Paul Cook | |
---|---|
Vice Chair of San Bernardino County | |
Assumed office January 10, 2023 | |
Preceded by | Dawn Rowe |
Member of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors from the 1st district | |
Assumed office December 7,2020 | |
Preceded by | Robert Lovingood |
Member of the U.S.HouseofRepresentatives from California's 8th district | |
In office January 3,2013 –December 7,2020 | |
Preceded by | Jerry Lewis |
Succeeded by | Jay Obernolte |
Member of the California State Assembly from the 65th district | |
In office December 4,2006 –November 30,2012 | |
Preceded by | Russ Bogh |
Succeeded by | Sharon Quirk-Silva |
Personal details | |
Born | Paul Joseph Cook March 3,1943 Meriden,Connecticut,U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Jeanne Cook |
Residence(s) | Apple Valley,California,U.S. |
Education | Southern Connecticut State University (BS) California State University,San Bernardino (MPA) University of California,Riverside (MA) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Branch/service | United States Marine Corps |
Years of service | 1966–1992[ citation needed ] |
Rank | Colonel |
Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Awards | Bronze Star Purple Heart (2) |
Paul Joseph Cook (born March 3,1943) is an American politician serving as a San Bernardino County Supervisor since 2020,previously serving as the U.S. representative for California's 8th congressional district from 2013 to 2020. A member of the Republican Party,Cook also served on the Yucca Valley Town Council from 1998 to 2006 and represented the 65th district in the California State Assembly from 2006 to 2012.
In September 2019,Cook announced that he would not run for re-election to Congress in 2020,and instead run for a seat on the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. [1] In the March 3,2020 primary election,Cook defeated three opponents with an outright majority to avoid a November runoff and succeed Robert A. Lovingood,making him the San Bernardino County Supervisor from the 1st district. [2] Cook assumed office on December 7,2020.
Cook was born in Meriden,Connecticut in 1943. He was raised in Meriden and did not 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. Later that year,he joined the United States Marine Corps. As an infantry officer,Cook served in the Vietnam War. [3] 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. [4]
After he retired from the Marine Corps in 1992 as a colonel,he 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.
From 1993 to 1994,he was Director of Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce. From 1998 to 2002,he was a professor at Copper Mountain College. Cook taught courses on political violence and terrorism at University of California Riverside since 2002. [5]
In 2006,Cook ran for California's 65th Assembly District. Cook won a five candidate Republican primary field with 29% of the vote. [6] In the general election,Cook defeated Democrat Rita Ramirez-Dean 60%–37%. [7] In 2008,he won re-election to a second term,defeating Democrat Carl Wood 53%–47%. [8] [9] In 2010,he won re-election to a third term,defeating Wood again 58%–42%. [10]
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,San Bernardino County,Inyo County and Mono County.
The California Chamber of Commerce and the California Taxpayers Association gave Cook a perfect 100% rating,2007–2011. [11] 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. [12]
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. [14] 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. [15] In the November election,Cook defeated Imus 58%–42%. [16]
In 2013,Cook co-signed a letter to then-president Barack Obama,urging him to finalize the Keystone XL pipeline,stating that it was about "jobs,jobs jobs." He also expressed fear that China "is ready to take advantage of America's missteps with the Keystone pipeline." [17]
Early in 2017,Cook voted in favor of repealing the Affordable Care Act. His reason for voting for the repeal was to ensure that "every American has access to quality care to fit their budget." [18] In August 2017,he voted in favor of outlawing late term abortions,unless the woman was a victim of rape or incest or that her life was threatened. [19]
Cook voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. [20] By voting for the bill,Cook says that the bill will "deliver crucial tax relief for middle-class and low-income Americans." He voted for this bill because more than 90 percent of taxpaying constituents will receive a tax break. He also supports it because it simplifies the tax code. [21]
In the first session of the 115th United States Congress,Cook was ranked the 33rd most bipartisan member of the House by the Bipartisan Index,a metric published by The Lugar Center and Georgetown's McCourt School of Public Policy to assess congressional bipartisanship. [25]
Cook opposes abortion. [26] Cook opposes Common Core State Standards. [26]
Cook supports repealing the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare"). He supports legislation that "decreases premiums,makes it easier for employers to offer affordable healthcare options for their employees,and allows greater freedom for people to purchase a plan of their choice." [18]
