Product Code Database
Deborah Ann "Debbie" Cook (born January 22, 1954) is an American politician and lawyer from California. She is the former mayor of Huntington Beach, California, and was the Democratic candidate for California's 46th congressional district in 2008. Cook was elected to the Huntington Beach City Council in 2000 and re-elected in 2004. She is president of the board of directors of the Post Carbon Institute.
In 1966, Cook and her family moved to California. Cook attended Corona del Mar High School in Newport Beach, California.
While attending high school, Cook became a runner-up in the Miss Newport Beach contest, earned a student pilot's license, completed an Outward Bound course and successfully climbed Mount Whitney.
In May 2005, Cook received an honorary Associate of Arts degree from Orange Coast College.
As a political novice in 1990, Cook was the main force behind the Huntington Beach city voter initiative Measure C, a pro-environment City Charter amendment that forbids sale or lease of park or beach land without a citywide vote. Despite opposition by the city council majority being against the initiative, voters approved it.
In December 1994, Cook was admitted to the California bar. Cook served as attorney for the Bolsa Chica Land Trust, and took part in the efforts to preserve the Bolsa Chica Wetlands from development.
In 2000, Cook became a member of the city council for Huntington Beach, California.
In 2001 Cook became the mayor of Huntington Beach, California.
Cook was reelected in 2004. The office of the Mayor of Huntington Beach is a rotating position within the city council. She also has served as President of the Orange County Division of the League of California Cities, Chair of the League of California Cities Administrative Policy Committee and Chair of the Orange County Parks Commission. She helped lead the fight to prevent the Orange County Sanitation District from massive dumping of partially treated wastewater into the ocean. In 2007, Huntington Beach joined the U.S. Mayor's Agreement on Global Warming.cl
The Treasurer of the California Republican Party filed suit against Cook and the Orange County Registrar regarding Cook's ballot designation. The suit has been seen as frivolous and politically motivated. It was dismissed by the California Court of Appeals. Published Fourth Appellate District, Division 3, Opinion. Sills with Rylaarsdam and Ikola Concurring
According to FEC reports, Cook outraised Rohrabacher in the first and second quarters of 2008, although Rohrabacher in total had raised $323,966 compared to Cook's $157,269 by the end of the second quarter 2008. In the end, Cook failed to oust the incumbent, winning only 42.4% of the vote to Rohrabacher's 53.2%.
|
|
