Editing Cooper, Texas (section)

==Government==
Since its incorporation in 1870, Cooper has served as the seat for Delta County. Because of this, Cooper houses the [[Delta County Courthouse|county courthouse]], county offices, sheriff, and county library. Cooper has a [[mayor–council government]]. The city council is made up of five members who are elected at large. The council members were (in 2013) mayor [[Pro tempore|pro-tem]] David Philips, Allen Foster, Amanda L'Esperance, Diane Stegall, and Elmo Robinson. The city's mayor in 2013 was Darren Brady.<ref name="Delta Government">{{cite web |publisher=[[Delta County, Texas|Delta County]] |url=http://www.deltacounty.org/government.htm |title=Delta County Government |access-date=February 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102193626/http://www.deltacounty.org/government.htm |archive-date=January 2, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The first election in Delta County occurred on October 6, 1870, to establish control in the newly formed county. Cooper held its first election in 1881, establishing an [[alderman]]ic government. Around that time, the first county courthouse was built in Cooper. Delta County, in addition to Cooper, voted for the Democratic Party in every presidential election from its incorporation in 1870 until 1968. However, the [[Populist Party (United States)|Populist Party]] won numerous local and county government positions during the 1890s and the early 1900s. In the 1970s, politics in Delta County changed and most of the county began voting for the Republican Party.<ref name="Delta County"/><ref name="Cooper TSHA"/>

Delta County's government consists of a county judge and four county commissioners, representing four county precincts. The Delta County judge (in 2013) was Herbert Brookshire and the four commissioners are B. V. Templeton, David Moody, Wayne Poole, and Mark Brantley.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Delta County |url=http://www.co.delta.tx.us/default.aspx?Delta_County/Commissioners.Court |title=Commissioners Court |work=Delta County, Texas |access-date=February 15, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312062742/http://www.co.delta.tx.us/default.aspx?Delta_County%2FCommissioners.Court |archive-date=March 12, 2013 }}</ref> The county sheriff in 2013 was Charla Singleton.<ref name="County sheriff">{{cite web |publisher=Delta County |url=http://www.co.delta.tx.us/default.aspx?Delta_County/Sheriff |title=County Sheriff |work=Delta County, Texas |access-date=February 15, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312062633/http://www.co.delta.tx.us/default.aspx?Delta_County%2FSheriff |archive-date=March 12, 2013 }}</ref> In addition, Cooper is served by two Texas judicial districts. Judge Scott McDowell serves as judge of the 62nd Texas Judicial District, a position he has held since 2000. However, McDowell has announced that he will not be seeking another term.<ref name="McDowell">{{cite news |last=Richards |first=Charles |date=September 1, 2011 |url=http://www.eparisextra.com/paris-texas-news/2011/09/01/will-biard-announces-his-candidacy-for-62nd-state-district-judge-hell-run-in-the-gop-primary-next-march/ |title=Will Biard announces his candidacy for 62nd state district judge; he'll run in the GOP primary next March |newspaper=EParis Extra|access-date=February 15, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504051532/http://www.eparisextra.com/paris-texas-news/2011/09/01/will-biard-announces-his-candidacy-for-62nd-state-district-judge-hell-run-in-the-gop-primary-next-march/ |archive-date=May 4, 2013 }}</ref> Cooper is also part of Texas' 8th Judicial District, which is served by Judge Robert Newsom. Newsom has served as 8th district judge since his election in 1997, but has also announced that he will not be seeking another term.<ref name="Newsom">{{cite news |last=Craig |first=Kerry |date=September 14, 2011 |url=http://www.myssnews.com/news-telegram/news/16122-state-district-judge-robert-newsom-says-he-will-not-run-for-a-fifth-term.html |title=State District Judge Robert Newsom says he will not run for a fifth term |newspaper=The Sulphur Springs News-Telegram |access-date=February 15, 2013}}</ref>