Meet Joan Cole

Hi! My name is Joan Cole. I’m a mom, an activist, and a citizen who is deeply concerned about the current direction of our country. I am running to represent District 31 in the Maryland House of Delegates because our community needs leaders who will work for the common good, listen to and care about their constituents, and who will work diligently to solve our communities’ problems. As a resident of Millersville, I am ready to serve as a strong voice for ALL our residents.

I am originally from Rochester, New York, and lived there for 32 years of my life. At the core of my being, I am deeply passionate about family and my Italian-American roots. My parents instilled in me, equally, great pride in our Italian heritage and American identity, a common thread among immigrants who come to this country in search of a better life.

I was brought up in a blue-collar family. My dad working as a postal clerk for the USPS and my mom was a secretary for Eastman Kodak. I attended Catholic school from 2nd to 12th grade and am a first-generation college graduate. I also earned my MBA while raising my children full time.

I have been married to my best friend, Brian, for 36 years. We have two adult children and a wonderful son-in-law who also reside in Maryland. We came to Maryland in 2019 after raising our children in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The majority of my professional career was in customer-facing service roles, where I worked to solve problems and I learned how to meet or exceed customers’ expectations. That experience has stayed with me throughout my life and has prepared me well to address the needs of our district and work with others for the common good.

The rampant gun violence in our country is what motivated me to get involved in political advocacy. While I support our 2nd Amendment right to bear arms, I believe there is more we can do to keep our communities safe. In 2023, I joined Moms Demand Action*, a grassroots movement of Americans fighting for common sense gun legislation and safe gun storage laws. As the Anne Arundel County Co-Lead, I helped grow our leadership team and volunteer base. I also learned a great deal about the legislative process and got to know most of our elected officials in the county.

When I’m not on the campaign trail, you can find me walking my dog, running a few miles, or listening to music or an audio book. I love to dance, cook, and carry on the traditions of my Italian-American family by making homemade raviolis at Christmas, struffoli for good luck on New Year’s Eve, and my grandmother’s sauce throughout the year.

Mangia! Mangia!

*Organizational affiliation provided for identification purposes only and not an indication of organizational support or endorsement.