YMBL September '14 Speaker Series Lunch | Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole

MAYOR PRO TEM SHERYL COLE

First elected in 2006, Sheryl Cole is the first African American woman elected to the Austin City Council. In 2011 she was elevated by her Council peers to Mayor Pro Tem and was re-elected for the third time in 2012.

After the 2012 Affordable Housing bond failed, Sheryl led the effort to cover the gaps in providing housing services to the poor and working class Austinites and secure a second successful bond passage in 2013. She has been a tireless advocate for the homeless working to identify sustainable policy solutions for the most vulnerable.

A resident of Austin for more than 25 years, Sheryl earned her B.A. in accounting from the University of Texas and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1986, working for two years with the Big Five accounting firm Ernst & Young. In 1989, Sheryl returned to the University of Texas for law school, earning her J.D. in 1991 and joining the law firm Wright & Greenhill. In 1995, Sheryl became staff counsel at the Texas Municipal League, where she served until 2001.

Married to Austin attorney Kevin Cole, Sheryl is the mother of three boys - Marcus, Nelson and Femi. The Coles live in the Wilshire Woods neighborhood,and are members of the Cherrywood Neighborhood Association. The family belongs to David Chapel Missionary Baptist Church.

Sheryl is a past president of the Lee Elementary School PTA, a former Board member of Leadership Austin, the Austin Area Urban League, and Communities in Schools. Sheryl also served as Tri-Chair of the 2004 AISD Citizen Bond Committee, and was appointed by former mayor Kirk Watson toserve on the 1998 City of Austin Citizen Bond Committee.

Sheryl serves on the following council subcommittees:
• Audit and Finance Committee, Chair
• Comprehensive Plan and Transportation Committee, Chair
• Minority-Owned Business Enterprise and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Subcommittee

Sheryl serves as the City of Austin representative on the following boards:
• CAMPO Transportation Policy Board
• Lone Star Rail Policy Board
• Downtown Austin Alliance Board of Directors