BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY
Mo Cowan
| Mo Cowan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Senator from Massachusetts | |
| In office February 1, 2013 – July 16, 2013 | |
| Appointed by | Deval Patrick |
| Preceded by | John Kerry |
| Succeeded by | Ed Markey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Maurice Cowan April 4, 1969 Yadkinville, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Stacy Cowan |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Duke University Northeastern University |
| Website | Congressionl website |
William Maurice "Mo" Cowan (born April 4, 1969) is an American politician and lawyer who served as a United States Senatorfrom Massachusetts in 2013. He previously served as legal counsel and chief of staff to Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. Patrick appointed him on January 30, 2013, on an interim basis to fill the vacancy left by fellow Democrat John Kerry, who resigned to become Secretary of State.[1] He declined to run in the 2013 special election to complete the remainder of Kerry's term. He was succeeded by fellow Democrat Ed Markey. He is now the Chief Operating Officer of ML Strategies, an affiliate of Mintz Levin.
Cowan was the eighth African-American United States Senator and the second from Massachusetts after Edward Brooke. He was one of two African-American senators in the 113th Congress, along with Republican South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, who was also appointed to fill a vacancy.[2]
Early life and education
Cowan was born on April 4, 1969, in rural Yadkinville, North Carolina. Cowan is the son of a machinist and a seamstress. His father died when he was 16 years old.[3][4]
Cowan graduated from Forbush High School,[3] the first graduate of his high school to attend Duke University.[4] Originally planning to become a doctor, in 1991 he graduated from Duke with a degree in sociology.[3] Cowan went on to earn his Juris Doctor fromNortheastern University School of Law in 1994. His assignments in Northeastern's cooperative program, which provides students with work experience as part of its educational program, included stints in the office of a state trial court, at North Carolina Prison Legal Services, and with the Palm Beach County Public Defender’s Office.[5]
Professional career
In 1997, Cowan joined the law firm of Mintz Levin as an associate. There he practiced civil litigation and became a partner. He helped Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney identify African-American candidates for judgeships after Romney was criticized for his appointees' lack of diversity.[4]
Cowan left Mintz Levin to join Deval Patrick's administration in 2009.[6] As Patrick's counsel, Cowan was responsible for the legal operations of the executive branch and oversaw the governor's judicial nominations, including that of Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court Roderick Ireland. His principal projects as staff included legislation to contain the growth of health care costs and to expand gaming, as well as investigating and reorganizing the state Parole Board.[7]
Cowan served as Patrick's chief legal counsel for two years and then as chief of staff from January 2011 until November 2012, when he announced plans to return to the private sector. He continued to serve the governor as a senior adviser until his Senate appointment.[8] When appointed to the Senate, he said he had no intention of seeking public office once his interim appointment expired. He said: "This is going to be a very short political career. I am not running for office. I'm not a candidate for public service at any time today or in the future."[9]
In 2003, Boston Business Journal named him to its list of "40 under 40", a select group of younger business and civic leaders.[10] He is the former president of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association[5] and the Northeastern Law School Alumni Association.[11] He serves on the Board of Trustees of Northeastern University.[12] Other non-profit boards he has served on include the Discovering Justice Foundation,[13] Roxbury Preparatory Charter School,[14] the Chestnut Hill School,[15] and Project STEP.[16]
U.S. Senate
Tenure
In December 2012, President Barack Obama announced the nomination of Senator and Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry to serve as Secretary of State, leaving a vacancy in the seat which Kerry had held for 28 years.[17] Under Massachusetts law, thestate legislature grants the Governor the right to fill vacant senate seats with an interim appointment.[18] Governor Deval Patrick announced that he was looking at "out of the box candidates" who had never run for office, and would hold the seat temporarily, forgoing a run in the special election.[19][20]
On January 30, 2013, Patrick announced the appointment of Cowan to fill the vacant seat.[21] Cowan became Massachusetts's secondAfrican-American senator after Edward Brooke.[22] He served alongside Tim Scott of South Carolina,[23] the first time that two African-Americans served simultaneously in the senate.[2][24] Cowan's term officially began on February 1, 2013, once Kerry's resignation took effect. He was sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden on February 7.[25] The term ended on July 16, 2013 when Ed Markey was sworn in following the special election.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
- Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
- Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security
- Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet
- Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation, and Export Promotion
- Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance
- Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard
- Subcommittee on Science and Space
- Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security
- Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Personal life
He is married to Stacy Cowan. She also is a lawyer.[3] They have two sons, Miles and Grant, and live in Stoughton, Massachusetts.[7] He received an honorary degree fromGeorgetown University in 2013 and spoke at the commencement ceremony for the McDonough School of Business.[26][27]
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