Thomas Cooke
Democrat | Ohio
Candidate Profile
Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Thomas Cooke
Party
Democrat
Election Year
2024
Election
General
Race
State Senator, Dist. 4
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
St. Johns University, New York, Government, 1980
National Intelligence University, Washington, DC, MS Strat Intel, 1986
WORK & MILITARY
US Army Intelligence, Lieutenant Colonel, 24
AFFILIATIONS
Kiwanis, Board member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
None
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
None
ENDORSEMENTS
LIBERAL (6)
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio
United Auto Workers
Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT)
Butler County Democrats
Ohio-West Virginia AFSCME Retiree Chapter 1184
OTHER (2)
UAW Region 2B
Greater Cincinnati UAW CAP Council
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
UAW, Butler County Dem Party, Ohio Federation of Teachers, Ohio Association of Public School Employees
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (5)
Benjamin McCall (2024)
Nickie Antonio (2024)
Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (2024)
Butler County Progressive PAC (2023)
Hillary Clinton (2016)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Personal familial considerations, non-viable fetus, protect life of the mother
Chemical abortion drugs should meet essential safety standards (such as in-person consultation with a medical doctor) and require reporting to gather evidence on reactions and outcomes.
Strongly Agree
All abortions should be performed with the supervision of a qualified medical professional
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Disagree
Abortion is a portion of female reproductive care and should not be excluded from organizations providing such care
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Agree
Suffering should be mitigated at all costs and "aid in dying" should be an option
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
What is your position on the minimum wage?
It needs to be based on local market considerations and currently is below the limit for a decent standard of living
Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?
Yes
Public funds are collected to support the general public and environmental and social issues affect all Americans and therefore should be a consideration
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
No circumstances would be appropriate unless the church is directly involved in sedition or a danger to its congregation
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Agree
If a business receives a business license it must provide services regardless of personal beliefs.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
A. Healthcare is a right and should be funded by the government without consideration for individual/family financial situations.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Vaccinations should be required for all institutions that provide a service to the general public.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
China is a competitor and will use its entire arsenal of tools to ensure its hegemonic control. The United States should treat China as a competitor, not an enemy.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
The United States supports the UN mandate establishing the State of Israel. There is widespread support for Israel worldwide and the US must maintain its credibility in supporting its agreements.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Agree
More focus in Ports of Entry should be a priority to provide a method by which immigrants can enter the US but a total physical barrier is not an efficient way to keep undesirables from entering the country.
EDUCATION
The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child through programs which protect parents' freedom to choose their child's school – public, private, or homeschool.
Strongly Disagree
Public education is the right of all Americans. Taxpayer dollars should not be applied to children whose parents choose to send them to private schools or to homeschool. Many charter/non-public schools discriminate in which students may enroll--therefore, public funding should not be applied.
VALUES
Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation.
Neutral
I agree in principle with the question but do not support the terms "gender ideology" or "bodily mutilation" as they are not universally recognized.
Parents should have the right to make decisions for their minor children.
Agree
In general, yes, unless the parental decisions harm to the child as recognized by competent legal authority (e.g., starvation due to poor nutritional choices, denial of health care, etc.
Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.
Neutral
The issue of gender dysphoria remains an open question within the medical community. If a competent team consisting of parents, the child, medical and psychological professionals agree gender transition is appropriate for the mental stability of the child, then taxpayer funding should be available.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Disagree
Marriage is a union between two people. The state has no place in determining who those should be.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe morality is a standard determined by each personal based upon generally accepted societal norms. I believe each person is born with free will and should exercise their actions based on their own moral code.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
Photo identification is an appropriate form of identification.
States should join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact which makes the Electoral College irrelevant.
Disagree
The Electoral College provides an additional check upon potential abuse within the electoral process. It should remain until a strong interstate network is determined to be secure.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Yes. Racism remains endemic. It continues to divide us as Americans. It is based on fear and ignorance and must be addressed and abolished.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Neutral
I agree many institutions are inherently biased and should continue to work toward equity among its members and policies but do not agree all institutions are fundamentally racist.
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Agree
As stated, if the individual is a biological male they should not participate with womens' activities. The definition of "biological male" is ambiguous and misleading. If a male is undergoing transition and identifies as a woman they are not longer a fully "biological male" and blanket statements such as this are not germane.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? (Select all that apply) A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost. C) Stricter environmental laws undermine U.S. energy independence and deter development of reliable electricity sources. D) Climate change is real and requires urgent policy action.
B and D. Shortsighted economic considerations should not determine the future environmental situation. The science (in my view) is solid and all emphasis should be on stricter environmental laws to protect the lives of future generations.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
I believe solar is the future. It is past time humans stop pumping oil and gas for energy. Wind power is a secondary source for consideration, followed by nuclear.
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Protect the lives of all its citizens by providing services necessary for their survival, growth and prosperity.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Liberal
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.
Neutral
It depends upon the police department and how it spends the funds allocated. I agree more community programs require funding but potentially not at the expense of curtailing necessary police protections.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Military-style weapons must be regulated as per the 2d Amendment ("a well-regulated militia"). Owners should be identified, pass a background check, and be validated (through a signed pledge) they are properly securing the weapons. The age to buy any weapon should be 21 following a successful background check.
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
No
Teachers are not first-responders. They are in the classroom to teach. Only qualified Resource Officers should have weapons within the school grounds to respond to any potential life-threatening situations.
