Debbie Cook
Deborah Ann "Debbie" Cook (born January 22, 1954) is an American politician and lawyer from California. She is the former mayor of Huntington Beach, California, and was the Democratic candidate for California's 46th congressional district in 2008. Cook was elected to the Huntington Beach City Council in 2000 and re-elected in 2004. She is president of the board of directors of the Post Carbon Institute.[2]
On January 22, 1954, Cook was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. Cook's father is a military person with the United States Navy, who served in both World War II and the Korean War. Cook's grandfather was an Episcopal minister. Cook was baptized into the Episcopal Church by her grandfather. After Cook's father’s retired from the Navy, the family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio.[3][4]
In 1966, Cook and her family moved to California. Cook attended Corona del Mar High School in Newport Beach, California.
While attending high school, Cook became a runner-up in the Miss Newport Beach contest, earned a student pilot’s license, completed an Outward Bound course and successfully climbed Mount Whitney.
Cook graduated from California State University, Long Beach where she studied earth science. Cook also has a J.D from Western State University College of Law.[3]
Cook coached and taught volleyball in Huntington Beach, and served as Parent Teacher Association president for Vista View School in Fountain Valley. In 1978 Debbie and John purchased a small office-equipment business which they ran for 14 years. During those years Cook obtained a patent for the business’s shelving system.
