Biography

Michelle Cook is the State Representative for the 65th Assembly District which includes Torrington. She was first elected in 2008 and is currently serving her second term in office. For the 2011-2012 legislative session Rep. Cook serves as Vice-Chair of the Aging Committee and also serves on the Education and Human Services Committees.

Representative Cook has been an outspoken supporter for issues involving children and families. In 2010 she worked to reform Connecticut’s domestic violence laws. In 2009 and 2010 she was recognized as a Children’s Champion by the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance for her work in improving childhood developmental outcomes. She is also a member of the Medicare Managed Care Committee and the Primary Care Medical Home (PCMH) Subcommittee. PCMH is a new program for health care providers and families seeking quality and affordable health care.

Representative Cook has also been a long time advocate on behalf of seniors and persons with mental health and substance abuse issues. In 2010 she was named the Homecare and Hospice Legislator of the Year. She serves on the advisory council for Prime Time House which assists adults with serious mental illness find employment, education and housing.

In 2011 Representative Cook was named Legislator of the Year by the Northwest Regional Mental Health Board. Additionally, the Substance Abuse Action Council also recognized her as their Legislator of the Year for her work in 2011 to classify and ban salvia and synthetic marijuana as controlled substances.

Representative Cook worked tirelessly to gain unanimous bipartisan support for legislation banning these dangerous drugs. She continues to work with police to ensure that these drugs are not sold in stores.

For the past eighteen years Representative Cook has also been active in her community. She is a member of the Torrington Early Childhood Collaborative an organization committed to enhancing the quality of early childhood education. In 2002 she founded the Torrington High School Parent Teacher Organization. For the past eighteen years she has served as the Director of Public Relations for special events for Torrington’s collegiate summer baseball team.

She has volunteered as a Girl Scouts leader and currently serves as a board member for the Girls Scouts of Connecticut. Rep. Cook has also been a softball, baseball and basketball coach for many years.

She holds a B.S. in Sociology and Psychology from Missouri Baptist University and has completed coursework towards a Master’s Degree in Special Education at Central Connecticut State University.

Michelle is married to Christopher Cook and has four children: Ryan, Katlyn, Ashlynn, and William.

Updated April 3, 2012