{{Short description|American attorney and politician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Chelsea Cook | image = Chelsea Cook – Durham City Council photo.jpg | caption = | office = Durham City Council Member for Ward 3 | term_start = January 2024 | term_end = | predecessor = Leonardo Williams | successor = | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democratic | spouse = | children = | alma_mater = University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (BA)<br/>Stanford University (JD) | occupation = Attorney<br/>Politician<br/>Professor | website = [https://www.durhamnc.gov/4664/Chelsea-Cook/ Council Website] }} '''Chelsea Cook''' is an American attorney and politician. In 2024, she was appointed to the Durham City Council, representing Ward 3. She was reelected to the council in 2025. Cook serves on faculty at Duke University as assistant clinical professor of law and supervising attorney of the Duke Civil Justice Clinic.
== Education == Cook earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in public policy and women's studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Juris Doctor degree from Stanford Law School.<ref name= durhamnc>{{Cite web|url=https://www.durhamnc.gov/4664/Chelsea-Cook|title=Chelsea Cook | Durham, NC|website=www.durhamnc.gov}}</ref><ref name= dukelaw/>
== Career == Cook is an attorney and has worked as a legal aid for North Carolina's Durham Eviction Diversion Program.<ref name= wral>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wral.com/story/chelsea-cook-to-be-appointed-as-newest-durham-city-council-member/21239226/|title=Chelsea Cook to be appointed as newest Durham City Council member|date=January 16, 2024|website=WRAL.com|access-date=May 1, 2025|archive-date=May 1, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501211941/https://www.wral.com/story/chelsea-cook-to-be-appointed-as-newest-durham-city-council-member/21239226/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Mary Helen |date=2024-01-17 |title=Durham City Council picks Legal Aid attorney to finish mayor's former council term |url=https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article284162383.html |website=www.newsobserver.com}}</ref>
In January 2024, Cook was appointed to the Durham City Council to fill the Ward 3 seat left vacant by Mayor Leonardo Williams.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wral.com/21239356/?version=vjsconfig|title=Durham City Council welcomes Chelsea Cook as newest member|date=January 16, 2024|website=WRAL.com}}</ref><ref name= indyweek>{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/news/durham/durham-council-selects-legal-aid-attorney-chelsea-cook-to-fill-vacant-seat/|title=Durham Council Selects Legal Aid Attorney Chelsea Cook to Fill Vacant Seat|first=Justin|last=Laidlaw|date=January 16, 2024|website=INDY Week|access-date=May 1, 2025|archive-date=May 1, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501211941/https://indyweek.com/news/durham/durham-council-selects-legal-aid-attorney-chelsea-cook-to-fill-vacant-seat/|url-status=live}}</ref> She received votes from council members DeDreana Freeman, Javiera Caballero, and Carl Rist.<ref name= wral/> Her opponent, Shelia Huggins, received votes from Williams, Mayor Pro Tempore Mark-Anthony Middleton, and Councilman Nate Baker.<ref name= indyweek/> The vote initially resulted in a tie, until Baker switched his vote to Cook.<ref name= wral/> Following Baker's vote, the remaining two votes were changed and Cook was voted in unanimously.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abc11.com/chelsea-cook-durham-city-council-leo-williams-mayor/14330456/|title=Durham City Council names pick to fill seat vacated by Leo Williams' ascent to mayor|date=January 16, 2024|website=ABC11 Raleigh-Durham|access-date=May 1, 2025|archive-date=May 1, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501211941/https://abc11.com/chelsea-cook-durham-city-council-leo-williams-mayor/14330456/|url-status=live}}</ref>
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.<ref name= durhamnc/>
In February 2024, Cook called on the Biden Administration to facilitate a ceasefire between Israel and Palestine in the Gaza war.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indyweek.com/news/durham/the-hissing-cannot-happen-durham-mayor-urges-civility-amid-tensions-over-gaza/|title='The hissing cannot happen:' Durham Mayor Urges Civility Amid Tensions Over Gaza|first=Jacqueline|last=Cole|date=February 13, 2024|website=INDY Week|access-date=May 1, 2025|archive-date=May 1, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501211941/https://indyweek.com/news/durham/the-hissing-cannot-happen-durham-mayor-urges-civility-amid-tensions-over-gaza/|url-status=live}}</ref> She proposed a resolution for President Biden to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and advocated for the release of Israeli hostages.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2024/02/duke-university-durham-city-council-residents-gaza-cease-fire-resolution-work-session|title=Durham residents discuss Gaza cease-fire resolution at city council work session|website=The Chronicle|date=February 9, 2024 |access-date=2025-05-01|archive-date=2025-05-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501211941/https://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2024/02/duke-university-durham-city-council-residents-gaza-cease-fire-resolution-work-session|url-status=live}}</ref>
