John Cook (El Paso)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John Cook, Mayor of the City of El Paso

John Cook (born February 27, 1946; Brooklyn, New York) is an American teacher, businessman, veteran, civic leader, and member of the Paso Del Norte Group. Cook has been Mayor of El Paso, Texas since June 2005, and will be up for re-election in May 2009.

Cook graduated from New York City's Immaculata High School in 1964. He attended the University of Texas at El Paso and earned a degree in business in 1977. In 1970, Cook married his wife Tram Cook, with whom he has six children and seven grandchildren between the ages of 23 and one month.

Mayor John Cook rides his Harley Davidson to work at least twice a week.

Mayor Cook has lived for most of his life in Northeast El Paso, where his family has owned and operated several businesses. He served in the United States Army from 1967 to 1970, seeing service as a special agent in military intelligence. He served as the distinguished City Council Representative of the 4th District of El Paso from 1999 to June 2005 prior to being elected Mayor. He has been deeply involved in El Paso's community affairs, as a businessman, a teacher, coach, founder and member of the board of many civic and veterans' organizations.

Since becoming Mayor of El Paso, Cook has overseen the adoption of the Paso Del Norte Group's Downtown Redevelopement Plan.