Chairman Health & Human Services
Born in Houston, Texas, Sharon is proud to have called Georgia home for over 38 years. She
was married to the late Dr. Tom Cooper for more than 33 years. She was first elected in
1996 as the State Representative for the 41st District of Georgia (now 43rd district).
In 2000 Sharon was chosen as legislator of the year by the Georgia Republican Party and in
2002 she was elected Caucus Chairman by her Republican colleagues. In 2004 she was
elected Majority Caucus Chairman making her the highest ranking woman in the Georgia
House. In 2007, in response to her ever increasing committee responsibilities, Rep. Cooper
assumed the role of Caucus Chair Emeritus.
Currently Rep. Cooper chairs the Health and Human Services committee, one of the busiest
committees in the House. She was also appointed chairman of the Special Committee on
Certificate of Need as well as chair of the Special Committee on Grady Hospital. Rep. Cooper
is also a member of the Rules, Judiciary Non-Civil and Regulated Industries committees.
Rep. Cooper holds several degrees, including a B.S. in Child Development; a M.A. in
Education and MSN in Nursing. Sharon has written two textbooks on Psychiatric Nursing
and in 1994 she authored Taxpayer's Tea Party - a how-to book that encouraged the
average citizen to become politically active. Recently she was asked to update this book,
available now in E-book.
A graduate of the first class of the Coverdell Leadership Institute, Rep. Cooper was able to
pass a major revision of the state's stalking law while still in her freshman term. In 2002
A.G. Ashcroft appointed her to the President's 30-member, National Advisory Committee
on Violence Against Women. In 2006 Cobb County Commission Chairman Sam Olens
credited Rep. Cooper as being the major catalyst behind the creation of Cobb County Police
Department's Domestic Violence Unit. She has also served on the First Lady, Mary Perdue's
Advisory Committee on Foster Care.
Rep. Cooper Continues to Author and foster legislation that promotes improved health care
for Georgians such as- the HIV Screening Bill for Pregnant Women, Georgia Smoke free Air
Act, and the "Health Share" Volunteers in Medicine Act. Rep. Cooper has earned the
reputation of being one of the hardest working legislators at the Capitol as well as being
honest, straightforward and committed. Former governor and U.S. Senator Zell Miller still
calls her the little legislator that tells it like it is.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
* Health and Human Services, Chair
* Judiciary - Non Civil, Member
* Regulated Industries, Member
* Rules, Member
DISTRICT 43 INFORMATION
Representative Sharon Cooper represents the 43rd district which is located in East Cobb
County, the third largest county in the state of Georgia. It is located just north of Atlanta.
The 43rd district is basically bordered by the Chattahoochee River and 120 Loop with
Powers Ferry as it's western edge and Johnson Ferry as the eastern boundary. |