On November 7, 2006, Ellen Cohen was elected to the Texas House of Representatives with the largest margin of any challenger to an incumbent in Texas at that time. She represented District 134, which includes the Texas Medical Center from 2006 until 2011. Representative Cohen is currently seeking election to Houston City Council, District C, which includes the Texas Medical Center. A native of Ohio and Houston resident for more than 30 years, Representative Cohen spent a decade as executive director of the American Jewish Committee, after which served as president and CEO of the Houston Area Women’s Center. She has served on the boards of Park Plaza Hospital; American Leadership Forum; Congregation Beth Israel; Faith Trust Institute; the Police Advisory Board; American Jewish Committee; Cool Globes Houston Programming Advisory Board; and Houston Area Adult Protective Services. She is also a former President of Leadership Houston and the board of the Medical Center Hospital. Ellen Cohen is a 41-year survivor of breast cancer.