Little Known Candidate to Become Democratic Nominee for State Representative

July 28, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The election is not until next Thursday, August 4 but Tom Cook has already punched his ticket to the November General Election as he will be the Democratic nominee for State Representative in District 40.

Cook, a resident of the Silver Point community of DeKalb County, is unopposed for the office in the Tennessee Democratic Primary. He will face the Republican nominee, either Incumbent Terri Lynn Weaver or Michael Hale in November. The term of office is two years.

Cook, who has lived in DeKalb County for the last four years, said he decided to get into this race after being contacted by the Democratic Party. “I was notified by the party and they asked if I was interested in becoming a candidate. I hadn’t really thought about it before then. Once I was asked to become involved I thought I would have a lot to offer. It’s a great opportunity to try and offer what I think is important with regard to change in the five counties that make up District 40,” said Cook.

A native of New Jersey, Cook furthered his education in Chicago, Saint Louis, and Nashville and made a career in healthcare as a nurse practitioner before retirement.

“I left home right after high school and went to Loyola University in Chicago for my bachelor’s degree. I went to Saint Louis University in Missouri for my master’s degree in nursing and finally finished my final degree which is a PhD which I got from Vanderbilt University. I have worked as a nurse for my whole life and retired as a nurse practitioner. I worked at Vanderbilt University for almost 40 years,” said Cook.

Some of the issues Cook said he is passionate about include healthcare, abortion rights, and more gun laws among others.

“I think rural health is a hugely important issue in all of the counties that I am running in and in the state. There are 16 hospitals that have closed since 2010 in rural areas of Tennessee. That is the second highest number of hospital closings in the country. I would like to help people take advantage of health opportunities that are out there and for them to live long and healthy lives,” said Cook.

As for guns, Cook said there should be more restrictions. “I am not interested in taking away guns except for assault weapons. We don’t need assault weapons to kill deer. Often the alternative for some seems to be that we have to focus more on mental health but in the murders that have taken place in schools where children are killed and in churches where parishioners are killed finding out about mental health after the fact has not been a useful kind of thing. I think we need more mental health opportunities to help people become their best selves, but I am also interested in gun safety. I think people need to be as interested in where they put guns and the access their children have to guns,” Cook continued.

“Other things I am interested in include serving veterans and active military personnel. I am also interested in supporting everyone who calls Tennessee home. That is the framework I come from”.

Cook said he discovered DeKalb County four years ago after deciding to relocate from Nashville to a more rural area. “ I lived in Nashville and had an opportunity with prices that went up for selling in Nashville to take advantage of that and then move to a more rural setting which I was glad to do and I am glad that I have. I love it here,” he said.

Cook, who is gay, is married and has an adopted son. “I am married and I adopted a child who is now 33 years old. I don’t have a wife. I have a husband and I am very proud of that,” said Cook.

Although a political newcomer to DeKalb County, Cook said he has held public office before.

“When I lived in rural Pennsylvania, I ran for the local school board and was not elected the first time that I ran. The second time I ran I was elected, and I was glad to be on the school board,” said Cook.

July 28, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The Back to School Education Celebration is back again but at a new location.

Instead of the public square where the event was held for several years, this year’s Back-To-School Bash” for free school supplies will be held on Tuesday, August 2nd from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM inside at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center, 101 West Church Street, Smithville.

Smithville FBC pastor Chad Ramsey encourages all parents and children in DeKalb County to participate for free school supplies and fun activities. There will also be free food and drinks for all attendees.

“It is still being called the Back to School Education Celebration but instead of it being on the public square we will have it at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center (Gym) so that means rain or shine we will have the Education Celebration from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. All kids and parents are invited to come and get free school supplies. Its for those in pre-K and kindergarten all the way up to 12th grade. This event is for our community and we will distribute as much as we have until we have no more. There will be free food and more. We hope you will come out,” said Ramsey.

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber will present awards for the best-decorated “Back-to-School” booth.

July 28, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The August 4 elections are one week away and early voting ends Saturday. To date 1,870 have cast ballots including 1,785 in person and 85 by absentee including votes cast by residents of the Webb House and NHC Healthcare Center.

The total turnout for the municipal elections to date is as follows: Smithville Municipal Election- 492; Alexandria 57, Liberty 29, and Dowelltown 21.

In the state primaries a total of 1,542 have voted in the Republican Primary and 316 in the Democratic Primary with 102 having voted only in the County General Election without participating in either primary.

176 voted Wednesday including 159 in person and 17 by absentee/Webb House/NHC. Of the total Wednesday, 134 voted in the Republican Primary, 31 in the Democratic Primary, and 11 in the General Election Only.

The turnout for the Municipal Elections Wednesday is as follows:
Smithville-39
Alexandria-2
Liberty-4
Dowelltown-3

Early Voting is today (Thursday) from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. until Noon at the DeKalb County Courthouse.

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