In September 2024, Cook responded to complaints made by real estate developers about tree coverage standards raising project costs, stating that destruction of the environment has "real consequences."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2024/09/duke-university-durham-city-council-sustainable-housing-site-plans-lyons-farms-elementary-school-800-new-apartments|title=Durham City Council addresses sustainable housing, reconsiders site plans for Lyons Farm Elementary School|website=The Chronicle|date=September 18, 2024 |access-date=2025-05-01|archive-date=2025-05-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501211941/https://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2024/09/duke-university-durham-city-council-sustainable-housing-site-plans-lyons-farms-elementary-school-800-new-apartments|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2024, Cook was one of two council members that voted against a rezoning and development project for Duke University's central campus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aol.com/duke-gets-durham-ok-transform-093000084.html|title=Duke gets Durham's OK to transform university's Central Campus. But what's coming?|first=A. O. L.|last=Staff|date=October 9, 2024|website=www.aol.com|access-date=May 1, 2025|archive-date=May 1, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501211941/https://www.aol.com/duke-gets-durham-ok-transform-093000084.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She supports the Coalition to End the HIV Epidemic in Durham.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wunc.org/race-class-communities/2024-12-10/durham-hiv-aids-outreach|title='Issue of neglect:' Advocates say Durham isn't addressing housing needs for people with HIV and AIDS|date=December 10, 2024|website=WUNC|access-date=2025-05-01|archive-date=2025-05-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501211941/https://www.wunc.org/race-class-communities/2024-12-10/durham-hiv-aids-outreach|url-status=live}}</ref>
In July 2025, Cook joined the faculty at Duke University School of Law as an assistant clinical professor of law and as a supervising attorney at the Duke Civil Justice Clinic.<ref name= dukelaw>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date= |title= Chelsea Cook|url= https://law.duke.edu/fac/ccook|website= Duke Law|location= Durham, North Carolina|publisher= Duke University|access-date= January 7, 2026}}</ref> In September 2025, Cook sought reelection to the city council.<ref>{{cite web |last= Miss|first= Abigail|date= September 26, 2025|title= ‘Here To Do The Work’: Incumbent Chelsea Cook Prepares for Durham’s Ward 3 Race|url= https://durhamvoice.org/here-to-do-the-work-incumbent-chelsea-cook-prepares-for-durhams-ward-3-race/ |website= Durham Voice|location= Durham, North Carolina|publisher= |access-date= January 7, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last= Park|first= Seyun|date= October 30, 2025|title= Meet Durham’s Ward 3 city council candidates|url= https://dukechronicle.com/article/duke-university-durham-ward-3-city-council-election-candidates-incumbent-chelsea-cook-diana-medoff-20251031|website= Duke Chronicle|location= Durham, North Carolina|publisher= Duke University|access-date= January 7, 2026}}</ref> She retained her seat on the council, defeating Diana Medoff in the election.<ref>{{cite web |last= Gaskin|first= Ha Lien|date= November 11, 2025|title= Diana Medoff Defeated By Chelsea Cook In Ward 3|url= https://durhamvoice.org/diana-medoff-defeated-by-chelsea-cook-in-ward-3/|website= Durham Voice|location= Durham, North Carolina|publisher= |access-date= January 7, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |date= November 5, 2025|title= In Durham City Council Race, Kopac and Burris Beat Out Incumbents in Wards 1 and 2|url= https://indyweek.com/news/elections-news/in-durham-city-council-race-kopac-and-burris-beat-out-incumbents-in-wards-1-and-2/|website= Indy Week|location= Durham, North Carolina|publisher= |access-date= January 7, 2026}}</ref>
== Personal life == Cook is Jewish.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.durhamnc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/53927/Chelsea-Cook |title=Archived copy |access-date=2025-05-02 |archive-date=2025-05-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250502143918/https://www.durhamnc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/53927/Chelsea-Cook |url-status=live }}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cook, Chelsea}} Category:Living people Category:21st-century American Jews Category:21st-century American women lawyers Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:21st-century North Carolina politicians Category:Duke University School of Law faculty Category:Durham, North Carolina, city council members Category:Jewish American people in North Carolina politics Category:Jewish American women in politics Category:LGBTQ appointed officials in the United States Category:North Carolina Democrats Category:North Carolina lawyers Category:Women city councillors in North Carolina Category:Stanford Law School alumni Category:University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni Category:Year of birth missing (living people)