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Howard Coble
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 6th district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 1985
Preceded by	Robin Britt
Born	March 18, 1931 (1931-03-18) (age 78) Greensboro, North Carolina
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Single
Residence	Greensboro, North Carolina
Alma mater	Guilford College, University of North Carolina
Occupation	attorney
Religion	Presbyterian
Military service
Service/branch	United States Coast Guard
Years of service	1952-1956 1960-1982

John Howard Coble, born March 18, 1931 is a Republican Congressman representing the 6th district of North Carolina (map)

Early life

Coble was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. After high school, he initially attended Appalachian State University, but after a year joined the United States Coast Guard, serving for over 5 years and staying on as a reservist for an additional 18 years. Upon discharging from military service, he attended Guilford College, from which he received a history degree. Coble then moved on to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and earned a degree in law.

After graduating from college, Coble first worked as an insurance agent. He then spent nearly 20 years as a practicing attorney, and he was also Secretary of Revenue under North Carolina Governor James Holshouser. In 1979, Coble was elected to the state House of Representatives, serving until his election to Congress.

Congressional career

Coble was first elected to Congress in 1984, narrowly defeating one-term Democratic incumbent Robin Britt. He defeated Britt in a rematch two years later by only 79 votes — the closest margin of victory in the country that year. In 1994 he was reelected unopposed; from 1998 to 2002 he was reelected without major-party opposition.

In 2006, Coble was elected to a 12th term, receiving 71% of the vote against Democratic candidate Rory Blake. In July 2008, Coble became North Carolina's longest-serving Republican congressman, surpassing former Congressman Jim Broyhill, who was also elected to 12 terms, but left the House in July 1986, six months before his term's expiration, to fill a vacant U.S. Senate seat.

Committee assignments

• Committee on the Judiciary
  • Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy (Ranking Member)
  • Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Subcommittee on Aviation
  • Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
  • Subcommittee on Highways and Transit

Political positions

Coble is a strong supporter of agriculture and has voted in favor of bills to protect agriculture. Coble opposes further regulation of tobacco because he believes it will hurt North Carolina tobacco planters.

Coble takes a hard-line position on illegal drugs, and co-sponsored a resolution to oppose the legalization and use of medical marijuana.^[1] He also voted for an amendment to authorize drug testing on federal employees.^[2] However, he authored a resolution to celebrate the passage of 21st Amendment, which repealed the Prohibition of alcoholic beverages in the United States.^[3]

Coble hit national notoriety again in December 2009 with a CBS news broadcast concerning congressmen serving prison sentences that were still receiving pensions from the United States government prior to the 2007 legislation that limited pensions to inmates that previously served the United States Congress. He pledged not to receive any pension from the United States government. He told CBS Up to the Minute, "I figured taxpayers pay my salary - not a bad salary, and I figure that's sufficient. Let me fend for myself after the salary's collected." He also stated to CBS, "I've pledged my assurance I won't take the pension. That's between my constituents and me. As far as convicted felons, I guess that's between their constituents and themselves." ^[4]

Other

Coble is a member of the Guilford College Board of Visitors and of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Board of Visitors.

References

1. ^ H.J.Res 117, 105th Congress
2. ^ John Howard Coble on Drugs
3. ^ H.Con.Res. 415, 110th Congress
4. ^ "Pensions Follow Ex-Lawmakers to Prison". CBS News. December 22, 2009. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/22/eveningnews/main6011719.shtml.  

External links

• Congressman Howard Coble official U.S. House site

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia