Marty Cooke for US Senate
MARTY COOKE FOR U.S. SENATE
J. Martin “Marty” Cooke
910-998-7111
UNITED STATES SENATE CAMPAIGN…
There should be a distinction between a public servant and a politician. I have told folks that a politician will generally tell someone whatever they want to hear as long as they’re able to stay in office. I have always endeavored to be a public servant, seeking to bring issues to bear, give direct answers to questions in a timely perspective and be attentive to constituent needs. This being said, I have served as an elected official, a county commissioner in Brunswick County for twelve years.
I’m personally tired and disappointed seeing elected officials serving at the federal level who seem detached from the constituents and fail to get things done for our citizens when they call for assistance. This isn’t the case with all serving, but it would seem apparent we need more individuals standing on issues vs just saying something that sounds good so they’ll continue to be elected.
We need strong leaders who will bring the concerns of our citizens to bear and stand for integrity. We have seen a lack of leadership and opportunism played out with the impeachment trials of President Trump, while dropping our guard with domestic and international issues.
We saw exemplary leadership exhibited almost a generation ago during the tenure of the late Jessie Helms of North Carolina. Helms had a reputation for getting things done, returning phone calls, having issues addressed and conservative values upheld. He was a strong constitutional conservative standing on traditional family values. I seek to be that type of senator, responsive, attentive and making constituent issues top priority. I’ve always endeavored to do this as a local commissioner.
BACKGROUND…
I grew up in Wadesboro, N.C. a suburb of Charlotte, and spent my summers at Ocean Isle Beach between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach. My parents moved to the coast permanently in the ’70’s while I was in college, opening Cooke Realty of Ocean Isle Beach. We sold the business (merging with another company) after 41 years. I was an absentee owner with my brother in the operation.
I worked in the family business following college and then pursued a masters degree in TV & Film / Communication. Following grad school a friend and I developed a television series that went national for two seasons and was shot around the country. This show then went into further development and ran for 98 episodes aired live nationally during prime time. I served as the Executive in Charge of Production for the show overseeing a cast and crew of 75 people. I have helped develop and manage secular and Christian television productions / collaborated on series development and management as well as the planning and development of network facilities in the U.S. and Central America. I’ve produced television projects here in the U.S. and Internationally as well as trained production personnel at the local, national International levels. I’ve worked on and helped develop documentaries produced in Guatemala, New York City as well one currently under development being shot in the U.S. and in France. I’ve videoed two U.S. Presidents and shot video of President George W. Bush with the White House Press Corps in Normandy.
As a professor, I’ve taught at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida as well as currently serving as an online professor of digital media with Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia.
Since 2008 I’ve served as a County Commissioner in Brunswick County. Brunswick is the 7th. fastest-growing county in the country (the 4th. fastest with populations of 20,000+) out of 3,141 counties in the U.S.
While still serving as a commissioner in Brunswick and as a professor through Liberty University, I joined the staff of Neighbor to Neighbor, as the North Carolina Volunteer Coordinator. Neighbor to Neighbor is a non-profit ride share helping the elderly and disabled get rides from volunteers to take them to places like a doctor’s office, grocery store, etc. We have further developed the program in the southeastern N.C. (Brunswick) area and seeking to expand the service throughout the Carolinas.
FAMILY LIFE…
My wife, Catherine, and I have been married for 35 years and live in Shallotte, N.C. in Brunswick County. We are one of a handful of couples in the state where both spouses served in public office at the same time. Catherine was been a member of the Brunswick County Board of Education from 2008 until 2020, and I came into office in 2008 to initially fill the seat of a commissioner who died in office. We are both very involved in our church and the community.
Catherine and I have four children:
Katie, our oldest, is a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing in the Brunswick County Schools and is married to one of my best friends, Tyler Smith. Tyler is a director of Brunswick Christian Recovery Center, a faith-based drug rehab center in our area.
MaryLou, served on Capitol Hill as an aid to Congressman David Rouzer and now works in the local Congressional office while pursuing a masters in National and International Relations through UNCW.
John, is in his second year at The Citadel, the fourth generation of our family to attend the school. He’s a licensed charter boat captain doing charters during the summers and is a member of the National Guard.
AnnaBelle, our youngest is with Youth With A Mission and currently undergoing training for the missions field at the YWAM facility in Hawaii. This is her second year with YWAM.
All of our family are members of Beach Assembly of God where I’ve served as an Elder, oversaw the audio production and the security team.
