Background
Cohen, Ellen was born on August 28, 1940.
Cohen, Ellen was born on August 28, 1940.
Bachelor of Business Administration, Northwood University.
Shortly after moving to Houston, Cohen began serving as executive director of the American Jewish Committee. Foreign 18 years, she served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Houston Area Women"s Center, which is dedicated to eliminating domestic and sexual violence. In that capacity she managed a $6.2 million budget and a 120-person staff, serving over 6,000 women, children, and mentor
Cohen also serves or has served on the Boards of Congregation Beth Israel.
Faith Trust Institute. American Jewish Committee.
American Leadership Forum. Houston Area Adult Protective Services and the National Violence Against Women Advisory Task Force.
Cohen is also a former President of Leadership Houston and the board of the Medical Center Hospital.
Her competitors included incumbent Republican Martha Wong and Libertarian Mhair Dekmezian, a Rice University student. Cohen"s campaign focused on improving public education, restoring children's health insurance, finding solutions to the growing cost of college tuition and lowering homeowners’ insurance rate. During her 2006 campaign, Cohen out-raised incumbent Wong where the election was one of the most watched in the state - her opponent was elected in 2002 during redistricting making the district 55% Republican.
Cohen stated during candidate forums where the district should have a representative who puts the residents, constituents, and the issues first, not partisanship first which Wong had done during her tenure.
Several campaign ads circulated by Wong before the election attacked the following: the Children"s Health Initiative Program (CHIP), immigration, and property taxes. She was defeated in her 2010 bid for reelection by Sarah Davis.
Cohen"s first piece of legislation which passed into law was to fund sexual assault programs where patrons of sexually oriented businesses would charge an additional $5 - the money generated went to these programs.
Married Lyon Cohen (deceased). Children: Marcie, Eric.