news-record.com

A busy day leaves Howard Coble “huffing and puffing,” he says. No wonder. At 80, most people have settled into a well-earned retirement. Not Coble. He’s still working at one of the most demanding jobs around: representing more than 700,000 people in the Congress of the United States.

In an interview with News & Record staff writer Mark Binker, Coble acknowledged rumors that he won’t seek re-election next year. He hasn’t decided yet.

That’s significant in itself. Coble won the 6th District seat in 1984 and successfully defended it in the next 13 elections. He’s by far the longest-serving member of North Carolina’s congressional delegation, and he’s surely also one of the best-liked.

Constituents favor him with resounding victories every two years. Thousands are personally acquainted with him, thanks to his frequent visits to all corners of the district. He’s accessible, courteous and congenial.

He also rarely makes waves. A Republican who almost always votes the party line, Coble isn’t highly partisan. He doesn’t lash out at Democrats or vilify those who simply disagree about politics. But that lack of aggressiveness may have cost him opportunities to move up to House leadership positions with other senior Republicans. Other than remaining a consistent critic of the congressional pension plan, and a nonparticipant, Coble seldom has earned special recognition for his accomplishments.

Now he’s reached a crossroad. The new 6th District, rearranged by the Republican state legislature, presents a challenge. It gives him several counties, or parts of counties, he has not represented before and leans a little less to Republicans’ advantage. He certainly could win, but it would require more effort.

Or he could opt to let someone else fill his seat and settle into a role as an elder statesman. An announcement soon would give hopeful successors just enough time to launch a campaign.

Some may have been waiting, and waiting, for a very long time.