William H. Cole IV


William H. Cole IV is an American politician who represented the 11th District on the Baltimore City Council. He was first elected to a four-year term beginning in December 2007 and served until his appointment by the mayor in August 2014 as CEO and President of the Baltimore Development Corporation.

Career and community service

Career history

Councilman Bill Cole began his career in government as an intern in the Maryland State Senate in 1994, then served two sessions as a legislative aide to former State Senator Walter Baker. In 1996, he was hired by newly elected Congressman Elijah E. Cummings as Staff Assistant and later Special Assistant. Cole managed one of three district offices, remaining on the Congressman's staff until 2003.
In 1998, Cole was elected to the Democratic State Central Committee and a few months later selected to fill the District 47 Maryland House of Delegates seat vacated by Judge Timothy D. Murphy. The 2002 legislative redistricting process eliminated Baltimore's 47th Legislative District and Cole lost to three incumbents in the newly formed 46th Legislative District.
He was first elected to the Baltimore City Council in 2007, and re-elected in 2011 winning 75% of the vote.

City Council committees

Cole was first elected to the Baltimore City Council in 2007, and re-elected in 2011, winning 75% of the vote. During his first term he served on a number of committees:
Currently, Cole serves as:
In August 2014, Cole was appointed President and CEO of the Baltimore Development Corporation by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

Education and family

Born in Maryland, Cole has lived in downtown Baltimore for more than 25 years. After receiving a B.A. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1994 and an M.A. in Legal and Ethical Studies from the University of Baltimore in 1996, Cole was admitted to Alpha Epsilon Lambda, the national honor society for graduate and professional students.
Cole, his wife, Michelle and their three children live in the Otterbein neighborhood where he served as president of the community association from 2003 to 2007. Their children attend Baltimore City Public Schools.

Community service

Councilman Cole serves as a member of the board or volunteer with the following civic/service organizations: