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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
Succeeded by	Incumbent
Born	March 18, 1931 (1931-03-18) (age 76) Greensboro, North Carolina
Political party	Republican
Spouse	single
Religion	Presbyterian

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

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.

Coble was first elected to Congress in 1984, narrowly defeating one-term Democratic incumbent Robin Britt. He was undoubtedly helped by Ronald Reagan's gigantic landslide that year. He defeated Britt in a rematch two years later by only 79 votes — the closest margin of victory in the country that year. However, he hasn't faced serious opposition since. He was reelected unopposed in 1994 and without major-party opposition from 1998 to 2002.

He was elected to a 12th term in 2006, receiving 71% of the vote against Democratic candidate Rory Blake. In July 2008, Coble is set to become North Carolina's longest-serving Republican congressman in the state's history, surpassing the current record held by former Congressman and U.S. Senator Jim Broyhill, whom was also elected to 12 terms, but stepped down 6 months before his last term's expiration in 1986 when he accepted the appointment to the vacant U.S. Senate seat when John East committed suicide.

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

In 2003, Coble, then the chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, told a local radio show that the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II was necessary for their protection. However, Coble said that he strongly opposed similar measures for Arab-Americans.[1]

Nonetheless, the remarks drew fire from several quarters. For example, the California State Assembly unanimously passed a resolution demanding that he step down from his subcommittee chairmanship.[2] Coble later apologized for his remarks.

• U.S. Congressman Howard Coble official House site
• Howard Coble at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Federal Election Commission — Howard Coble campaign finance reports and data
• On the Issues — John Howard Coble issue positions and quotes
• OpenSecrets.org — Howard Coble campaign contributions
• Project Vote Smart — Representative Howard Coble (NC) profile
• SourceWatch Congresspedia — Howard Coble profile
• Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: Howard Coble voting record