John_Cook

Mayor Cook was born on February 27, 1946, in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Immaculata High School in 1964, received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) in 1977, and in 1993 received an alternative certification in Special Education, also from UTEP. John married his wife, Tram, in 1970. He and his wife are the proud parents of six children and the proud grand parents of ten grandchildren and one great grandchild. The oldest granddaughter is 29 years old and the youngest is six months old.

Mayor Cook has lived in Northeast El Paso for most of his life where his family has owned and operated several Northeast businesses. He served in the United States Army from 1967 to 1970, served as the District 4 City Council Representative for the City of El Paso from 1999 to June
2005, and was subsequently elected Mayor of El Paso in 2005. He was re-elected in June 2009 and is currently serving his second four-year term as Mayor.

Numerous awards and accolades have been given to Mayor Cook throughout his years of service. In 2010, he was awarded the Road Hand Award by the Texas Department of Transportation and the Teens in the Driver Seat Leadership Award. In 2009, he received The Christiaan Petrus Fox Citizen of the Year Award from Ft. Bliss and the Bi-National Border
Achievement Award from the US-MX Chamber of Commerce. He also received the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service and the Habitat for Humanity Volunteer of the Year Award. Local organizations and associations have also honored Mayor Cook. The El Paso Municipal Police Officers Association has twice designated Mayor Cook ‘Legislator of the Year’, he has been voted ‘Best Elected Official’ three times by El Paso, Inc. and What’s Up Publication, and in 2008 was voted ‘Best Looking Mayor’ by El Paso Magazine.

One of Mayor Cook’s top priorities is transportation. He wants to leave El Paso better than it was when he took office and has been eagerly working to accomplish his goal. He joined important organizations that advocate for issues that affect cities and have a strong presence with our state and federal legislators. In 2009, Mayor Cook was the third mayor from El Paso to become president of Texas Municipal League. In 2010, he was the second elected official to be elected to National League of Cities from El Paso since Mayor Judson Williams in 1968. Secretary Janet Napolitano selected Mayor Cook as a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council’s (HSAC) Southwest Border Task Force. He was also asked by Customs and Border Protection Former Acting Commissioner Alan Bersin to head the U.S. – México Border Mayors Association. Not to mention other organizations such as the Transportation Policy Board, Mass Transit Board, Rio Grande Council of Governments, Workforce Solutions,

Texas Border Coalition, TEX-21, and REDCo to name a few. He has also served the community through his participation in multiple clubs and civic organizations such as United Blood Services, El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence, and El Paso Country Day School Board of Directors. He has been deeply involved in El Paso’s community affairs, as
a businessman, a teacher, coach, founder and member of these many organizations as well as through his service as Mayor for the City of El Paso.