Janet Cowell
{{short description|American politician (born 1968)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Janet Cowell
| image = Headshot 320x330.jpg
| office = 63rd Mayor of Raleigh
| term_start = December 2, 2024
| term_end =
| predecessor = Mary-Ann Baldwin
| successor =
| office1 = 27th Treasurer of North Carolina
| governor1 = Bev Perdue
Pat McCrory
| term_start1 = January 10, 2009
| term_end1 = January 1, 2017
| predecessor1 = Richard Moore
| successor1 = Dale Folwell
| state_senate2 = North Carolina
| district2 = 16th
| term_start2 = January 1, 2005
| term_end2 = January 1, 2009
| predecessor2 = Eric Miller Reeves
| successor2 = Josh Stein
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|7|19}}
| birth_place = Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| education = University of Pennsylvania (BA, MA, MBA)
}}
Janet Cowell (born July 19, 1968) is an American politician. She was elected the 63rd mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina on Nov. 5, 2024. She served as the North Carolina State Treasurer from 2009 to 2017, making her the first woman to hold that position in North Carolina. She was previously a two-term member of the Raleigh City Council and a two-term Democratic member of the North Carolina Senate, representing Wake County.{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=84939 |title=Our Campaigns - NC State Senate 16 Race - Nov 02, 2004}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=286701 |title=Our Campaigns - NC State Senate 16 Race - Nov 07, 2006}}
Early life and education
Cowell was born in Memphis, Tennessee.{{cite news|last=Beckwith|first=Ryan Teague|title=Janet Cowell|url=http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/profiles/janet_cowell|accessdate=December 19, 2012|newspaper=Raleigh News & Observer|date=August 13, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212042212/http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/profiles/janet_cowell|archive-date=February 12, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania (BA), Penn's Wharton School of Business (MBA), and the Lauder Institute (Master's in International Studies).
Career
Cowell previously worked as an analyst with HSBC and Lehman Brothers, coming to Raleigh, North Carolina in 1997.{{cite web|title=Biography - Janet Cowell |url=http://www.imn.org/pages/biography.cfm?personid=JCNFC22EUQ69 |publisher=Information Management Network |accessdate=December 19, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905204436/http://www.imn.org/pages/biography.cfm?personid=JCNFC22EUQ69 |archivedate=September 5, 2012 }} While in Raleigh she was also a consultant with SJF Ventures{{cite news|last=Beckwith|first=Ryan Teague|title=Cowell for Treasurer|url=http://projects.newsobserver.com/blogs/cowell_for_treasurer|accessdate=December 19, 2012|newspaper=Raleigh News & Observer|date=July 5, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207042043/http://projects.newsobserver.com/blogs/cowell_for_treasurer|archive-date=February 7, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} as well as Sibson & Co. and, in 2000, went to work for the Common Sense Foundation.{{cite news|last=Geary|first=Bob|title=Fresh Start|url=http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/fresh-start/Content?oid=1184002|accessdate=December 19, 2012|newspaper=IndyWeek|date=June 27, 2001}}
After declining to run for reelection as State Treasurer, Cowell was named CEO of Girls Who Invest, a nonprofit whose mission is to increase the number of women and people of color in leadership positions in the finance industry.{{cite web|title=Ex-State Treasurer Cowell Named CEO of Girls Who Invest|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-10/ex-state-treasurer-cowell-to-lead-hingorani-s-girls-who-invest|publisher=Bloomberg|accessdate=October 9, 2024|date=January 10, 2018}} In 2021, Cowell was selected to be president and CEO of the Dix Park Conservancy. Cowell helped raise $40 million in private funding to improve the park before resigning in October 2024 to run for mayor.{{cite web|title=Janet Cowell to step down as Dix Park Conservancy CEO, eyes Raleigh mayoral run|url=https://www.wral.com/story/janet-cowell-to-step-down-as-dix-park-conservancy-ceo-eyes-raleigh-mayoral-run/21553032/#:~:text=Cowell%20became%20the%20president%20of,an%20ambitious%20public%20art%20initiative.|publisher=WRAL|accessdate=October 9, 2024|date=July 31, 2024}}
Political career
File:Governor Perdue inaugural parade (3189497348).jpg
