Paul Cook (politician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Paul Cook
Vice Chair of San Bernardino County
In office January 10, 2023 – January 08, 2025
Preceded by	Dawn Rowe
Succeeded by	Joe Baca, Jr.
Member of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors from the 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office December 7, 2020
Preceded by	Robert Lovingood
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 8th district
In office January 3, 2013 – December 7, 2020
Preceded by	Jerry Lewis
Succeeded by	Jay Obernolte
Member of the California State Assembly from the 65th district
In office December 4, 2006 – November 30, 2012
Preceded by	Russ Bogh
Succeeded by	Sharon Quirk-Silva
Personal details
Born	Paul Joseph Cook (1943-03-03) March 3, 1943 (age 82) Meriden, Connecticut, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Jeanne Cook
Residences	Apple Valley, California, U.S.
Education	Southern Connecticut State University (BS) California State University, San Bernardino (MPA) University of California, Riverside (MA)
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch/service	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1966–1992
Rank	Colonel
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Bronze Star Purple Heart (2)

Paul Joseph Cook (born March 3, 1943) is an American politician. He currently serves as a supervisor for San Bernardino County. He started this role in 2020. Before that, he was a U.S. representative for California's 8th congressional district from 2013 to 2020.

Paul Cook is a member of the Republican Party. He also served on the Yucca Valley Town Council from 1998 to 2006. Later, he represented the 65th district in the California State Assembly from 2006 to 2012. In September 2019, Cook decided not to run for Congress again. Instead, he ran for a seat on the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. He won this election in March 2020. He then left his U.S. House seat and began his new job on December 7, 2020.

Paul Cook's Early Life and Schooling

Paul Cook was born in Meriden, Connecticut, in 1943. He grew up there and moved to California after his military career. In 1966, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in teaching from Southern Connecticut State University.

Later that year, he joined the United States Marine Corps. He served as an infantry officer in the Vietnam War. For his bravery, he received several honors. These include the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. He served in the Marine Corps for 26 years. He retired in 1992 as a colonel.

After his military service, he continued his education. He earned a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from California State University, San Bernardino in 1996. In 2000, he received a master's degree in political science from University of California, Riverside.

Paul Cook's First Jobs

From 1993 to 1994, Paul Cook was the Director of the Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce. This organization helps local businesses. From 1998 to 2002, he worked as a professor at Copper Mountain College. Since 2002, he has taught classes at University of California, Riverside. These classes focused on political violence and terrorism.

Serving in the California Assembly

In 2006, Paul Cook decided to run for the California's 65th Assembly District. He won the Republican primary election. In the main election, he defeated his opponent, Rita Ramirez-Dean. He was re-elected for a second term in 2008 and a third term in 2010.

The 65th district covered many cities and areas. These included Banning, Beaumont, Big Bear Lake, Calimesa, Hemet, Moreno Valley, Perris, San Jacinto, Twentynine Palms, Yucaipa, and Yucca Valley. It also included parts of Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Inyo County, and Mono County.

During his time in the Assembly, Paul Cook received high ratings from business and taxpayer groups. In 2010, the Democratic Speaker of the Assembly, John Pérez, chose Cook to lead the Veterans Affairs Committee. This was a notable appointment, as it was rare for a Republican to chair a committee under a Democratic speaker at that time.

Assembly Committee Roles

Paul Cook served on several important committees in the California Assembly:

• Accountability and Administrative Review Committee
• Budget Committee
• Emergency Management Committee
• Governmental Organization Committee
• Higher Education Committee
• Inland Empire Transportation Issues Committee
• Master Plan for Higher Education
• Preservation of California's Entertainment Industry Committee
• Sunset Review Committee
• Veterans Affairs Committee (as Chair)
• Judiciary Committee

Paul Cook in the U.S. House of Representatives

In January 2012, the long-serving U.S. Representative Jerry Lewis announced he would retire. Paul Cook decided to run for this seat. The district was renumbered from the 41st to the 8th. Cook came in second place in the primary election. In the November election, he won against Gregg Imus.

His Time in Congress

In 2013, Paul Cook supported the Keystone XL pipeline project. He believed it would create many jobs. He also worried that other countries might benefit if the U.S. did not move forward with the pipeline.

In 2017, Cook voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act (often called Obamacare). He explained his vote by saying he wanted to ensure everyone could get good healthcare that fit their budget. He also voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. He believed this bill would give important tax relief to middle-class and lower-income Americans. He supported it because it aimed to simplify the tax system and give tax breaks to most taxpayers.

Congressional Committee Roles

While in the U.S. House of Representatives, Paul Cook was part of these committees:

• Committee on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
  • Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces
• Committee on Foreign Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Europe and Eurasia
  • Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity

Groups He Joined in Congress

Paul Cook was also a member of several groups, or caucuses, in Congress:

• Congressional Cement Caucus
• House Baltic Caucus
• Republican Main Street Partnership
• Congressional Western Caucus

Paul Cook's Political Views

Paul Cook is known for working with members of both major political parties. In one session of Congress, he was ranked as one of the most bipartisan members of the House. This ranking comes from a special index that measures how much politicians work across party lines.

Cook does not support the Common Core State Standards, which are educational guidelines. He also supports repealing the Affordable Care Act. He believes in laws that would lower healthcare costs, make it easier for employers to offer health plans, and give people more choices in their healthcare. Cook also believes that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is not allowed by the U.S. Constitution.

Paul Cook's Family Life

Paul Cook lives in Apple Valley, California, with his wife, Jeanne Cook.