Rev. Philip R. Cousin, Jr. was first elected to the Board of County Commissioners in November 2000. In seeking the office, he wanted to positively contribute to the ongoing work of making Durham the best place it can be to live, work and raise a family. He is not a newcomer to holding elective office. Prior to joining the Board of County Commissioners, Rev. Cousin served four years as a member of the Durham Public Schools Board of Education. Although he was born in Boston, Massachusetts, he grew up and was educated in Durham where he graduated from C. E. Jordan High School. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he received an A B. degree in Religion and Philosophy in 1978. In 1984, he received the Master of Divinity degree from the Duke University School of Divinity.

Since 1992, Rev Cousin has been senior pastor of Saint Joseph's A. M. E. Church, which he describes as a large, upwardly mobile African-American congregation with an extensive outreach program.

In his spare time he enjoys fly-fishing, chess and reading. Rev. Cousin is married and the father of five children; Phillip, III, 26; Danielle, 24; Daniel, 23, Carlos 19; and Joshua, 10.