In 2001 Cowell decided to run for Raleigh City Council. She was elected to one of the At-large seats along with Neal Hunt.{{cite web|title=Municipal and Run-off Election|url=http://www.wakegov.com/elections/data/Past%20Election%20Results/2001-11-06%20-%20Municipal%20Elections%20and%20Raleigh,%20Cary,%20and%20Board%20of%20Education%20Runoffs/20011106Summary.txt|publisher=Wake County, North Carolina|accessdate=December 19, 2012|archive-date=2016-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001653/http://www.wakegov.com/elections/data/Past%20Election%20Results/2001-11-06%20-%20Municipal%20Elections%20and%20Raleigh,%20Cary,%20and%20Board%20of%20Education%20Runoffs/20011106Summary.txt|url-status=dead}} She was re-elected with Hunt to the At-large seats in 2003.{{cite web|title=Official Summary|url=http://www.wakegov.com/elections/data/Past%20Election%20Results/2003-10-07%20-%20Raleigh%20and%20Cary%20Municipal%20and%20Board%20of%20Education%20Election,%20and%20Wake%20County%20and%20Raleigh%20Bond%20Referendums/20031007Summary.txt|publisher=Wake County Board of Elections|accessdate=December 19, 2012|archive-date=2016-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232150/http://www.wakegov.com/elections/data/Past%20Election%20Results/2003-10-07%20-%20Raleigh%20and%20Cary%20Municipal%20and%20Board%20of%20Education%20Election,%20and%20Wake%20County%20and%20Raleigh%20Bond%20Referendums/20031007Summary.txt|url-status=dead}}
In 2004, Cowell ran for the District 16 State Senate seat held by the retiring Eric Miller Reeves. Cowell won the Democratic party primary with 49% of the vote over Jack Nichols, Carter Worthy and Mike Shea.{{Cite FTP |title=2004 Primary Election Results|url=ftp://www.app.sboe.state.nc.us/data/ElectResults/2004_07_20/20040720_results_statewide.pdf|server=North Carolina State Board of Elections|url-status=dead|accessdate=December 19, 2012}} She went on to face Republican nominee Mark Bradrick, an insurance appraiser and Desert Storm veteran, and Libertarian Jason Mara in the general election.{{cite web|last=Hood|first=John|title=A NC Senate Election Checklist|url=http://www.carolinajournal.com/exclusives/display_exclusive.html?id=1914|work=Carolina Journal|publisher=The John Locke Foundation|accessdate=December 19, 2012|date=October 29, 2004|archive-date=March 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310151344/http://www.carolinajournal.com/exclusives/display_exclusive.html?id=1914|url-status=dead}} Cowell won the seat with 59% to 38% for Bradrick and 3% for Mara.{{Cite FTP |title=2004 General Election Results |url=ftp://www.app.sboe.state.nc.us/data/ElectResults/2004_11_02/20041102_results_statewide.pdf |server=North Carolina State Board of Elections |url-status=dead |accessdate=December 19, 2012 }} She was completely unopposed in her 2006 re-election campaign.{{Cite FTP |title=2006 General Election Results |url=ftp://www.app.sboe.state.nc.us/data/ElectResults/2006_11_07/20061107_results_statewide.pdf |server=North Carolina State Board of Elections |url-status=dead |accessdate=December 19, 2012 }}
=State Treasurer=
Cowell announced that she would seek the Democratic nomination for North Carolina State Treasurer in July 2007. She faced Michael Weisel, a Raleigh attorney, and David Young, a Buncombe County Commissioner, in the primary election,{{cite news|last=Beckwith |first=Ryan Teague |title=Young raises $180,000 |url=http://projects.newsobserver.com/blogs/young_raises_180_000 |accessdate=December 19, 2012 |newspaper=Raleigh News & Observer |date=October 26, 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131222053229/http://projects.newsobserver.com/blogs/young_raises_180_000 |archivedate=December 22, 2013 }} winning the nomination with 46.43% of the vote.{{cite web|title=2008 Primary Elections|url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NC/1875/4822/en/vts.html?cid=114|publisher=North Carolina State Board of Elections|accessdate=December 19, 2012}} In the 2008 general election, Cowell defeated the Republican nominee, businessman and former State House member Bill Daughtridge, 53.62% to 46.38%.{{cite web|title=2008 General Election|url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NC/7937/21334/en/vts.html?cid=220|publisher=North Carolina State Board of Elections|accessdate=December 19, 2012}} She was sworn in on January 10, 2009.{{cite news| last1 = Bonner| first1 = Lynn| last2 = Niolet| first2 = Benjamin| title = Council of State also sworn in today: These four among those who will help the new governor steer the ship of state| newspaper = The News & Observer| date = January 10, 2009}} She was re-elected in 2012 over Republican Steve Royal, 53.83% to 46.17%.[http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NC/42923/114645/Web01/en/summary.html State Board of Elections - November 6, 2012 General Election]
