Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 10; Democratic Party

Jim Cook has dedicated his life to the Midwestern values with which he was raised--hard work, dedication to family, and service to community and country.

Born the 7th of 13 children in rural Illinois, Jim grew up with a first hand understanding of the hopes, dreams, and challenges confronting working families. With only a 5th grade education, his parents migrated from Arkansas where they had worked on a cotton farm. While in the 3rd grade, Jim began delivering groceries to help support his family, and continued to work through middle and high school to help them build a better life.

The hard work paid off. Cook received a full scholarship to Southern Illinois University, and immediately following graduation, launched a career in public service that has spanned more than 3 decades-- in the US Marines, Marine Corps Reserve, as a public school teacher, corrections/ parole officer, and community volunteer.