Chelsea Cook

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Chelsea Cook
Durham City Councilwoman
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 2024
Preceded byLeonardo Williams
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (BA)
Stanford University (JD)
OccupationPolitician
Attorney
WebsiteCouncil Website

Chelsea Cook is an American attorney and politician. In 2024, she was appointed to the Durham City Council, representing Ward 3.

Education

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Cook earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a law degree from Stanford University.[1]

Career

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Cook is an attorney and has worked as a legal aid for North Carolina's Durham Eviction Diversion Program.[2][3]

In January 2024, Cook was appointed to the Durham City Council to fill the Ward 3 seat left vacant by Mayor Leonardo Williams.[4][5] She receieved votes from council members DeDreana Freeman, Javiera Caballero, and Carl Rist.[2] Her opponent, Shelia Huggins, received votes from Williams, Mayor Pro Tempore Mark-Anthony Middleton, and Councilman Nate Baker.[5] The vote initially resulted in a tie, until Baker switched his vote to Cook.[2] Following Baker's vote, the remaining two votes were changed and Cook was voted in unanimously.[6]

She serves on the council's Affordable Housing Implementation Committee, the Durham Arts Council, Durham Open Space & Trails, the Homeless Services Advisory Committee, the Housing Appeals Board, the Human Relations Commission, the Mayor's Committee for Persons with Disabilities, and the Museum of Life and Science.[1]

In February 2024, Cook called on the Biden Administration to facilitate a ceasefire between Israel and Palestine in the Gaza war.[7] She proposed a resolution for President Biden to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and advocated for the release of Israeli hostages.[8]

In September 2024, Cook responded to complaints made by nreal estate developers about tree coverage standards raising project costs, stating that destruction of the environment has "real consequences."[9] In October 2024, Cook was one of two council members that voted against a rezoning and development project for Duke University's central campus.[10] She supports the Coalition to End the HIV Epidemic in Durham.[11]

Personal life

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Cook is Jewish.[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Chelsea Cook | Durham, NC". www.durhamnc.gov.
  2. ^ a b c "Chelsea Cook to be appointed as newest Durham City Council member". WRAL.com. January 16, 2024.
  3. ^ Moore, Mary Helen (2024-01-17). "Durham City Council picks Legal Aid attorney to finish mayor's former council term". www.newsobserver.com.
  4. ^ "Durham City Council welcomes Chelsea Cook as newest member". WRAL.com. January 16, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Laidlaw, Justin (January 16, 2024). "Durham Council Selects Legal Aid Attorney Chelsea Cook to Fill Vacant Seat". INDY Week.
  6. ^ "Durham City Council names pick to fill seat vacated by Leo Williams' ascent to mayor". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. January 16, 2024.
  7. ^ Cole, Jacqueline (February 13, 2024). "'The hissing cannot happen:' Durham Mayor Urges Civility Amid Tensions Over Gaza". INDY Week.
  8. ^ "Durham residents discuss Gaza cease-fire resolution at city council work session". The Chronicle.
  9. ^ "Durham City Council addresses sustainable housing, reconsiders site plans for Lyons Farm Elementary School". The Chronicle.
  10. ^ Staff, A. O. L. (October 9, 2024). "Duke gets Durham's OK to transform university's Central Campus. But what's coming?". www.aol.com.
  11. ^ "'Issue of neglect:' Advocates say Durham isn't addressing housing needs for people with HIV and AIDS". WUNC. December 10, 2024.
  12. ^ https://www.durhamnc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/53927/Chelsea-Cook