Michael Cook is a long-time veteran of public policy and political campaigns at the local, state and federal level. During his tenure as Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Arkansas he helped revitalize and re-organize the state party. His work there earned him recognition by the National Journal’s “Hotline” as one of Arkansas’ Rising Stars in 2003, and the Arkansas Times proclaimed him the “Wizard of Voter Turnout” during the hotly contested 2004 campaign season. He is the only Arkansas Executive Director who has simultaneously served as Coordinated Campaign Director, overseeing the Democrats’ most intensive field operation ever in a presidential election year.
In 2006, he managed the first winning Democratic campaign for Arkansas Lt. Governor in sixteen years. Michael served as a consultant to the Scholarship Lottery Committee in 2008 and was instrumental in that’s campaign’s ultimate success. He was a member of then-Governor Clinton’s campaign staff during the 1992 presidential race, serving both in New Hampshire and at the fabled Little Rock headquarters. Michael previously served as consultant with Southern Strategy Group, a political and governmental consulting firm in Little Rock.
Michael is a veteran of the United States Army Reserves and holds a bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He formerly served as the Chief of Staff for Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter. Michael was recently named to Arkansas Business’ “40 Under 40″ list and currently serves as a movie critic for the Little Rock NBC affiliate KARZ-TV. Michael is the owner of Cook Consulting, a public affairs and strategic communications firm based in Little Rock.