On October 13, 2015, Cowell announced that she would not seek reelection or election to any other office in 2016.{{cite news|title=NC treasurer Janet Cowell won't seek re-election in 2016.|url=http://wncn.com/2015/10/13/nc-treasurer-janet-cowell-wont-seek-reelection-in-2016/|accessdate=October 13, 2015|archive-date=October 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151014101254/http://wncn.com/2015/10/13/nc-treasurer-janet-cowell-wont-seek-reelection-in-2016/|url-status=dead}}
=Mayor of Raleigh=
In 2024, Cowell ran for Mayor of Raleigh. She was elected on November 5, 2024, by a comfortable margin.[https://www.wral.com/story/former-state-treasurer-janet-cowell-to-become-next-raleigh-mayor/21708693/ WRAL: Former state treasurer Janet Cowell to become next Raleigh mayor]
Awards and honors
Jan 2010, Rodel Fellow in Public Leadership issued by Aspen Institute
July 2013, Cowell was ranked #21 globally on the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute's Public Investor 100.{{Cite web |title=Janet Cowell |url=http://www.swfinstitute.org/public-investor-100/janet-cowell/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922213941/http://www.swfinstitute.org/public-investor-100/janet-cowell/ |archive-date=2013-09-22 |access-date=2024-11-12}}
Jan 2014, Top 25 Global Investment Executive issued by Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute
Jan 2015, Institutional Trailblazer Award issued by Toigo Foundation
Feb 2017, Order of the Long Leaf Pine issued by the Governor of North Carolina
Feb 2023, Women Shaping Raleigh Award issued by Raleigh Magazine
Electoral history
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |North Carolina State Senate 16th District Democratic primary election, 2004 |
| Party
|Candidate |Votes |% |
| Democratic
|Janet Cowell |5,367 |49.03 |
| Democratic
|Jack Nichols |2,641 |24.13 |
| Democratic
|Carter Worthy |2,136 |19.51 |
| Democratic
|Mike Shea |802 |7.33 |
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |North Carolina State Senate 16th District Election, 2004 |
| Party
|Candidate |Votes |% |
| Democratic
|Janet Cowell |45,396 |59.44 |
| Republican
|Mark Bradrick |28,995 |37.97 |
| Libertarian
|Jason Mara |1,979 |2.59 |
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |North Carolina State Senate 16th District Election, 2006 |
| Party
|Candidate |Votes |% |
| Democratic
|Janet Cowell (inc.) |30,330 |100.00 |
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |North Carolina Treasurer Democratic primary election, 2008 |
| Party
|Candidate |Votes |% |
| Democratic
|Janet Cowell |585,012 |46.43 |
| Democratic
|David Young |456,272 |36.21 |
| Democratic
|Michael Weisel |218,713 |17.36 |
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |North Carolina Treasurer Election, 2008 |
| Party
|Candidate |Votes |% |
| Democratic
|Janet Cowell |2,179,665 |53.62 |
| Republican
|Bill Daughtridge |1,885,724 |46.38 |
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |North Carolina Treasurer Democratic primary election, 2012 |
| Party
|Candidate |Votes |% |
| Democratic
|Janet Cowell (inc.) |630,151 |76.63 |
| Democratic
|Ron Elmer |192,134 |23.37 |
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |North Carolina Treasurer Election, 2012 |
| Party
|Candidate |Votes |% |
| Democratic
|Janet Cowell (inc.) |2,313,877 |53.83 |
| Republican
|Steve Royal |1,984,827 |46.17 |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://www.janetcowellformayor.com/ Cowell for Mayor campaign website]
- {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=41207 | fec= | congress= }}
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{{Mayors of US State Capitals}}
{{Mayors of the 50 largest U.S. cities}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cowell, Janet}}
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:21st-century mayors of places in North Carolina
Category:21st-century members of the North Carolina General Assembly
Category:Democratic Party North Carolina state senators
Category:Mayors of Raleigh, North Carolina
Category:Politicians from Memphis, Tennessee
Category:Raleigh City Council members
Category:State treasurers of North Carolina
Category:Women city councillors in North Carolina