Rep. Cole, Sheryl - District 46

Ballotpedia, Sheryl Cole

Sheryl lives in the Wilshire Woods neighborhood and is an active member of the David Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. She attended the University of Texas, where she graduated with an accounting degree and later completed her law degree. She is married to Kevin Cole, and they have 3 sons.

Sheryl is an attorney. She has also worked for the Texas Municipal League.

Sheryl Cole is a state representative in State House District 46. She was elected in 2018 and is serving her 3rd term. She is the vice chair of the Housing Administration Committee. She previously served on the Austin City Council for 8 years, was mayor pro tem, and chaired the Audit and Finance Committee.

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As Mayor Pro Tem and the city’s first African American woman elected to city council, led a coalition to pass an affordable housing package, which voters approved with 61% support.

As mayor pro tem and the city’s first African American woman elected to city council, led a coalition to pass an affordable housing package and address racial divides.

As Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee, helped secure Austin’s AAA bond rating.

As chair of the Audit and Finance Committee, helped secure Austin’s AAA bond rating.

As a council member, supported the redevelopment of Waller Creek to boost economic development and relocate downtown real estate from the flood plain for new development, including the new UT Medical School.

Supports reducing local property taxes by increasing state funding for education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

- As mayor pro tem and the city’s first African American woman elected to city council, led a coalition to pass an affordable housing package and address racial divides.
- Supports ending chronic homelessness.
- As chair of the Audit and Finance Committee, helped secure Austin’s AAA bond rating.
- As a council member, supported the redevelopment of Waller Creek to boost economic development and relocate downtown real estate from the flood plain for new development, including the new UT Medical School.
- Supports reducing local property taxes by increasing state funding for education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

Economy

Believes the "war on drugs" has harmed communities, particularly young men of color, by stripping employment opportunities and voting rights due to aggressive policies on small-scale marijuana possession.

Supports improving conditions in Texas' prison system.

Supports policies that aid the reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals, such as the "Ban the Box" measure.

Supports comprehensive gun control measures, including background checks, mental health assessments, and raising the minimum age for gun purchases.

Supports police accountability and was instrumental in settling a wrongful death suit after Austin police fatally shot black teenager Nathaniel Sanders II.

As a city council member, co-signed a resolution asking the Travis County Sheriff’s Office to stop honoring ICE detainers.

As a strong advocate for victims and survivors of police violence, the candidate passed a law strengthening dashcam use.

Helped passed a law strengthening dashcam use.

- Believes the "war on drugs" has harmed communities, particularly young men of color, by stripping employment opportunities and voting rights due to aggressive policies on small-scale marijuana possession.
- Supports improving conditions in Texas' prison system.
- Supports policies that aid the reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals, such as the "Ban the Box" measure.
- Supports comprehensive gun control measures, including background checks, mental health assessments, and raising the minimum age for gun purchases.
- Supports police accountability and was instrumental in settling a wrongful death suit after Austin police fatally shot black teenager Nathaniel Sanders II.
- As a city council member, co-signed a resolution asking the Travis County Sheriff’s Office to stop honoring ICE detainers.
- Helped passed a law strengthening dashcam use.

Public Safety

Supports access to abortion and birth control.

Received the John and Kitty Holman Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness in 2010.

Supports Medicaid expansion and legalizing marijuana, with tax revenue going toward education and infrastructure.

Believes in advocating for women's health care and supports access to comprehensive healthcare services.

- Supports access to abortion and birth control.
- Received the John and Kitty Holman Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness in 2010.
- Supports Medicaid expansion and legalizing marijuana, with tax revenue going toward education and infrastructure.
- Believes in advocating for women's health care and supports access to comprehensive healthcare services.

Healthcare

Believes a robust public education system is crucial for Texas and opposes diverting funds to private school vouchers.

Plans to focus on school finance and education, and work to strengthen and revise pension plans.

Believes in a "fresh start" for education, aiming to unite against perceived attacks on children's education, opportunity, and civil liberties.

- Believes a robust public education system is crucial for Texas and opposes diverting funds to private school vouchers.
- Plans to focus on school finance and education, and work to strengthen and revise pension plans.
- Believes in a "fresh start" for education, aiming to unite against perceived attacks on children's education, opportunity, and civil liberties.

Education

Supports investing in wind and solar energy.

- Supports investing in wind and solar energy.

Energy & the Environment

Believes every Texan deserves equal access to the ballot box and supports making voter registration easier.

- Believes every Texan deserves equal access to the ballot box and supports making voter registration easier.

Voting & Elections

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Sheryl Cole

Sheryl Cole lives in the Wilshire Woods neighborhood and is an active member of the David Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. She attended the University of Texas, where she graduated with an accounting degree and later completed her law degree. She is married to Kevin Cole, and they have three sons.

Sheryl Cole is an attorney and former City of Austin Mayor Pro-Tem. She has also worked for the Texas Municipal League.

Sheryl Cole served on the Austin City Council for eight years and was Mayor Pro Tem. She chaired the Audit and Finance Committee and was involved in the Waller Creek revitalization project. Cole is currently running for State Representative in House District 46.

Endorsed by the Austin Area AFL-CIO Central Labor Council.

Served as a member of the Capitol Area Metropolitan Planning Organization from 2008 to 2014.

Believes that "real economic opportunities are fundamental for communities to truly be diverse and inclusive."

Believes economic divides are increasing and that women and communities of color are "under political attack."

Recognized as Woman of the Year for Economic Empowerment by the YWCA Greater Austin in 2014.

As mayor pro tem, she helped spur a $65 million affordable housing bond package, which passed with 60% of the vote in 2013, and she spearheaded the Waller Creek revitalization.

Supports policies that aid reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals.

Believes in advocating for equality and addressing systemic divides to enhance public safety.

As mayor, she implemented measures to enhance transparency and oversight with city contractors to address pay disparities.

Supports stricter gun control, including preventing firearm sales to individuals deemed dangerous by mental health professionals.

Supports raising the minimum age for gun purchases, increasing funding for community policing, and expanding mental health care.

Believes in addressing public safety issues through community engagement and activism, highlighting her efforts to make citywide calls for change even before the emergence of movements like Black Lives Matter and the Austin Justice Coalition.

Believes sexist language used by media and community has impacted her race, saying "Vela is often described as a "tough fighter," she's routinely labeled as "quiet and compromising."

Supports the Austin-Travis County EMS Employees Association.

Supports addressing women's health and reproductive rights, criminal justice reform, LGBTQ+ rights, and public education.

Supports more financing and better resources for public education.

Supports increasing funding and resources for public education.

As a parent, Sheryl began her public service career by joining her local PTA and helping to organize community support for schools as one of the Tri-Chairs of the Austin Independent School District Bond Committee in 2004.

Served as Tri-Chair of the Austin Independent School District Bond Committee in 2004.

Opposes "unfunded mandates" on local governments.

Supports voting rights and fair elections.

Believes that losing the election would result in "an African-American voice for Austin will be lost at the Capitol."

As a city council member, put forward a resolution that made Austin the first city in Texas to publicly support marriage equality.

Served on the Joint City County AISD Coordinating Committee from 2006 to 2008.

Served on the City of Austin Bond Committee in 1998.

- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Texas House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Texas State Legislature
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