Byron Cook (politician)

Byron Curtis Cook
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 8th district
Assumed office
2003
Personal details
Born (1954-04-08) April 8, 1954
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Kay Lilly Cook
Children

Ginne Davis

Katie Cook
Residence Corsicana, Navarro County
Texas
Alma mater Navarro College
Occupation Rancher; Businessman
Religion Baptist
Website https://www.facebook.com/byroncookcampaign

Byron Curtis Cook (born April 8, 1954) is a Texas businessman, rancher, and Republican state representative for the counties of Anderson, Freestone, Hill, and Navarro.

Family background

Cook and his brothers moved with their parents from Abilene to Corsicana in 1967. He graduated from local public schools and holds an Associate’s Degree from Navarro College. Today, Cook and his wife, Kay, live in Corsicana and have two daughters and two grandchildren. Both of their daughters are graduates of Texas A&M University and their oldest daughter is married to a veteran of the United States Army who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, with whom she has two children.

Business and ranching

Cook's father, the late Leland P. Cook, was the former circulation manager for the Corsicana Daily Sun. Leland left the newspaper to start a family business. Later, he and Cook founded Tradewest, a now-defunct video game company and licensee of several of Nintendo’s most popular video games such as Double Dragon, Battletoads, and Super Off Road. Today, Cook continues an interest in diversified businesses and in ranching.

Charges against Ken Paxton

Cook is one of the complainants in the charges that were filed against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a fellow Republican.[1]

Service in the Texas House of Representatives

Cook is a six-term Republican State Representative. He currently serves as Chairman of the Texas House State Affairs Committee and as a member of the Texas House Calendars Committee. He is also a member of the Texas House Republican Caucus and Texas Conservative Coalition. Cook has also served in past legislative sessions as Chairman of the Texas House Committees on Civil Practices and the Committee on Environmental Regulation; and as a member of the Texas Sunset Commission.

Cook legislative rankings by policy groups
Year Empower Texans Young Conservatives of Texas Texas Eagle Forum Texas Right to Life
2015 61 48 47 (F) 63
2013 42 44 69 96
2011 D+ 64 40 104
2009 75 74 68 -
2007 80 77 68 -
2005 - 75 76 -
2003 - 75 - -

2015 Campaign kickoff in Corsicana

On October 30, 2015, Cook hosted his re-election campaign kickoff party at the Corsicana Country Club in Corsicana.[2] According to reports, there were between 70-75 peaceful protectors outside the event.[3] Among the protestors were Michael Quinn Sullivan, the president of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility and Jim Graham, the president of the anti-abortion group Texas Right to Life, who were ticketed by the Corsican Police Department for having a parade without a permit.[4]

Policy and leadership

Cook claims a commitment to cutting taxes, protecting traditional family values, supporting rural communities, and reducing the size of government.

Cook is a recipient of numerous legislative leadership awards including the 2014 "True Texas Hero Award" from Texas Comptroller Susan Combs for authoring and passing legislation to help the state collect over half a billion dollars in previously unpaid alcohol and tobacco tax revenue. Some of Cook's other leadership awards include a Patient Advocacy Award by the Texas Medical Association and a Rural Government Advocacy award by the Texas Municipal League. In 2007, Cook was named by Texas Monthly magazine as one of the “Top Ten” legislators in Texas. In 2010, Cook was also recognized for his leadership on behalf of the Republican Party of Texas with its “Texas House Debt-Busters” program. Prior to serving in the legislature, Cook served as President of his local Rotary International and was a co-recipient of the Corsicana Chamber of Commerce Arthur J. Keeney Community Service Award.

Illegal immigration

In 2011 Cook derailed legislation which would have put an end to Texas sanctuary cities.[5] In the 2013 and 2015 legsilative sessions Cook worked with Democrats to create a “Texas Resident Driver’s Permit”, a Texas Driver's License for illegal immigrants.[6]

Unions

In the 2015 legislative session Cook killed a bill that would have ended the mandatory automatic payroll deductions for union dues from public employees, after the bill came over from the Senate.[7]

Recognition


Organizations supporting Cook in his past elections have included the Texas Farm Bureau, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, National Rifle Association, the Texas State Rifle Association, Texas Alliance for Life, Texas Association of Business, Texans for Lawsuit Reform, Texas Medical Association, Texas Association of Realtors, Texas Public Employees Association, Texas Civil Justice League, Texas State Teachers Association, Texas Classroom Teachers Association, Rural Friends of Electric Cooperatives, Texas Association of Builders, Texans for Lawsuit Reform, and Texas State Association of Fire Fighters.

Cook faces a challenger, Thomas Max McNutt (born 1990), the vice president of the Collin Street Bakery in Corsicana, in the Republican primary scheduled for March 1, 2016.[8]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/04/us/securities-fraud-charges-bring-texas-attorney-general-to-county-jail.html?_r=0
  2. ↑ Bradock, Scott (30 October 2015). "Trick or Treat: Chairman Cook counterpunches Empower Texans as he kicks off campaign". Quorum Report. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  3. ↑ Sullivan, Michael Quinn. "Threatened With Jail". EmpowerTexans.com. Empower Texans. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  4. ↑ Sullivan, Michael Quinn. "Threatened With Jail". EmpowerTexans.com. Empower Texans. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  5. ↑ http://www.empowertexans.com/features/byron-cooks-illegal-immigration-interference-part-two/
  6. ↑ http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2015-03-13/bill-would-allow-some-undocumented-immigrants-get-driving-permits#.VpWqeH0rKVM
  7. ↑ http://www.texastribune.org/2015/05/23/key-house-leader-union-dues-bill-dying/
  8. ↑ "Recent News: The Genesis Behind Byron Cook’s Signature Legislation This Session Endorses McNutt". thomasmcnutt.com. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
Texas House of Representatives title=Texas State Representative from District 8 (Anderson, Freestone, Hill and Navarro counties)

Byron Curtis Cook

 years=2003– after=Incumbent
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