Cook believes that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is unconstitutional. [27]
Cook resides in Apple Valley,California with his wife,Jeanne. [28]
California State Assembly 65th District Republican Primary Election,2006 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Republican | Paul Cook | 10,193 | 28.8 |
Republican | Brenda Salas | 8,062 | 22.8 |
Republican | Jim Ayres | 7,870 | 22.1 |
Republican | Robin Lowe | 7,648 | 21.5 |
Republican | Ken Smith | 1,711 | 4.8 |
California State Assembly 65th District Election,2006 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Republican | Paul Cook | 67,669 | 60.0 |
Democratic | Rita Ramirez-Dean | 41,906 | 37.1 |
Peace and Freedom | John Taleb | 3,358 | 2. |
California State Assembly 65th District Election,2008 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Republican | Paul Cook (inc.) | 93,566 | 53.3 |
Democratic | Carl Wood | 82,305 | 46.7 |
California State Assembly 65th District Election,2010 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Republican | Paul Cook (inc.) | 78,475 | 57.9 |
Democratic | Carl Wood | 57,212 | 42.1 |
California's 8th Congressional District Primary Election,2012 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Republican | Gregg Imus | 12,754 | 15.6 |
Republican | Paul Cook | 12,517 | 15.3 |
Republican | Phil Liberatore | 12,277 | 15.0 |
Democratic | Jackie Conaway | 11,674 | 14.3 |
Republican | Brad Mitzelfelt | 8,801 | 10.8 |
Democratic | John Pinkerton | 7,941 | 9.1 |
Republican | Angela Valles | 4,924 | 6.0 |
Republican | Ryan McEachron | 3,181 | 3.9 |
Independent | Anthony Adams | 2,750 | 3.4 |
Republican | Bill Jensen | 1,850 | 2.3 |
Republican | George Craig | 1,376 | 1.7 |
Republican | Joseph Napolitano | 1,050 | 1.3 |
Republican | Dennis Albertsen | 761 | 0.9 |
California's 8th Congressional District Election,2012 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Republican | Paul Cook | 103,093 | 57.4 |
Republican | Gregg Imus | 76,551 | 42.6 |
California's 8th Congressional District Primary Election,2014 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Republican | Paul Cook (inc.) | 40,007 | 58.1 |
Democratic | Bob Conaway | 12,885 | 18.7 |
Republican | Paul Hannosh | 9,037 | 13.1 |
Democratic | Odessia Lee | 6,930 | 10.1 |
California's 8th Congressional District Election,2014 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Republican | Paul Cook (inc.) | 77,480 | 67.6 |
Democratic | Bob Conaway | 37,056 | 32.4 |
California's 8th Congressional District Primary Election,2016 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Republican | Paul Cook (inc.) | 50,425 | 42.0 |
Democratic | Rita Ramirez | 26,325 | 21.9 |
Republican | Tim Donnelly | 24,886 | 20.7 |
Democratic | John Pinkerton | 11,780 | 9.8 |
Democratic | Roger La Plante | 6,661 | 5.5 |
Thomas Miller McClintock II is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for California's 5th congressional district since 2009. His district stretches from the Sacramento suburbs to the outer suburbs of Fresno;it includes Yosemite National Park. A member of the Republican Party,McClintock served as a California state assemblyman from 1982 to 1992 and from 1996 to 2000,when he became a California state senator,a position he held until 2008. He unsuccessfully ran for governor of California in the 2003 recall election and for lieutenant governor of California in the 2006 election.
Walter William Herger Jr. is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for California's 2nd congressional district from 1987 to 2013. A member of the Republican Party,his district was the state's largest congressional district by area. It covered almost all of interior Northern California including Chico,Redding and Red Bluff. On January 10,2012,Herger announced he would not seek re-election in November.
Graciela "Grace" Napolitano is an American Democratic Party politician who has represented California's San Gabriel Valley and other parts of Los Angeles County in the United States House of Representatives since 1999. Her district is currently numbered California's 31st district. She previously served in the California State Assembly and the Norwalk City Council. At the age of 87,Napolitano is the oldest sitting member in the House of Representatives.
Charles Jeremy Lewis was an American politician who was a U.S. representative,last serving California's 41st congressional district. He was first elected to Congress in 1978,and previously represented the 40th,35th,and 37th districts. A Republican,he was chairman of the House Appropriations Committee,serving in that role during the 109th Congress. In January 2012 he announced that he was not running for re-election and would end his congressional career in January 2013.
Gary Gene Miller is an American politician,who was the U.S. representative for California's 31st congressional district. A Republican,he was first elected in 1998 and served until 2015,when he retired. The district includes most of southern and western San Bernardino County. He previously represented the 42nd district from 1999 to 2013. In February 2014,Miller announced he would step down at the next election.
