Ellen Cohen is a Canadian American politician based in Houston. She was a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 134 from 2007 to 2011 and later a member of the Houston City Council. Personal life and career Shortly after moving to Houston, Cohen began serving as executive director of the American Jewish Committee. For 18 years, she served as President and CEO of the Houston Area Women's Center, which is dedicated to eliminating domestic and sexual violence. In that capacity she managed a $6.2 million budget and a 120-person staff, serving over 6,000 women, children, and men. Cohen also serves or has served on the Boards of Congregation Beth Israel; Faith Trust Institute; American Jewish Committee; American Leadership Forum; Houston Area Adult Protective Services and the National Violence Against Women Advisory Task Force. Cohen is also a former President of Leadership Houston and the board of the Medical Center Hospital. Political career Endorsed by Houston Chronicle, the Sierra Club, the Texas State Teachers Association, and other local, regional and nationwide organizations, Cohen was elected State Representative District 134, which includes Bellaire, West University Place, River Oaks and parts of Meyerland and Neartown, in 2006. Her competitors included incumbent Republican Martha Wong and Libertarian Mhair Dekmezian, a Rice University student. Cohen's campaign focused on improving public education, restoring children’s health insurance, finding solutions to the growing cost of college tuition and lowering homeowners’ insurance rate. During her 2006 campaign, Cohen out-raised incumbent Wong where the election was one of the most watched in the state - her opponent was elected in 2002 during redistricting making the district 55% Republican. Cohen stated during candidate forums where the district should have a representative who puts the residents, constituents, and the issues first, not partisanship first which Wong had done during her tenure. Several campaign ads circulated by Wong before the election attacked the following: the Children's Health Initiative Program (CHIP), immigration, and property taxes. She was defeated in her 2010 bid for reelection by Sarah Davis. Awards Cohen is the recipient of numerous awards for her contributions to the community. In July 2005, she was honored by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as an outstanding contributor to civil and human rights in Houston. In May 2008, she received the Woman of Wisdom Award from the Houston Area Women's Center. Other awards include the American Cancer Society's Texas Advocacy Award;