Plant City resident David Cook will join Nate Kilton and Ricky Coronado on the ballot to run for City Commission Tuesday, April 5.
Lakeland native David Cook jokes that, as a retiree, he has “nothing but time,” which he hopes to dedicate to City Commission.
Cook graduated from high school in 1972 and enrolled in the military. He served in the United States Marine Corps for over 20 years before retiring in 1994. While in the military, Cook served as the chief instructor for the Marine Corps Staff Non-Commissioned Officer’s Academy, as well as the Support and Logistics Manager of the Command. Once he retired, Cook was honored with awards detailing his leadership, years of service and budgeting skills. He also received the Navy Commendation Medal.
“I thought it would be a neat career,” Cook said. “I dealt with multi-million dollar budgets.”
Once he retired from the military, Cook moved to Plant City and shifted his focus. He attended both Hillsborough Community College and the University of South Florida and then began a law enforcement career. His service included working as a gang liaison officer and a DART Domestic Abuse Response team member. He retired from his career in law enforcement last June.
If elected to City Commission, Cook would want to start an entrepreneurial club for millennials in Plant City. He also plans on being readily available to Plant City residents who need to voice their concerns and listen to the wants and needs of voters.
“I have all the time in the world,” Cook said. “If you need to meet with me, I’m available. Even if I can’t resolve it, I can figure out who to go to to help resolve it. I want to give back and be there.”
In addition to starting an entrepreneurial club, Cook also wants to see a Police Athletic League in the City.
“These are organizations that help keep kids from getting into trouble,” he said. “I see a community like a family. As a leader, I want to serve and protect with complete and total dedication.”
Cook also is a published author. He writes a series called “Wheeling Willie” under the pen name Raven Malone. The series details the needs of special needs children and how parents can educate their own children on those with special needs. The series is available on Amazon and sold in some bookstores. He is currently working on a story for children about military service members and law enforcement officers.
“There’s not a greater thing you can do than serve people,” Cook said. “You can’t put a price on it.”
Cook also wants to focus on gangs in the Plant City community, specifically gang violence and graffiti.
“Kids should have safe place to play and feel safe going out at night,” he said. “I think they need to enhance the penalty … take a felony charge or fix the mess with a misdemeanor charge.”
Cook attends First Baptist Church of Plant City and has belonged to AMVETS, Disabled Veterans of America and Veterans of Foreign Wars USA. He resides in Plant City with his wife. The couple has three children: Jeremy, Megan and Ryan.
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.