Editing Janet Cowell

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin:0 0 1em 1em; width:280px;"
|+'''Janet Cowell'''
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |[[File:Mayor-janet-cowell.jpg|204x204px]]
|-
! Office
| [[Mayor of Raleigh]]
|-
! Term started
| December 2, 2024
|-
! Education
| University of Pennsylvania (B.A.)
|-
! Profession
| Public administrator; nonprofit executive
|}

'''Janet Cowell''' is the current [[Mayor of Raleigh]]. She was elected in November 2024 and sworn into office on December 2, 2024. Cowell previously served as North Carolina State Treasurer from 2009 to 2017 and has held multiple elected and appointed roles at the local and state level.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Mayor Janet Cowell|url=https://raleighnc.gov/city-council/janet-cowell|website=raleighnc.gov|publisher=City of Raleigh|access-date=January 30, 2026}}</ref>

== Mayor of Raleigh ==
Raleigh’s 2024 mayoral election was held on November 5, 2024. Cowell won a five-candidate race to succeed outgoing Mayor [[Mary-Ann Baldwin]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Janet Cowell Wins Five-Way Race for Raleigh Mayor|url=https://indyweek.com/news/raleigh-mayor-election-janet-cowell-mary-ann-baldwin/|website=INDY Week|date=November 5, 2024|access-date=January 30, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Election results: Raleigh NC mayor race. Did Cowell win?|url=https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article294885824.html|website=The News & Observer|date=November 6, 2024|access-date=January 30, 2026}}</ref>

Cowell took the oath of office on December 2, 2024 at a public ceremony alongside the incoming City Council.<ref>{{Cite web|title=City of Raleigh swears in Mayor Janet Cowell, city council members|url=https://abc11.com/post/city-raleigh-swears-mayor-janet-cowell-council-members/15616723/|website=ABC11 WTVD|date=December 3, 2024|access-date=January 30, 2026}}</ref>

== Biography ==
Cowell was raised in Raleigh and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the [[University of Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=2024 Raleigh mayor candidate profile: Janet Cowell|url=https://www.wral.com/story/2024-raleigh-mayor-candidate-profile-janet-cowell/21687854/|website=WRAL News|date=October 24, 2024|access-date=January 30, 2026}}</ref>

She was first elected to the [[Raleigh City Council]] as an at-large candidate in October 2001 and again in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web|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|title=Official Summary - Wake County Board of Elections|website=archive.org|date=October 7, 2003|access-date=January 30, 2026}}</ref> After leaving the Council, Cowell ran for the North Carolina Senate and was elected to represent District 16 in 2004, serving from 2005 to 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2024 Raleigh mayor candidate profile: Janet Cowell|url=https://www.wral.com/story/2024-raleigh-mayor-candidate-profile-janet-cowell/21687854/|website=WRAL News|date=October 24, 2024|access-date=January 30, 2026}}</ref>

In November 2008, Cowell was elected North Carolina State Treasurer. She served two terms from January 2009 to January 2017, overseeing the state pension system, debt issuance, and unclaimed property programs during and after the Great Recession.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Janet Cowell wins NC treasurer race|url=https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article12293473.html|website=The News & Observer|date=November 5, 2008|access-date=January 30, 2026}}</ref>

After leaving state office, Cowell transitioned into nonprofit leadership. She served as president and CEO of the [[Dix Park Conservancy]] and stepped down from that role in October 2024 prior to launching her mayoral campaign.<ref>{{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/|website=WRAL News|date=July 31, 2024|access-date=January 30, 2026}}</ref>

== References ==
<references />

[[Category:Mayors of Raleigh]]
[[Category:Raleigh City Council members]]
[[Category:North Carolina State Treasurers]]
[[Category:Living people]]