Rep. Cole, Sheryl

Biography

Representative Sheryl Cole got her start in public life stepping up in her local PTA and organizing community support for our schools as one of the Tri-Chairs to the AISD Bond Committee in 2004. Continuing down the path of public service, she would go on to be elected to the Austin City Council for three terms, ultimately serving as Austin's first African American female City Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tempore. And now, as of 2018, Sheryl Cole represents the communities of East Austin, Manor, and Pflugerville at the Texas Legislature.

Rep. Cole currently serves as Vice Chair of the House Administration Committee, Culture, Recreation & Tourism, Intergovernmental Affairs, and Vice-Chair of the County & Regional Government Subcommittee. Rep. Cole also serves as a member of the House Democratic Caucus, the Texas Legislative Black Caucus – where she earned Freshman of the Year in her first session – The Texas Women’s Health Caucus, and the LGBTQ Caucus.

Rep. Cole has worked on numerous legislative issues that are important to her and the community she represents. She has filed and championed legislation regarding affordable housing, renters' rights, access to quality and affordable health care, criminal justice reform, and voting rights. This past session, Rep. Cole passed over a dozen bills out of the Texas House and had 6 bills signed into law by the Governor, ranging from issues such as public safety to healthcare. Her outstanding contributions to her community and the State of Texas have garnered her numerous awards over the years, including the Presidential Service Award from the Austin Area Urban League in 2025.

She is a graduate of the University of Texas, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas Law School. She has been married to Kevin Cole for over thirty years, and they are very proud of raising their three sons - Nelson, Marcus, and Femi - into the successful young men they have become. She is an active member of David Chapel Missionary Baptist Church.