North Carolina Council of State
Governor Bev Perdue
The inauguration of Beverly Eaves Perdue as the 73rd Governor of North Carolina - and our state's first woman governor - follows a distinguished tenure in public service focused on creating 21st century jobs, fighting for world-class public schools, and improving the health of our people. Before entering public service, Perdue worked as a public school teacher, as director of geriatric services at a community hospital in her hometown of New Bern, and earned a Ph.D. in Education Administration. Prior to her election as Governor, Perdue established herself one of the most active and accomplished Lieutenant Governors in North Carolina history.
Lieutenant Governor Walter Dalton
After growing up in Rutherford County, Walter Dalton attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for both his undergraduate and law degrees. He served six terms in the Senate, also acting as Co-Chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. Under Governor Easley, he was a member of the Education First Task Force and Co-Chair of the Eduation Committee.
Attorney General Roy Cooper
Roy Cooper has an extraordinary record of service to the people of North Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Morehead Scholar. In 1986, he was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives where he served until he was appointed to the North Carolina Senate in 1991. In the Senate, Cooper served in numerous leadership positions and, from 1997 to 2001, served as Majority Leader.
Secretary of State Elaine Marshall
Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall became interested in public service at an early age. Throughout her life she served her community. She has been a teacher in Lenior County, a small business owner in Dunn, North Carolina, a law student at Campbell University, a lawyer, and represented Harnett, Johnston, Lee, and Sampson counties in the State Senate. In 1996, Secretary Marshall not only became the first woman elected to this office, but also the first woman elected to serve on the Council of State.
State Treasurer Janet Cowell
As a member of the North Carolina Senate prior to serving as State Treasurer, Janet Cowell protected pensions, raised teacher pay and made education more affordable for North Carolina families. Cowell earned an MBA from the Wharton School of Business and worked as a financial analyst with HSBC Bank and Lehman Brothers before making her home in North Carolina. As State Treasurer, Cowell is the sole fiduciary of approximately $60 billion in state pension assets. These assets fund the retirement of 820,000 public servants. The Pew Center for the State consistently cites North Carolina as having one of the best pension funds in the United States. Cowell also chairs the State Banking Commission and serves on the State Boards of Education and Community Colleges.
State Superintendent June Atkinson
June St. Clair Atkinson was elected as the North Carolina State Superintendent of Public Instruction in November 2004. Dr. Atkinson is the first woman elected to the post of State Superintendent, which also is a member of the Council of State. As State Superintendent, Dr. Atkinson heads the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, an agency which she served for nearly 28 years (1976-2004) as a Chief Consultant and director in the areas of business education, career and technical education, and instructional services. A former business education teacher, Dr. Atkinson's key priorities are: improving instructional quality and student learning, creating environments that enable teachers' and students' success and ensuring that education is modern and relevant.
Commissioner of Insurance Wayne Goodwin
Wayne Goodwin is a native of Hamlet, North Carolina, where his family was active in agriculture and banking. He was first elected to the statewide post of Insurance Commissioner in 2008. His focus is on consumer advocacy through fair rate making, injury prevention efforts and close regulation of insurance company solvency and industry practices. Prior to being elected as Insurance Commissioner, he served as the Assistant Insurance Commissioner for nearly four years. Goodwin is also the State Fire Marshal, serving as the state chair of Safe Kids North Carolina and the Arson Awareness Council, and is a member of numerous commissions and boards.
State Auditor Beth Wood
Beth Wood is a long-time public servant with 15 years of auditing experience. Beth served in the State Auditor’s Office for more than a decade and previously served in the State Treasurer’s Office. She is the first woman elected to the position of State Auditor in North Carolina. During her tenure in the State Auditor’s Office,
Beth was instrumental in bringing the state’s compliance supplements up to federal standards, ensuring that federal grants are being used as intended. She was a leader in redesigning the Auditor’s Office training program to make training more relevant to state auditors’ work. And she helped develop employee evaluations that better reflected the job performance of Auditor’s Office employees. As State Auditor, her only priority is to monitor the state’s use of taxpayer money. She is the people’s full-time financial watchdog.