Edward Nelson Cole (born Charlotte, North Carolina, March 29, 1937) is a former Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly. A resident of Reidsville, North Carolina, he represented the state's sixty-fifth House district, which includes constituents in Rockingham County, for eight terms.
E. Nelson Cole | |
|---|---|
| Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives | |
| In office January 1, 1997 – January 1, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Ken Miller |
| Succeeded by | Bert Jones |
| Constituency | 25th District (1997-2003) 65th District (2003-2011) |
| In office January 1, 1993 – January 1, 1995 | |
| Preceded by | Rector Samuel Hunt III Peggy Wilson |
| Succeeded by | Cary Allred Ken Miller Dennis Alan Reynolds |
| Constituency | 25th District |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 29, 1937 Charlotte, North Carolina |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Reidsville, North Carolina |
| Alma mater | University of South Carolina (BS) |
A graduate of the University of South Carolina (1962),[1][2] Cole worked as a manager for Ford Motor Company until becoming an auto dealer in 1980. Cole has been active on transportation-related issues, sponsoring a bicycle safety law and being a member of several national transportation groups - the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Council[3] and the National Conference of State Legislatures standing committee on transportation.[4] As of the 2009-2010 session, he was the co-chairman of the legislature's Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee.[5]
Cole was defeated for re-election to his House seat by conservative independent candidate Bert Jones on November 2, 2010.[6] In the 2012 election, Cole is running to attempt a comeback and return to his former seat.[7]
Electoral history
2012
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bryan Holloway (incumbent) | 22,417 | 61.00% | |
| Democratic | Nelson Cole | 14,334 | 39.00% | |
| Total votes | 36,751 | 100% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2010
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Bert Jones | 9,628 | 56.01% | |
| Democratic | Nelson Cole (incumbent) | 7,561 | 43.99% | |
| Total votes | 17,189 | 100% | ||
| Independent gain from Democratic | ||||
2008
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Nelson Cole (incumbent) | 8,121 | 75.57% | |
| Democratic | Vanessa McGee Smith-Kearney | 2,626 | 24.43% | |
| Total votes | 10,747 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Nelson Cole (incumbent) | 20,495 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 20,495 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2006
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Nelson Cole (incumbent) | 9,749 | 66.56% | |
| Republican | Michael Moore | 4,897 | 33.44% | |
| Total votes | 14,646 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2004
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Nelson Cole (incumbent) | 13,890 | 52.65% | |
| Republican | Wayne Sexton (incumbent) | 12,493 | 47.35% | |
| Total votes | 26,383 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2002
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Nelson Cole (incumbent) | 13,465 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 13,465 | 100% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||