As your representative, I am going to challenge you to never stop questioning--to participate, make your voice heard, and to stand with me when I go to battle for you.  Your values are my priorities:

• RESPONSIBLE GROWTH:   Ensure new development respects the water, public safety, environmental stewardship, affordable housing, and infrastructure needs of working families and communities.
• EDUCATION:  Invest in California’s future by increasing funding for public schools and expanding access to technology and vocational training.
• HEALTHCARE:  Expand access to quality, affordable healthcare--especially in rural areas.
• SENIORS:  Provide seniors with affordable prescription drug coverage.
• ENERGY:  Develop renewable energy sources that promote independence and job growth.
• VETERANS:   Improve healthcare and readjustment services for veterans and their families--especially for activated Guard and Reserve units.
• WORKPLACE:  Protect workers’ right to organize and earn a living wage in a safe work environment.
• ECONOMY:  Streamline the regulatory process and incentivize high tech job creation.
• DEMOCRACY:  Create a “culture of involvement” that encourages political participation from ALL citizens.

ABOUT JIM COOK

Jim Cook has dedicated his life to the Midwestern values with which he was raised---hard work, dedication to family, and service to community and country.
Born the 7^th of 13 children in rural Illinois, Jim grew up with a first hand understanding of the hopes, dreams, and challenges confronting working families.  With only a 5^th grade education, his parents migrated from Arkansas where they had worked on a cotton farm.   While in the 3^rd Grade, Jim began delivering groceries to help support his family, and continued to work through middle and high school to help them build a better life.       
The hard work paid off.  Cook received a full scholarship to Southern Illinois University, and immediately following graduation, launched a career in public service that has spanned more than 3 decades—in the U.S. Marines, Marine Corps Reserve, as a public school teacher, Corrections/Parole Officer, and community volunteer.
Jim and his wife Sherry reside in Elk Grove.  Together, they have two sons, Anthony and Devin, two daughters, Constance and Brittany, and 2 grandchildren, Martina and Rashauna.
EDUCATION:
B.S., Physical Education, Southern Illinois University, 1972
M.A., Psychology Counseling, Pepperdine University, 1983
Masters, Education Administration and Business, Eastern Illinois University, 1985

EXPERIENCE

U.S. Marine Corps, 1972-1978
U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 1978-2002
Teacher, Eisenhower High School, Decatur Illinois, 1978-1986
Teacher/Wrestling Coach, Valley High School, Elk Grove, CA 1986-1989
Correctional Officer/Parole Agent, CA Department of Corrections, 1989-Present

• Special Emergency Response Teams Member, 1992-1994
• Gang Task Force

LEADERSHIP

Captain (O-3), U.S. Marine Corps, 1972-1978
Colonel (O-6), Active Marine Corps Reserves, 1978-2002
Old Folsom State Prison Chapter President, CCPOA, 1996-1999
CCPOA Committee on Rural Healthcare, 1996-1999
CCPOA Job Steward, Sacramento Unit, 1994-Present

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Volunteer, Marine Corps “Toys 4 Tots” Program
Life Member:  VFW Post 8254, Ione
Member:  American Legion Post 108, Amador County
Member:  Elk Grove Citizens for Responsible Growth
Board Member: Laguna Wrestling Academy
Volunteer:  Correctional Peace Officers Foundation
Volunteer Organizer:  Sacramento/Placer/El Dorado/San Joaquin/Amador Youth Wrestling Program
Community Advocate:  Public Safety, Veterans, Sustainable Growth, and Workplace Safety issues

Jim Cook has dedicated his life to the Midwestern values with which he was raised---hard work, dedication to family, and service to community and country.
Born the 7^th of 13 children in rural Illinois, Jim grew up with a first hand understanding of the hopes, dreams, and challenges confronting working families. 
His parents had only a 5^th grade education, and migrated from Arkansas where they had worked on a cotton farm.   While in the 3^rd Grade, Jim started delivering groceries to help his parents support the family, and continued to work through middle and high school--shining shoes, washing dishes, building tires, loading trucks, and working in a steel casting factory to help them build a better life.       
In 1968, Jim received a full wrestling scholarship to Southern Illinois University, and graduated with a B.S. in Physical Education in 1972.
Jim’s graduation marked the start of more than 30 years of public service—in the U.S. Marine Corps, as a public school teacher, as a Corrections Officer, and tireless community volunteer.
In 1972, Jim enlisted in the Marines and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.  He served on active duty until 1978, and then joined the Marine Reserves, where he served in a variety of leadership posts until 2002.  During his military career, Cook managed more than 750 Marines and a budget of more than $15 million, planned and coordinated numerous training exercises, and authored contingency plans to support ongoing operations around the globe.
In 1978, Cook began teaching world history and physical education at the lllinois High School he attended.  Committed to furthering his own education, Jim earned his M.A. in Psychology Counseling from Pepperdine University (1983), and a Masters in Education Administration and Business from Eastern Illinois University (1985).  In 1986, he moved to Elk Grove California, where he taught and coached the wrestling team at Valley High School until 1989. 
Since 1989, Jim has worked with the State of California Department of Corrections as a Correctional Officer and Parole Agent—where he’s also been an active member of the Department’s Special Emergency Response Teams, and Gang Task Force.  Cook served as Old Folsom State Prison Chapter President of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association from 1996-1999, leading the effort to ensure safe working conditions, living wages, and access to affordable healthcare for 568 fellow officers.  He’s also provided vital leadership to CCPOA’s Committee on Rural Healthcare, as a Job Steward for Parole Officers in the Sacramento Area, and as a volunteer for the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation.
Jim actively volunteers for the Marine Corps “Toys 4 Tots” program, organizes Wrestling Camps for kids across Amador, San Joaquin, Sacramento, El Dorado, and Placer Counties, and volunteers his time to assist local community groups in advocating to local and state government on Public Safety, Veterans, Sustainable Growth, and Workplace Safety issues .
Jim Cook is a Life Member of VFW Post 8254 in Ione, a member of American Legion Post 108 in Amador, a member of Elk Grove Citizens for Responsible Growth, and a Board Member of the Laguna Wrestling Academy.
Jim and his wife Sherry reside in Elk Grove, California.  Together, they have two sons, Anthony and Devin, two daughters, Constance and Brittany, and 2 grandchildren, Martina and Rashauna.