Attorney Cook to soon be on two local boards

Published 10:42 am Friday, December 15, 2023

There’s a new face on one board — soon to be two boards — in Milledgeville. 

Attorney Emilie Cook was appointed to the city’s Planning and Zoning board earlier this year and will be sworn in as a member of the Georgia Military College Board of Trustees in early 2024. In November, she ran unopposed for the District 4 GMC seat vacated by state Rep. Ken Vance (R-133) after he was elected to the Georgia House. 

Born in Miami and raised in Birmingham, Cook came to Georgia as a Mercer law student in 2009. Upon earning her degree, she clerked for the Oconee Judicial Circuit in Dodge County for a couple of years. Cook moved to Milledgeville with her now ex-husband in 2013, and has been here ever since. She currently works as a preventive legal advocacy fellow for Emory University’s Barton Child Law and Policy Center supporting legal services in the child welfare space. 

Cook introduced herself to the GMC Trustees and institution leadership at Tuesday’s regular quarterly meeting, though she won’t actually become a board member until the new year. 

“I’ve always had a lot of respect for GMC as an institution,” Cook told The Union-Recorder in a Thursday phone interview. “I’m excited to be a part of it. Because I work in the child welfare space, I think it makes sense to be on a board like that and take an active role in an institution that’s serving our community. Leadership building and workforce development are very important, so I’m excited to be able to do that work in this new role.”

Cook added that she’s learned a lot about the junior college and grades K-12 prep school in a short time, and she looks forward to learning more as she helps guide the over 140-year-old institution. 

GMC board members are elected from the same districts as City Council. The mayor also holds a slot per the board’s bylaws, so the regular voting body is made up of seven individuals when at full capacity. Since vacating his seat after being elected, Rep. Vance has been reappointed to the GMC board, though in a non-voting, advisory role along with state Sen. Rick Williams (R-25). 

Cook’s nomination to the city P&Z board came from District 4 City Alderman Walter Reynolds. Her nomination was then approved by City Council. 

“I knew it was important that we have a complete planning and zoning board,” Cook said on why she accepted the P&Z seat. “It’s not good to have those boards sitting unfilled.”

Asked if she has any political aspirations beyond her current duties, Cook said, “Not at this time. I’ve served on a lot of community boards in the past. I think it’s important to stay involved and try to serve your community where you can. These positions needed to be filled, and I was willing to do it.”