A Vice Mayor in Cookeville is vehemently denying allegations that he is involved in the recent anti-ICE scandal, insisting that he is not the man named in the report and is, in fact, the very opposite.
Luke Eldridge is the Vice Mayor of Cookeville, TN, as well as a youth pastor at Engrafted Word Church. Along with being a bona fide conservative leader in his community, he’s been active in the cultural battles, including fighting to get LGBTQ books out of children’s libraries.
He was recently featured in the Highlands Insider following the death of Charlie Kirk, calling Kirk a “warrior for truth” and quoting Scripture while urging children to follow his example of courage and clarity.
Unfortunately, he has been falsely associated with the Signalgate scandal after someone by that name appeared in @DataRepublican’s data dump of anti-ICE donors.
Following questions and blowback from his constiutents, he shared a statement with Forge and Anvil host Connor B:
Recent social media posts spreading misinformation about me, Luke Eldridge, Vice Mayor of Cookeville are baseless and untrue. These claims say I donated to or supported “Stand with Minnesota,” a group associated with anti-ICE activism. That Luke Eldridge is not me. There are other Luke’s out there. I’ve got too much to do locally to worry about the turmoil in Minneapolis.
I proudly support law enforcement and hold deep respect for the men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting our communities and our country. I don’t contribute to anti-police movements.
As a Christian conservative, a youth pastor, and an active member of the Putnam County Republican Party (PCRP). I am committed to upholding traditional values, limited government, and the rule of law. I mentor young people to equip the next generation to love God, love their country and live a life worth modeling. I take ethics and integrity seriously and will not lend any credibility to online speculation, rumors, or attempts at intimidation.
My Christian values guide my decisions personally and professionally, and my public service in Cookeville has always been focused on serving our residents with honesty and dedication. I appreciate the support of the Cookeville community and remain fully committed to representing you with transparency and principle.
For any questions or to verify facts, please feel free to reach out to my office.
Sincerely, Luke Eldridge Vice Mayor, City of Cookeville