Christopher Van Hollen Jr. is an American attorney and politician serving as the junior United States senator from Maryland since 2017. A member of the Democratic Party,Van Hollen served as the U.S. representative for Maryland's 8th congressional district from 2003 to 2017.
John Raymond Garamendi is an American businessman,politician,and member of the Democratic Party who has represented areas of Northern California between San Francisco and Sacramento,including the cities of Fairfield and Vacaville,in the United States House of Representatives since 2009. Garamendi was the California insurance commissioner from 1991 to 1995 and 2003 to 2007,the U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Interior from 1995 to 1998,and the 46th lieutenant governor of California from 2007 until his election to Congress in late 2009.
Juan Carlos Vargas is an American businessman and politician who has been a U.S. representative for California since 2013. His district includes the southernmost portions of San Diego County.
John Bayard Taylor Campbell III is an American politician who served as a U.S. representative from California from 2005 to 2015. A member of the Republican Party,he previously served in the California State Assembly (2000–2004) and California State Senate (2004–2005). In Congress,Campbell represented the state's 48th congressional district for four terms and 45th congressional district for one term. On June 27,2013,he announced that he would not seek reelection in 2014.
Judy May Chu is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for California's 28th congressional district. A member of the Democratic Party,she has held a seat in Congress since 2009,representing California's 32nd congressional district until redistricting. Chu is the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress.
Jared William Huffman is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for California's 2nd congressional district since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party,Huffman represented the 6th district in the California State Assembly from 2006 to 2012. He chaired the Assembly Water,Parks &Wildlife Committee and the Assembly Environmental Caucus. He was elected to Congress in 2012 with more than 70% of the vote,defeating Republican nominee Dan Roberts. His congressional district covers the North Coast from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border.
Alan Stuart Lowenthal is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for California's 47th congressional district from 2013 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party,he served as the California state assemblyman for the 54th district from 1998 to 2004 and California state senator from the 27th district from 2004 to 2012. In both posts,Lowenthal represented the city of Long Beach and its surrounding suburbs. On December 16,2021,Lowenthal announced that he would not seek reelection to Congress.
Julia Andrews Brownley is an American businesswoman and politician who has been the United States representative for California's 26th congressional district since 2013. A Democrat,she served in the California State Assembly from 2006 to 2012. Before her political career,she worked in marketing and sales.
Mark James DeSaulnier is an American politician who has served as a U.S. representative from California since 2015. He has represented the 10th congressional district since 2023,although it was previously numbered the 11th district for his first eight years in office. The district includes most of Contra Costa County,a suburban county in the East Bay. He has been a member of the Democratic Party since 2000;before that,he was a Republican.
Gloria Negrete McLeod is an American politician who was the United States representative for California's 35th congressional district from 2013 to 2015. The district included portions of eastern Los Angeles County and western San Bernardino County. She was a California state senator,representing the 32nd district,from December 2006 until her election to Congress. Prior to that,she served in the California State Assembly from 2000 to 2006,after having lost in a 1998 bid for the Assembly. A resident of Chino,she defeated Joe Baca Jr.,in the Democratic primary for the Senate seat. She defeated Joe Baca Sr. in her 2012 election to Congress. In February 2014,she announced her intention not to run for reelection,and instead to run for the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. Negrete McLeod lost the November election to Republican state Assemblyman Curt Hagman.
Peter Rey Aguilar is an American politician who has been chair of the House Democratic Caucus since 2023. He has been the U.S. representative for California's 33rd congressional district since 2015. He served as mayor of Redlands,California,from 2010 to 2014,and as the president of the Inland Empire Division of the League of California Cities. Aguilar served on the Redlands City Council from 2006 until his election to Congress.
Mark Allan Takano is an American politician and academic who has served in the United States House of Representatives since 2013,representing California's 41st congressional district from 2013 to 2023,and the state's 39th congressional district since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party,Takano became the first gay person of Asian descent in Congress upon taking office.
Kevin Mullin is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for California's 15th congressional district since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party,he served as a member of the California State Assembly from the 22nd district,which encompasses most of the San Francisco Peninsula region,from 2012 to 2022.
Jay Phillip Obernolte is an American politician and businessman serving as the U.S. representative for California's 23rd district since 2021,when it was numbered as the 8th district. A Republican,he was previously a member of the California State Assembly representing the 33rd district. Before serving in the Assembly,Obernolte served on the city council and was the mayor of Big Bear Lake,California. He is the owner,president,and technical director of FarSight Studios,an American video game developer.
Chad Jeffrey Mayes is an American politician who served in the California State Assembly. He was an independent representing the 42nd district,encompassing parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Prior to being elected to the State Assembly,he was a Yucca Valley Town Councilman.