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Ballotpedia: David Cook

David earned his bachelor's degree in public administration from Stephen F. Austin University and his law degree from Texas A&M University. He and his wife, Tonya, have four children and live in Mansfield. They are members of Creekwood Church.

David currently works as president of Yellowstone Title. He previously worked as the managing partner of Harris Cook LLP, a general practice law firm he co-founded.

David Cook currently serves as the Texas House member representing District 96. He was first elected in 2020 and is serving his second term. He previously served as the mayor of Mansfield, Texas.

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Believes property taxes have grown too quickly in recent years.

Opposes increases to the state budget and supports reducing tax rates.

- Believes property taxes have grown too quickly in recent years.
- Opposes increases to the state budget and supports reducing tax rates.

Economy

Supports state-led border security efforts.

Believes the "wide open border" has led to an increase in fentanyl, human trafficking, and crime, harming Texans' property and lives.

Believes a "wide open border" has led to increased levels of fentanyl, human trafficking, and crime in Texas.

Supports the ability to remove district attorneys who refuse to enforce the law.

Supports legislation that allows citizens to remove elected district attorneys from office.

- Supports state-led border security efforts.
- Believes a "wide open border" has led to increased levels of fentanyl, human trafficking, and crime in Texas.
- Supports legislation that allows citizens to remove elected district attorneys from office.
- Opposes gun control.

Public Safety

As of September 7, 2024, David Cook’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Healthcare

Plans to advocate for more funding and increased compensation for teachers.

Supports increasing school funding and teacher salaries.

Supports ensuring retired teachers receive benefits that reflect the length of their service.

Supported legislation that would prevent access to explicit websites at schools as well as legislation aimed at removing certain books from school libraries.

Voted for billions of dollars in school safety grants.

- Supports increasing school funding and teacher salaries.
- Supports ensuring retired teachers receive benefits that reflect the length of their service.
- Supported legislation that would prevent access to explicit websites at schools as well as legislation aimed at removing certain books from school libraries.
- Voted for billions of dollars in school safety grants.

Education

Energy & the Environment

Voting & Elections

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David Cook

David earned his bachelor's degree in public administration from Stephen F. Austin University and his law degree from Texas A&M University. He lives with his wife, Tonya in Mansfield. They have four adult children and five grandchildren. They are members of  Creekwood Church.

David currently works as a state representative and as president of Yellowstone Title. He previously was the mayor of Mansfield, Texas as well as the managing partner of Harris Cook LLP, a general practice law firm he co-founded.

David Cook currently serves as a state representative in the Texas house of representatives district 96. He was first elected in 2020 and is serving his second term. He previously served as the mayor of Mansfield, Texas.

Recognized with a "40 Under 40 Award" for professional excellence and community impact.

Believes the community's willingness to "band together" reflects its small-town values.

Believes Texas should help secure property ownership for future generations.

As a state representative, coauthored a property tax cut that saved the average Texas homeowner over $1,000 per year.

Opposes the construction of a cement plant.

Opposes the construction of J7 Ready Mix’s plant in Rendon, Texas.

As mayor, focused on responsible growth, economic development, transportation initiatives, and job creation.

Opposes the construction of concrete plants.

Supports economic development through partnerships, such as collaborating with Wisk and the City of Sugar Land, Texas, to introduce autonomous air taxis to the Greater Houston Region.

Supports partnerships between cities and companies to boost local economies, as seen in the partnership between Wisk Aero and Sugar Land, Texas, to develop autonomous Advanced Air Mobility technology.

Believes in community involvement in economic development, as shown by supporting local businesses and encouraging new projects like the concrete batch plant.

Supports addressing rising property taxes.

Supports policies that aim to boost economic growth, reduce unemployment, and increase job opportunities.

Supports constraining the growth of state government budget in order to combat inflation.

- Supports addressing rising property taxes.
- Supports policies that aim to boost economic growth, reduce unemployment, and increase job opportunities.
- Supports constraining the growth of state government budget in order to combat inflation.

Acknowledges imperfections in public safety efforts.

Believes police and first responders are essential for quality of life and safe communities.

Believes in enhancing public safety measures.

Believes in taking all possible measures to protect children and allow them to "simply be kids."

Believes that the "wide open border" has led to an increase in fentanyl, human trafficking, and crime in Texas.

States that he is "fully committed to doing what we need to promote law and order and to keep your family safe."

- Supports state-led border security efforts.
- Believes that the "wide open border" has led to an increase in fentanyl, human trafficking, and crime in Texas.
- Supports the ability to remove district attorneys who refuse to enforce the law.
- Opposes gun control.
- States that he is "fully committed to doing what we need to promote law and order and to keep your family safe."

