City Council Member Cohen and 101-year-old Mom Vote For Clinton

Nov. 3, 2016Houston Chronicle

Mother’s Day was six months ago, but Houston Mayor Pro Tem Ellen Cohen voted at the West Gray polling place Thursday accompanied by her 101-year-old mother Elaine Rippner.

The inter-generational outing took place at the West Gray polling location in central Houston.

Cohen has represented Houston’s District C on city council for five years, which spans south from the Bellaire area, north to Oak Forest.

But her championing of the nation’s first female Presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, won’t end at her districts borders. She’s headed to North Carolina in the final weeks of the election to rally votes for Clinton.

“As a woman in government, I know how critical this election is to our nation’s future,” said Cohen.

Growing up with Rippner as a mother gave her a deep historical reference for this year’s election. Rippner was born in 1915, five years before women were granted the right to vote by the constitutional amendment.

“I taught my daughters that they can be anything they set their minds to,” said Rippner, “So voting for a woman for President is extremely moving for me – I’ve waited 80 years for this moment.”