EDUCATION…
Staunton Military Academy, Staunton, Virginia / High School
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina / B.A. History
Regent University, Virginia Beach, Virginia / M.A. Communication
Regent University, Virginia Beach, Virginia / Doctorate Studies in Leadership
ASSOCIATIONS / AWARDS
The North Carolina Federation of Republican Men
The Brunswick County Citadel Club, Vice Chairman
The Citadel Alumni Association, Life Member
The National Rifle Association, Life Member
Shallotte Rotary, Member
Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, 2008
UNC School of Government, Advanced Leadership Corps. / Mentor
In God We Trust America, N.C. State Director
U.S. Motto Action Committee, Eastern N.C. Director
The Brunswick County Republican Party Executive Committee
N.C. Beach, Inlet & Waterway Association, Member of the Year 2009
N.C. Beach, Inlet & Waterway Association, Secretary to the Board, 2018 / 2019
N.C. Association of County Commissioners General Government Committee
N.C. Association of County Commissioners Justice & Public Safety Committee
N.C. Association of County Commissioners Mental Health Task Force Committee
N.C. Association of County Commissioners Environmental Committee
N.C. Institute of Political Leadership, Fellow
N.C. Local Government Federal Credit Union, Advisory Board
N.C. Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee, (NC SIEC), Board Member
N.C. 911 Standards Committee Member
Cape Fear United Way, Communities Active in Disasters (COAD), Member
Southeastern Economic Development Commission
Brunswick County Local Emergency Protection Committee
Brunswick County Technical Rescue, Search Team Coordinator
Brunswick Christian Recovery Center Advisory Board
Matthew 25 Ministries Advisory Board
Tri-Beach Fire Department, Ex Officio
Civittown Fire Department, Ex Officio
Supply Fire Department, Ex Officio
Bolivia Fire Department, Ex Officio
FORMER MEMBERSHIPS / ASSOCIATIONS
U.S. Army Command & General Staff College Foundation, Fort Leavenworth, Board of Trustees
U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, N.C. Advisory Committee
International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM)
N.C. Emergency Management Association
Brunswick County Sheriff’s Citizen Academy Alumni Association
Beach Assembly of God, Board of Elders
Beach Assembly of God, Young Adult Leadership Sunday School Teacher
Brunswick County Republican Party, Chairman
North Carolina Republican Party 7th. District, Vice-Chairman
Trillium Mental Health Resources, Regional Advisory Board
Grissettown Longwood Fire / Rescue, Member
Shallotte Rescue Squad, Member
Shallotte Point Fire Department, Member
SonBurst Ministries, Board of Directors
Cape Fear River Alliance, 2017 / 2018 Board of Directors
Cape Fear Housing Land Trust, Board of Directors
Cape Fear United Way, TenYear Plan to Eliminate Homelessness
Cape Fear Council of Governments Rural Planning Organization
Cape Fear Council of Governments Economic Advisory Committee
N.C. SIEC Governance Working Group, Chairman
Matthew 25 Ministries, Board of Directors
Gideons International, Member
Brunswick County Board of Health
Brunswick County Board of Environmental Health
Brunswick Family Assistance, Board of Directors
Brunswick Senior Resources, Board of Directors
Brunswick Literacy Council, Board of Directors
Brunswick Catch, Board of Directors
Brunswick County Criminal Justice Partnership Program
Grand Strand Area Transportation Study (GSATS), N.C. Technical Advisory Committee
Bonner Stiller for N.C. House of Representatives, Campaign Chairman
The Christian Coalition of North Carolina, Founding State Director
Keep Brunswick Beautiful, Board of Directors
Marty’s Schedule
MARTY COOKE’S MASTER SCHEDULE…UNCONFIRMED IN BOLD…
—JUNE —
061921, Saturday, FIRST CONGREGATIONAL MEETING AT WILLIAMSTON, N.C. / HARVEY WEST ( UNCONFIRMED)
062121, Monday, BRUNSWICK COUNTY RECOGNITION OF VOLUNTEERS, 3:00 PM062121, Monday, BRUNSWICK COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING, 6:00 PM
062221, Tuesday, SOUTHEASTERN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ELIZABETHTOWN, 12:00 PM062221, Tuesday, BLADEN ONLINE INTERVIEW, ELIZABETHTOWN, 3:00 PM (TENTATIVE)062221, Tuesday, BLADEN COUNTY GOP AT CAPE FEAR WINERY, 6:00 PM
062421, Thursday, ROTARY PAUL HARRIS FELLOW INDUCTION, SHALLOTTE, 6:00 PM
062621, Thursday, BURKE COUNTY GRILL & CHILL, MORGANTON, 12-4 PM
062721, Sunday, WAKE BBQ AT MONTAGUE LAKE / DAMON RANDO, 5:30 PM
062821, Monday, SCOTLAND COUNTY GOP MEETING, 7:00 PM
—JULY—
070121, Thursday, CUMBERLAND COUNTY MIX & MINGLE, 6:30 PM
070221, Friday, LIBERTY BBQ FESTIVAL, WHITSETT, N.C.
