# Chelsea Cook

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Chelsea_Cook
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Chelsea_Cook.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_Cook
> Source revision: 1343366335
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{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](/source/Durham%2C_North_Carolina) for Ward 3
| term_start          = January 2024
| term_end            =
| predecessor         = [Leonardo Williams](/source/Leonardo_Williams)
| successor           =
| birth_name          = 
| birth_date          = 
| birth_place         = 
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States))
| spouse              = 
| children            = 
| alma_mater          = [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill](/source/University_of_North_Carolina_at_Chapel_Hill) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts))<br/>[Stanford University](/source/Stanford_University) ([JD](/source/Juris_Doctor))
| 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](/source/Durham%2C_North_Carolina), representing Ward 3. She was reelected to the council in 2025. Cook serves on faculty at [Duke University](/source/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](/source/University_of_North_Carolina_at_Chapel_Hill) and a [Juris Doctor](/source/Juris_Doctor) degree from [Stanford Law School](/source/Stanford_Law_School).<ref name= durhamnc>{{Cite web|url=https://www.durhamnc.gov/4664/Chelsea-Cook|title=Chelsea Cook &#124; 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](/source/Durham%2C_North_Carolina) City Council to fill the Ward 3 seat left vacant by Mayor [Leonardo Williams](/source/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](/source/DeDreana_Freeman), [Javiera Caballero](/source/Javiera_Caballero), and Carl Rist.<ref name= wral/> Her opponent, Shelia Huggins, received votes from Williams, Mayor Pro Tempore [Mark-Anthony Middleton](/source/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](/source/Durham_Arts_Council_Building), 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](/source/Museum_of_Life_and_Science).<ref name= durhamnc/>

In February 2024, Cook called on the [Biden Administration](/source/Biden_Administration) to facilitate a ceasefire between Israel and Palestine in the [Gaza war](/source/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](/source/Gaza_Strip) 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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Duke_University_School_of_Law)|location= [Durham, North Carolina](/source/Durham%2C_North_Carolina)|publisher= [Duke University](/source/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](/source/Durham%2C_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](/source/Duke_Chronicle)|location= [Durham, North Carolina](/source/Durham%2C_North_Carolina)|publisher= [Duke University](/source/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](/source/Durham%2C_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](/source/Indy_Week)|location= [Durham, North Carolina](/source/Durham%2C_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}}

{{authority control}}

{{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)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chelsea Cook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_Cook) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_Cook?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.