{{Short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Rebecca Cohn | image = | alt = | state_assembly = California | district = 24th | term_start = December 5, 2000 | term_end = November 30, 2006 | predecessor = Jim Cunneen | successor = Jim Beall | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|03|30}} | birth_place = Vallejo, California, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democrat | spouse = Ronald S. Cohn (div.) | children = 1 | alma_mater = University of Texas (BA) | occupation = Politician | profession = | website = | footnotes = }}
'''Rebecca Cohn''' (born March 30, 1954, in Vallejo, California) is an American politician who served as the California State Assembly member for the 24th District from 2000 to 2006. A resident of Saratoga, her district also included the Buena Vista, Burbank, Cambrian Park, and Fruitdale neighbourhoods of San Jose, the city of Campbell, parts of both unincorporated Santa Clara County, and the city of Santa Clara, as well as a section of the town of Los Gatos.<ref>[http://www.assembly.ca.gov/committee/c7/asmfinal/ASMMAPS/MAP24_150.JPG California Assembly] "Large Map of Assembly District 24," (retrieved on July 29th, 2009).</ref> Cohn is a Democrat. She left office in 2007 because of term limits, and was succeeded by Jim Beall. In August 2008, she enrolled at the University of California, Davis School of Law (King Hall).
==Background== Born Rebecca Wilson, Cohn grew up in Fredericksburg, Texas. She has four brothers and while living in the Texas Hillcountry her brothers and she were frequent guests at the Lyndon Johnson Ranch. She graduated from Fredericksburg High School and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas in 1976. She converted to Judaism in anticipation of marriage to her first husband, a doctor. Cohn, divorced from entrepreneur Ron Cohn, lives in Campbell and has one son.
==Before politics== As a management consultant, Cohn guided various companies in Silicon Valley and throughout the world through the adoption of new technologies and practices. She gained skills in negotiating labor and management disputes during her time in the private sector.
==California Assembly== Cohn served as Assistant Majority Leader during her time in the Assembly. Cohn was a member of the committees on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media, Health, Public Safety, and the Utilities and Commerce. Cohn was instrumental in the development of the state's Medical Examiner competency exam and the establishment of treatment guidelines. She has been active on other boards including: the American Physical Therapy Association's Advisory Panel on Women, the Diversity Task, Force of Joint Venture Silicon Valley, the Santa Clara Board of Supervisor's Domestic Violence Council, and the Board of Directors for the Support of Battered Women.
==Controversy== In 2004, she faced a lawsuit from former employees alleging they had been made to do campaign work on state time. In the same year, another employee claimed he was unjustly fired for writing a critical letter about her during a controversial software contract investigation. In 2005, Cohn came under heat for her spicy ''San Jose Magazine'' photo shoot that prompted two aides to sue her for allegedly creating a sexually charged work environment (they alleged that Cohn had required them to handle and hold Cohn's bras and panties during outfit changes for the photo shoot).<ref>[http://www.metroactive.com/metro/03.01.06/fly-0609.html Metro Silicon Valley] "The Fly: The Real Scoop on Cohn," (March 1st-7th 2006, retrieved on July 29th, 2009).</ref> The California Legislature later settled the lawsuit on her behalf, without her consent. She admitted no fault and took no part in the settlement.
== Electoral history == {{Election box open primary begin no change | title = 2004 California State Assembly 24th district election<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2004-primary/assembly.pdf|title=March 2, 2004, Presidential Primary Election - Member of the State Assembly|website=Secretary of State of California|accessdate=December 29, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2004-general/formatted_st_AD_all.pdf|title=November 2, 2004, Presidential General Election - Member of the State Assembly|website=Secretary of State of California|accessdate=December 29, 2025}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = California Democratic Party |candidate = Rebecca Cohn (incumbent) |votes = 38,599 |percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box total no change |votes = 38,599 |percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box open primary general election no change}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = California Democratic Party |candidate = Rebecca Cohn (incumbent) |votes = 94,152 |percentage = 59.5 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = California Republican Party |candidate = Ernie Konnyu |votes = 55,956 |percentage = 35.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Libertarian Party of California |candidate = Zander Y. Collier III |votes = 8,337 |percentage = 5.2 }} {{Election box candidate no party in partisan race no change |candidate = Michael Roy (write-in) |votes = 41 |percentage = 0.0 }} {{Election box candidate no party in partisan race no change |candidate = Lawrence R. Hileman (write-in) |votes = 7 |percentage = 0.0 }} {{Election box total no change |votes = 158,493 |percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link without swing |winner = California Democratic Party }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change | title = 2002 California State Assembly 24th district election<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2002-primary/state-assemb.pdf|title=March 5, 2002, Primary Election - Member of the State Assembly|website=Secretary of State of California|accessdate=December 29, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2002-general/state-assemb.pdf|title=November 5, 2002, General Election - Member of the State Assembly|website=Secretary of State of California|accessdate=December 29, 2025}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = California Democratic Party |candidate = Rebecca Cohn (incumbent) |votes = 29,550 |percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box total no change |votes = 29,550 |percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box open primary general election no change}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = California Democratic Party |candidate = Rebecca Cohn (incumbent) |votes = 69,992 |percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box total no change |votes = 69,992 |percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link without swing |winner = California Democratic Party }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change | title = 2000 California State Assembly 24th district election<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2000-primary/assemb.pdf|title=March 7, 2000, Primary Elections - Member of the State Assembly|website=Secretary of State of California|accessdate=December 29, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2000-general/assemb.pdf|title=November 7, 2000, General Election - Member of the State Assembly|website=Secretary of State of California|accessdate=December 29, 2025}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = California Democratic Party |candidate = Rebecca Cohn |votes = 37,171 |percentage = 77.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = California Democratic Party |candidate = Steve Glickman |votes = 11,003 |percentage = 22.8 }} {{Election box total no change |votes = 48,174 |percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box open primary general election no change}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = California Democratic Party |candidate = Rebecca Cohn |votes = 78,173 |percentage = 50.5 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = California Republican Party |candidate = Sue Jackson |votes = 69,825 |percentage = 45.0 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Libertarian Party of California |candidate = Ray Strong |votes = 7,000 |percentage = 4.5 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Independent politician |candidate = George Swenson (write-in) |votes = 96 |percentage = 0.0 }} {{Election box total no change |votes = 155,094 |percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box gain with party link without swing |winner = California Democratic Party |loser = California Republican Party }} {{Election box end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{S-start}} {{s-par|us-ca-hs}} {{s-bef|before=Jim Cunneen}} {{s-ttl|title=California State Assemblywoman, 24th District |years=2000-2006}} {{s-aft|after=Jim Beall}}
{{end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cohn, Rebecca}} Category:1954 births Category:Living people Category:Democratic Party members of the California State Assembly Category:Jewish state legislators in California Category:Jewish American women in politics Category:University of Texas at Austin alumni Category:People from Campbell, California Category:People from Fredericksburg, Texas Category:Women state legislators in California Category:Converts to Judaism Category:University of California, Davis alumni Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:Politicians from Vallejo, California Category:21st-century American Jews Category:21st-century members of the California State Legislature