Vivian Cook

Vivian Cook
New York State Assembly District 32
Incumbent
In office
1991 - Present
Term ends
January 1, 2015
Years in position	22
Party	Democratic
Compensation
Base salary	$79,500/year
Per diem	$171/full day; $61/half day
Elections and appointments
Last election	November 6, 2012
First elected	1990
Next election	November 4, 2014
Term limits	N/A
Personal
Birthday	05/23/1937
Place of birth	Rock Hill, SC
Websites
Office website

Vivian Cook (b. May 23, 1937) is a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly, representing District 32 since 1991. She previously served as Deputy Majority Leader and chair of Majority Program Committee, New York State Assembly; part of the Democratic National Committee; and district leader to Queens County 32nd Assembly District. Her other political experiences include secretary for Queens County 32nd Assembly District; delegate to Democratic National Convention; majority whip, New York State Assembly; and chair of the Queens County Democratic Committee.

Cook graduated from DeFrans Business Institute. She is married to John.

Committee assignments

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Cook served on the following committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Cook served on the following committees:

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Cook served on the following committees:

Issues

Pension sweeteners

On February 13, 2013, New York legislators introduced eight bills to "sweeten" government employee pensions. The nonpartisan Citizens Budget Commission released a chart of these bills and their costs, totaling $1.311 billion for the state government and $46 million for local governments. Cook sponsored or co-sponsored three of these eight. E.J. McMahon of the pro-market Empire State Center for New York Policy criticized the bills but placed major responsibility for them on Governor Andrew Cuomo, who in 2012 raised the possibility of better pension deals if the economy improved. The New York Daily News published an editorial against the bills on February 21, denouncing the proposals as examples of "incorrigible recklessness with the public’s money."

• Assembly Bill 4879, sponsored by Peter Abbate, Eric Stevenson, William Colton, Cook, and Earlene Hill Hooper would allow employees in the New York State and Local Employees' Retirement System (NYSLERS) to retire with full benefits after 35 years of employment without regard to their age. This bill would cost the state government an estimated $87 million.

• Assembly Bill 4914, sponsored by Abbate, Colton, Jeffrion Aubry, William Boyland, Barbara Clark, Cook, Steven Cymbrowitz, Dennis Gabryszak, Hooper, Jose Rivera, Matthew Titone, and Harvey Weisenberg, would give all non-correction officers in the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision a performance of duty disability benefit worth 75% of their final average salary. This bill would cost the state $100,000 in increased annual contributions.

• Assembly Bill 4920, sponsored by Abbate, Colton, Cook, Michael Cusick, Steven Englebright, and Weisenberg, would allow Tier I and II employees of the New York State and Local Employees' Retirement System (NYSLERS) and the New York State and Local Police and Fire Retirement System (NYSLPFRS) to include up to 30 days of unused vacation time in the final average salary calculation for their pension benefits. This would cost the state government an estimated $110 million and local governments an estimated $45 million.

Elections

2012

See also: New York State Assembly elections, 2012

Cook ran in the 2012 election for New York State Assembly District 32. She ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on September 13, 2012. She was unchallenged in the general election which took place on November 6, 2012.

New York State Assembly, District 32, General Election, 2012
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Vivian Cook Incumbent	100%	34,414
Total Votes				34,414

Endorsements

• 32BJ/SEIU

2010

See also: New York State Assembly elections, 2010

Cook ran unopposed in the September 14 Democratic primary. She was unopposed the general election on November 2.

New York State Assembly, District 32 2010
Candidates		Votes
Vivian Cook (D)		18,065

2008

On November 4, 2008 Cook won re-election to the New York State Assembly, District 32. She ran unopposed.

Cook raised $22,815 for her campaign.

New York State Assembly, District 32 2008
Candidates		Votes
Vivian Cook (D)		28,115

Campaign donors

2012

Campaign donor information is not yet available for this year.

2010

In 2010, Cook received $4,970 in campaign donations. The top contributors are listed below.

New York State Assembly 2010 election - Campaign Contributions
Top contributors to Vivian Cook's campaign in 2010
Communications Workers Local 1182	$2,000
New York State Association Of Realtors	$1,000
Crowley For Congress	$1,000
Exxonmobil	$750
Amalgamated Transit Union New York	$500
Total Raised in 2010	$4,970

2008

In 2008, a year in which Cook was up for re-election, she collected $22,815 in donations.

The major contributors were:

Donor	Amount
New York State Association of Realtors	$1,800
New York State United Teachers	$1,640
Verizon	$1,400
Jamaica Chamber of Commerce	$1,000

Recent news

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External links

Suggest a link

• New York Assembly - Rep. Vivian Cook
• Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
• Biography from Project Vote Smart
• Campaign Contributions: 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1998

References

Political offices
Preceded by '	New York Assembly District 32 1991–present	Succeeded by NA