070321, Saturday, LIBERTY BBQ FESTIVAL, WHITSETT, N.C.
070521, Monday, BRUNSWICK COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING, 3:00 PM
070821, Thursday, ANSON COUNTY GOP MEETING, POLKTON, 5:00 PM
070921, Friday, N.C. YOUNG REPUBLICANS CONFERENCE, CHARLOTTE
071021, Saturday, BRUNSWICK COUNTY WOMEN’S GOP FREEDOM CELEBRATION071021, Saturday, N.C. YOUNG REPUBLICANS CONFERENCE, CHARLOTTE
071221, Monday, ZOOM CALL FOR DISTRICT 11 (MOUNTAINS), 6:00 PM
071321, Tuesday, MOOREHEAD CITY GOP MEETING (UNCONFIRMED)
071521, Thursday, HOKE COUNTY GOP MEETING, 7:00 PM
071721, Saturday, DAVIDSON COUNTY GOP COOKOUT, 3:00 PM
071921, Monday, POSSIBLE BRUNSWICK COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING, 6:00 PM
072021, Tuesday, PENDER COUNTY GOP MEETING, BANDANA’S RESTAURANT, 5:30 PM
072421, Saturday, NCGOP MEN’S FEDERATION CONFERENCE, WINSTON SALEM, 10:00 AM072421, Saturday, WAKE COUNTY BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL, RALEIGH, 1:00 PM072421, Saturday, BRUNSWICK GOP LINCOLN REAGAN DINNER, 5:00 PM
072621, Monday, TV SHOW INTERVIEW, ROCKY MOUNT, N.C., 5:00 PM
072721, Tuesday, MEET WITH WILSON & NASH COUNTY, N.C. ELECTED OFFICIALS / TBA072721, Tuesday, WILSON COUNTY GOP MEETING, 5:30 PM
073021, Friday, GOP 4TH. DISTRICT GOP SENATORIAL TOWN HALL, DURHAM, 7:00 PM
073121, Saturday, N.C. TEENAGE GOP CONFERENCE, RALEIGH, 10:00 AM (UNCONFIRMED)
—AUGUST—
080221, Monday, BRUNSWICK COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING, 3:00 PM
080721, Saturday, BRUNSWICK GOP MEETING ON CRITICAL RACE THEORY (optional)
081021, Tuesday, ZOOM MEETING, CAPITAL AREA WOMEN’S GOP, 7:00 PM
081221, Thursday, NC ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CONFERENCE, ILM 081321, Friday, NC ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CONFERENCE, ILM 081421, Saturday, NC ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CONFERENCE, ILM 081521, Sunday, NC ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CONFERENCE, ILM
081621, Monday, BRUNSWICK COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING, 6:00 PM
081921, Thursday, CRYSTAL COAST MEN’S GOP MEETING, 5:30 PM
082021, Friday, CRYSTAL COAST WOMEN’S GOP MEETING, 10:00 AM
082821, Saturday, MECKGOP GRAND OLD PICNIC, 3-6 PM (UNCONFIRMED)
—SEPTEMBER—
090721, Tuesday, BRUNSWICK COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING, 3:00 PM
090921, Thursday, THE CITADEL CLASS OF 1980 REUNION, CHARLESTON091021, Friday, THE CITADEL CLASS OF 1980 REUNION, CHARLESTON091121, Saturday, THE CITADEL CLASS OF 1980 REUNION, CHARLESTON091221, Sunday, THE CITADEL CLASS OF 1980 REUNION, CHARLESTON
091421, Tuesday, DUPLIN COUNTY GOP MEETING, 6:30 PM
091621, Thursday, WILMINGTON SOUTHEASTERN MENS GOP MEETING, 6:15 PM
091821, Saturday, DOWN EAST JUDICIAL PICNIC, PLYMOUTH, 10:00 AM (UNCONFIRMED)
092021, Monday, BRUNSWICK COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING, 6:00 PMJ. Martin Cooke, MA
Adjunct Professor, Liberty University
District II, Brunswick County Commission
Candidate, United States Senate
Senate Campaign: MartyCookeForSenate@gmail.com
Senate Website: www.MartyCookeForSenate.com Cooke For Senate: 910-998-7111
County Email: Commissioner.Cooke@BrunswickCountyNC.gov
County Website: www.BrunswickCountyNC.gov
NOTE: E-Mail correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law (GS 132 and / or others) and may be disclosed to third parties by an authorized state or local official.
Jeremiah 29:11
“Dare Greatly & Avoid Negative Thought”
