Paul Cook (politician)
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Paul Cook | |
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 8th district |
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Assumed office January 3, 2013 |
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Preceded by | Nancy Pelosi |
Member of the California State Assembly from the 65th district |
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In office December 4, 2006 – November 30, 2012 |
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Preceded by | Russ Bogh |
Succeeded by | Sharon Quirk-Silva |
Personal details | |
Born | Meriden, Connecticut, U.S. |
March 3, 1943
Nationality | American |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Jeanne Cook |
Residence | Yucca Valley, California, U.S. |
Alma mater | California State University, San Bernardino Southern Connecticut State University University of California, Riverside |
Occupation | Professor |
Religion | Roman Catholic[1] |
Awards | Bronze Star Purple Heart (2) |
Website | Representative Paul Cook |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
Rank | Colonel |
Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Paul Cook (born March 3, 1943) is an American politician who has been the U.S. Representative for California's 8th congressional district since 2013. Previously, he served as a member of California State Assembly from 2006 to 2012 and on the Yucca Valley city council from 1998 until 2006. He is a Republican.
Contents
Early life, education, and military career
Cook was born in Meriden, Connecticut in 1943. He was raised in Meriden and didn't permanently move to California until the end of his military career. In 1966, he graduated from Southern Connecticut State University, earning a B.S. in teaching. Late that year, he joined the United States Marine Corps. As an infantry officer, Cook served in the Vietnam War.[2] He later earned an MPA from California State University, San Bernardino in 1996 and a master's in political science from University of California Riverside in 2000. Cook's military record spanned twenty-six years. His actions in combat earned him many honors, including the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. He served in the Marine Corps for 26 years.[3]
Academic career
From 1993–1994, he was Director of Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce. From 1998-2002, he was a professor at Copper Mountain College. Cook taught courses on political violence and terrorism at University of California Riverside since 2002.[4]
California Assembly
Elections
In 2006, Cook ran for California's 65th Assembly District. Cook won a five candidate Republican primary field with 29% of the vote.[5] In the general election, Cook defeated Democrat Rita Ramirez-Dean 60%–37%.[6] In 2008, he won re-election to a second term, defeating Democrat Carl Wood 53%–47%.[7][8] In 2010, he won re-election to a third term, defeating Wood again 58%–42%.[9]
Tenure
The 65th district included the cities of Banning, Beaumont, Big Bear Lake, Calimesa, Cherry Valley, Hemet, Moreno Valley, Perris, San Jacinto, Sun City, Twentynine Palms, Yucaipa, Yucca Valley and other smaller communities and unincorporated areas in Riverside County and San Bernardino County.
The California Chamber of Commerce and the California Taxpayers Association gave Cook a perfect 100% rating from 2007-2011.[10] In 2010, Democratic Speaker of the Assembly John Pérez appointed Cook to chair the Veterans Affairs Committee, the first time a Democratic speaker had appointed a Republican to chair a committee since 2002.[11]
Committee assignments
- Accountability and Administrative Review Committee
- Budget Committee
- Emergency Management Committee
- Governmental Organization Committee
- Higher Education Committee
- Inland Empire Transportation Issues Committee
- Master Plan for Higher Education
- Preservation of California's Entertainment Industry Committee
- Sunset Review Committee
- Veterans Affairs Committee (Chair)[12]
U.S. House of Representatives
2012 campaign
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In January 2012, 34-year incumbent Jerry Lewis announced he would not seek re-election in November. Cook entered the primary for the district, which had been renumbered from the 41st to the 8th in redistricting. He finished second in the 13-candidate all-party open primary. He earned 15% of the vote. Fellow Republican and conservative activist Gregg Imus ranked first with 16% of the vote.[13] Cook was endorsed by the California Off-Road Vehicle Association (CORVA) past presidents, the San Bernardino Sun, National Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans Coalition, the County Farm Bureau, state Assemblyman Steve Knight, state Senator Sharon Runner, and U.S. Congressman Ed Royce.[14] In the November election, Cook defeated Imus 58%–42%.[15]
Committee assignments
Caucus Memberships
- Congressional Cement Caucus
Personal life
Cook resides in Yucca Valley with his wife, Jeanne.[10]
References
- ↑ Paul Cook at Project Vote Smart
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External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to [[commons:Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 506: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).|Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 506: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).]]. |
- Paul Cook at DMOZ
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Profile at Project Vote Smart
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at The Library of Congress
- Congressman Paul Cook official U.S. House site
- Paul Cook for Congress
United States House of Representatives | ||
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Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 8th congressional district January 3, 2013 – |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
California Assembly | ||
Preceded by | California State Assemblyman 65th District 2006–2012 |
Succeeded by Sharon Quirk-Silva |
United States order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
Preceded by | United States Representatives by seniority 316th |
Succeeded by Kevin Cramer R-North Dakota |
- Commons category link from Wikidata
- Articles with DMOZ links
- 1943 births
- American military personnel of the Vietnam War
- California city council members
- California Republicans
- California State University, San Bernardino alumni
- Educators from California
- Living people
- Mayors of places in California
- Members of the California State Assembly
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from California
- People from Meriden, Connecticut
- People from San Bernardino County, California
- Recipients of the Bronze Star Medal
- Recipients of the Purple Heart medal
- Southern Connecticut State University alumni
- United States Marine Corps officers
- University of California, Riverside alumni
- University of California, Riverside faculty
- Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives