cookiezone2@yahoo.com

A graduate of New Jersey schools, Alan "Cookie" Cooke has been a Volusia County resident for more than 19 years, and has lived in Lake Helen for four years. He has two children and four grandchildren.

Cooke is an excavating contractor, and the incumbent Lake Helen Zone 2 city commissioner. He served in the U.S. Army National Guard in New Jersey.

A member of the League of Cities, Cooke served on the Volusia Soil and Water Conservation District Board for 16 years as secretary/treasurer and supervisor. He is past chairman of Florida Association of Conservation Districts.

Cooke has volunteered in development and excavating for the Creative Arts Café, the Lake Helen Equestrian Center, Lake Helen Little League T-ball field, the senior-citizen complex, and Melissa Park upgrades. He's worked on everything from small nonconforming lots to buildable lots, worked with Florida Department of transportation for a new landscape design along I-4, and volunteered in storm-water management for the Lake Helen Public Library and the Lake Helen Police Department. Cooke has also been a storm cleanup volunteer 17 years.

Choose whether you agree or disagree on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being "Strongly Agree" and 1 being "Strongly Disagree." Add a 1 sentence comment to clarify your stance with the readers.

The city needs Don Findell, or someone like him, to administer day-to-day city business

5 — He knows the City of lake Helen and he's doing four jobs.

The smart-growth provisions in the Lake Helen comprehensive plan should be maintained.

5 — We like Lake Helen the way it is.

City commissioners should serve longer terms

5 — Give us more time to accomplish our goals.

Accomplishment of which you are most proud: Received award as Supervisor of the Year for Entire United States for Soil and Water District.

Public-service goal you have yet to achieve: Keep all of the taxpayers happy.

— info@beacononlinenews.com