In 2006, Attorney Sheryl N. Cole was the first and only African American woman elected at-large to the City of Austin's City Council. She has been a resident of Austin for over 30 years. Sheryl earned her B.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin and became a Certified Public Accountant while working for Ernst & Whinney in its Houston and San Francisco Offices. Sheryl returned to Austin to attend the University of Texas School of Law and earned her J.D. in 1991. She currently serves as Representative for Texas House District 46.
STRATEGIC SPECIALTY: GOVERNMENT & COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Austin TX cole.sheryl@gmail.com 512-797-5305
State Representative, Texas House District 46, Jan. 2019 – current
· Passed 5 bills out of both Chambers.
· Texas Legislative Black Caucus freshman of the year
· Only freshman on Redistricting (no other previous Travis County members)
· Earned statewide and national press coverage for legislative agenda
● Appointed to the House Ways and Means, Redistricting, and County Affairs Committees
Sheryl Cole & Associates, 2015
● Founded a law firm specializing in government and community relations and public finance.
City of Austin, Texas
● City Council Member, May 2006 - Jan. 2015
● Mayor Pro Tem, June 2011- Jan. 2015
Cole & Powell, P.C. - Legal Counsel, 2002 - 2006
● Handled a litigation docket primarily consisting of insurance defense lawsuits.
Texas Municipal League – Associate General Counsel, 1994 - 2000
Education:
● Doctor of Jurisprudence, University of Texas School of Law, 1991
● Bachelor of Business Administration, University of Texas at Austin Texas, 1986
Licenses:
● Attorney and Counselor at Law, Supreme Court of Texas, 1991
● Certified Mediator, University of Texas Public Policy Institute, 2014
Awards:
· Profile in Power Award Austin Business Journal
● Best Council Steward Award – The Austin Chronicle, 2006
● Outstanding Community Leader – Texas Legislative Black Caucus, 2013
● Woman of the Year: Economic YWCA Greater Austin, 2014
● Women of Courage Award – National Women’s Political Caucus, 2013
Boards:
● Capital of Texas Media Foundation, 2015 - 2016
● Downtown Austin Alliance, 2008-2014
● Capitol Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, 2008-2014
● Planned Parenthood Board of Directors