A Marblehead woman who currently serves as first assistant attorney general in Attorney General Maura Healey’s office will be joining the governor-elect when she takes office on Beacon Hill next month.
Kate Cook will serve as Healey’s chief of staff, and was one of three hires announced by Healey and Lieutenant Gov.-elect Kim Driscoll’s administration on Tuesday. In her current role, Cook assists Healey with “oversight, operations, and decision-making in all legal and policy matters across the office,” the administration said in a statement.
“I’m honored that Governor-elect Healey and Lieutenant Governor-elect Driscoll have placed their faith in me to lead the Governor’s Office and for the opportunity to continue my service to the Commonwealth,” said Cook in the statement. “We’re committed to building a strong, experienced and diverse team that is ready to get to work delivering for people and moving Massachusetts forward.”
Before joining Healey’s office, Cook “served as a trusted legal advisor and litigator for public officials and state and local government agencies,” said the statement, including as a partner at Sugarman Rogers, where she chaired the government law and election law practice groups and had an active pro bono practice focused on civil rights and civil liberties matters.
She also served as chief legal counsel to Gov. Deval Patrick, general counsel to the Massachusetts Senate Ways and Means Committee, and assistant corporation counsel to the City of Boston.
“Kate has been integral to the operations of the Attorney General’s Office and a wonderful addition to our team over the past year,” said Healey in the statement. “With her strong background serving both in state and city government as well as the private sector, I’m confident that she is the best person to lead our office and build a team that’s going to deliver real results for people.”
Cook holds degrees from Harvard University and Brown University and lives in Marblehead with her husband and daughter.