Supports healthcare policies that prioritize patient care and medical freedom.

Supports the establishment of a Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Nursing satellite campus in Mansfield to address the nursing shortage.

Supports addressing the nursing shortage.

Believes that "people are very into their health," and supports policies that prioritize public health and wellness.

Believes healthcare policies should ensure safety and prevent illness.

Believes crystalline silica exposure can lead to serious respiratory issues, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer, as per the National Institutes of Health.

Supports establishing laws against "medical child abuse."

Believes in refusing to prosecute abortion.

Supports criminalizing medical child abuse, also known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy, and advocates for new Texas laws to protect children from misdiagnosis and medical malpractice.

Opposes concrete batch plants due to their harmful effects on health, saying, “Airborne volatile organic compounds and particle matter associated with concrete batch plants have been shown to damage the liver and even cause liver fibrosis."

Supports healthcare legislation addressing specific medical conditions, such as Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy.

Believes in supporting parental choice in education, including school choice and homeschooling.

Opposes the construction of a concrete batch plant.

Supports parental involvement in education.

Believes in addressing educational challenges by seeking community input and collaboration to develop solutions.

Believes in supporting local schools and ensuring quality education for children.

Believes in supporting quality education.

Believes in supporting education through community service, as evidenced by receiving the Salvation Army “Others” Award.

Believes in supporting local education initiatives and policies that enhance school funding, teacher training, and student resources.

Supports more funding for schools and increased compensation for teachers.

Supports retired teachers receiving the entirety of the benefits that they earned through their work.

As a representative, supported legislation that would prevent access to explicit websites at schools as well as legislation aimed at ensuring books for students are appropriate.

As a representative, voted for billions of dollars in school safety grants.

- Supports more funding for schools and increased compensation for teachers.
- Supports retired teachers receiving the entirety of the benefits that they earned through their work.
- As a representative, supported legislation that would prevent access to explicit websites at schools as well as legislation aimed at ensuring books for students are appropriate.
- As a representative, voted for billions of dollars in school safety grants.

Believes in addressing local environmental concerns, as demonstrated by supporting residents in their request to halt a concrete plant in Tarrant.

Believes industrial plants should be located in rural areas to avoid impacting local communities.

Supports regulating concrete batching plants due to their "significant" air and water pollution effects, as stated by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Opposes companies that fail to meet emissions limits, particularly for crystalline silica.

Believes in transparency and honesty in business practices, and opposes "underhanded" methods in construction projects.

Opposes the establishment of concrete batch plants in residential areas, as evidenced by supporting three years of neighborhood opposition in Mansfield, leading to a historic decision by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to reject the plant.

Believes concrete batch plants are essential for regional growth.

Opposes the establishment of concrete batch plants due to concerns about pollution and potential health risks.

Opposes the construction of the plant due to concerns about dust and pollutants.

Supports the construction of concrete plants near construction projects due to the quick hardening of the mixture.

Believes J7 Ready Mix’s behavior during the permitting process should convince the state environmental commission to deny the company’s application.

Opposes the construction of new concrete batch plants, saying "environmental conditions have deteriorated near his home, which sits within 100 feet of J7’s existing concrete batch plant at 5515 East Highway 67."

Supports strict environmental regulations for companies, saying "In an application for a TCEQ permit, J7 Ready Mix promised to water stockpiles to keep down dust, implement three filtration systems, and immediately correct any potential emissions problems."

Opposes concrete batch plants due to concerns about air pollution and respiratory problems from toxins and particulate matter.

Believes in protecting voting rights and ensuring fair elections.

Supports voting rights and fair elections.

David Cook lives in Mansfield, Texas, and graduated from Stephen F. Austin University. He and his wife, Tonya, have four adult children, one daughter-in-law, two sons-in-law, and five grandchildren. They attend Creekwood Church in Mansfield.

David Cook is the Managing Partner of Harris Cook LLP, a general practice firm he co-founded. He also serves as a Fee Attorney for Chris Harris & Associates, P.C.

David Cook has served as the Mayor of Mansfield and is currently in his second term in the Texas House of Representatives representing Texas House District 96. He has been appointed to the House Calendars, Criminal Jurisprudence, Juvenile Justice & Family Issues Committees, the House Criminal Justice Reform Interim Study, and the House Youth Health & Safety Select Committee.

- 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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- There are 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives, each representing a single district. Representatives must be at least 21 years old and reside in the state for at least two years before their election. 
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- State representatives make $7,200 annually in addition to a $221 payment per day during legislative sessions and mileage reimbursements.

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