Former school board chief may run for public office Exploratory committee is first step in bid for council or delegate seat

Susan Cook, former chair-woman of the Howard County school board, is creating an exploratory campaign committee, the first formal step toward running for a new office, either County Council or the House of Delegates.

Cook, a Republican and resident of Owen Brown village in Columbia for the past 21 years, has worked as managing editor of Business Monthly, a local publication, since she left the school board last year. Cook said she is leaning toward a run for County Council, for the seat that Councilman C. Vernon Gray, a Democrat, plans to leave to run for county executive in 1998.

The east Columbia district is a hard one for a Republican to win. But with her background on the school board, Cook would have an advantage in name recognition, as well as credentials as an advocate of education, a key local issue.

The House of Delegates seats for Cook's district, which includes east Columbia and most of southern Howard, are controlled by Democratic incumbents, Del. Shane Pendergrass and Del. Frank S. Turner.

"I'd really like to make a decision by the beginning of next year," Cook said. "And I'm hoping this committee will help."

Pub Date: 7/09/97