It is separate and distinct from the North Carolina Council of State, the members of which are elected state-wide, and which makes up...
).
Cobb was Commissioner of Agriculture
North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture
The Commissioner of Agriculture is the head of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, as well as chairman of the state Board of Agriculture. As an executive officer elected statewide, the commissioner is also a member of the North Carolina Council of State.Leonidas L....
for the state of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
between June 2003 and February 2005. He was appointed to the post in June 2003 following the resignation of Agriculture Commissioner Meg Scott Phipps
Meg Scott Phipps
Meg Scott Phipps was the Commissioner of Agriculture for the state of North Carolina from 2001 to 2003.-Early life:She is the daughter of former North Carolina governor Bob Scott and former First Lady Jessie Rae Scott, as well as the granddaughter of former U.S. Senator and North Carolina Governor...
and lost a hotly disputed race for the seat in 2004 to Republican Steve Troxler
Steve Troxler
Steve Troxler is a tobacco farmer and the Republican Commissioner of Agriculture for the U.S. state of North Carolina, sworn in February 8, 2005 after an extended election dispute following the November 2004 statewide election....
.
Cobb was born in Elm City, North Carolina
Elm City, North Carolina
Elm City is a town in Wilson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,209 in 2008.-Geography:Elm City is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
, and earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
. Cobb began working for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture shortly after his graduation as a food-distribution representative, and was the first agriculture director at North Carolina's European Office in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
during the late 1970s.
In 1991, Cobb was named assistant director of marketing for the Agriculture department, and he was appointed to the post of interim agriculture commissioner in June 2003 following the resignation of Meg Scott Phipps
Meg Scott Phipps
Meg Scott Phipps was the Commissioner of Agriculture for the state of North Carolina from 2001 to 2003.-Early life:She is the daughter of former North Carolina governor Bob Scott and former First Lady Jessie Rae Scott, as well as the granddaughter of former U.S. Senator and North Carolina Governor...
. His appointment by Governor Mike Easley
Mike Easley
Michael Francis "Mike" Easley is an American politician who served as the 72nd Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina, from 2001 to 2009. He is member of the North Carolina Democratic Party and became the first North Carolina governor to admit to a felony in a deal that halted a lengthy...
as North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture was made official in December 2003; that same month, he announced his candidacy for the post in the 2004 statewide general elections
North Carolina Council of State election, 2004
Elections to choose members of the North Carolina Council of State were held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004....
. Cobb faced Republican Steve Troxler
Steve Troxler
Steve Troxler is a tobacco farmer and the Republican Commissioner of Agriculture for the U.S. state of North Carolina, sworn in February 8, 2005 after an extended election dispute following the November 2004 statewide election....
and finished only about 2,000 votes behind his opponent; however, 4,000 lost votes in Carteret County
Carteret County, North Carolina
Carteret County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 66,469. Its county seat is Beaufort. Most of the county is part of the Crystal Coast....
led to an extended legal dispute, in which Cobb and his attorneys pressed for a new statewide election for the race. On February 4, 2005, Cobb conceded the race and Troxler was sworn in as Agriculture Commissioner on February 8.
In 2005, Cobb became a Deputy Secretary in the North Carolina Department of Administration, and in January 2006, Gov. Easley appointed him Secretary for the Department, succeeding Secretary Gwynn Swinson. In 2009, newly elected Gov. Beverly Perdue chose to keep Cobb in her cabinet.