SERVANT LEADER

By Norma Adams-Wade
Texas Metro News

Passion, caring and character are words you hear often when supporters talk about Duncanville mayoral candidate Mark D. Cooks.

“He has a passion and an interest for not just the city of Duncanville but for the people,” said Cooks’ longtime neighbor and fellow community advocate, Alicia Brown Young. “His heart and passion for the community are exceptional.”

“Servant leadership” and “working together as a team” are other descriptive phrases used as cornerstones of Cooks’ history in office and his basic approach to life.

Brown Young is a pharmaceutical sales representative and Duncanville resident who is active in community and social involvements that benefit youth and advance community. She said she frequently sees Cooks helping with community events.

She cited the candidate’s support of prominent The Links organization’s work with youth as an example of his “admirable character and natural desire to improve the lives of others.”

Background

Cooks, a former Duncanville Mayor Pro Tem and former District 4 City Council member, is challenging District 5 Duncanville City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Greg Contreras. They are vying to succeed incumbent Barry L. Gordon, who has served two terms since 2018 and is not seeking reelection.

Cooks previously challenged Gordon for the mayor’s post in 2022 and the two tied, each with 1050 votes before Gordon won in a runoff.

Cooks’s profession is banking, accounting and financial services. The father of two adult children and four grand-children has served as senior vice-president with Wells Fargo and Frost banks.

He is a Dallas native and graduate of Lisbon Elementary School (now H. I. Holland Elementary School at Lisbon), Boude Storey Middle School, South Oak Cliff High School, and Marvin E. Robinson School of Business and Management.

Cooks honed his leadership skills in high school where—at the business magnet school — he received early training as a student intern at Cullen/ Frost Bankers, now Frost Bank, which led him into banking and financial services.

He says his family childhood helped shape his leadership. He grew up with three older sisters and parents, Earl and Georgia Mae Cooks, who were faithful members at New Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church in Oak Cliff.

“I taught Sunday School at an early age, filled in sometimes for a grown up. They had me helping count the money, and even was the one who brought water to the preacher after he preached,” Cooks recalled with a smile.

Involvements Some of his involvements include working with various non-profits, community organizations, and serving on boards, including being a Dallas Black Dance Theatre board vice-president, active member of his neighborhood homeowners’ association, Citizens on Patrol, the Duncanville school district bond committee, Dallas Arboretum finance committee, Duncanville Board of Adjustment, and former president of the Duncanville Economic Development Board.

A member at Concord Baptist Church in Oak Cliff, he leads the new member orientation ministry.

While on the City Council, Cooks has sought to lower taxes, promote public safety, improve police-community relations, upgrade city services, set strategies to regularly listen to and inform residents, train youth for city leadership, and enhance economic development by attracting retail businesses, restaurants, and entertainment.

Supporters’ comments Brown Young said no matter what worthy causes she has asked Cooks to support, he has always complied; but sought to do so without fanfare or credit.

“I really admire him for being…a servant leader,” said Brown Young who also is a fellow church member at Concord.

Leon Zeno, a financial planner, bookkeeper and tax accountant, gave Cooks high points as a banker and “community advocate with an innate connection with people.”

Zeno said that asset would be valuable for Cooks as Duncanville mayor.

He complimented Cooks as an expert at “helping the right (average and small-business owners) to get the right kind of financing…to move their businesses forward.”

Zeno’s antenna is tuned to how Cooks can help attract businesses that will enhance the economic development of Duncanville.

“He has the connections and contacts,” Zeno says in campaign promotions. “We need enterprise in this city and that’s the approach that I’m supporting him for…and there are a lot of business owners who can appreciate how valuable those kinds of resources are.” Angela Thorn, a politically-active Duncanville resident, said she did not vote for Cooks when he previously ran for mayor.

He later won her support as she observed his community and political activism. He was not like some traditional politicians who only come to the community when they want something, she said.

“I noticed that he was very actively involved everywhere, even after he came off the council and went into private business,” said Thorn.

She said she liked that Cooks brought new visions and innovations to city and community activities that he worked with. One of his innovative and successful plans that caught her attention was that Cooks created a nonprofit promoting biking that spotlighted health and community togetherness.

He keeps fit with activities that include cycling, hiking, golf. She said it impressed her that he helped causes such as working with women who were promoting breast cancer aware- ness and a health fair.

“I felt that showed his heart,” Thorn said. “I’m used to seeing an old guard that wants to keep doing things their way… We need a new guard.”

Looking back to move forward Cooks said he wants to keep the best of old ways, yet not let old ways stymie new, innovative actions.

In campaign promotions, he calls it “honoring lessons of yesterday while embracing new, innovative thinking.”

Municipalities need creative strategies to deal with traditional issues that include fixing roads, upholding public safety, youth education, and attracting new businesses and jobs. He said he believes he can accomplish common goals by ensuring that individuals and entities work as teams.

One of his proud innovative ideas was successfully installing fitness equipment at a Duncanville park and seeing the idea gain popularity, then spread to other parks.

He also successfully championed bike lanes. The benefits are a healthier work-life balance and more unified citizenry, Cooks said, adding that his solid financial background can be a tool for lowering taxes and re-examining funding operations.

Considering the numerous boards, commissions, volunteer and advisory posts he has filled, a key question is why does he want to be mayor?

“For so long, Duncanville leadership has followed what has been done in the past, over and over for years and years,” Cooks said. “My vision is more citizen engagement, not just small pockets of leadership. More youth engagement. When we say bring something new to the table, it may not be new, but it would be new to Duncanville.

“Yes, I’ve served on lots of boards. Yet, it wasn’t enough to sit on boards. I want to be part of making policies for the future. It’s not about me possibly being Duncanville’s first Black mayor. It’s about what qualifications I bring to the table.”

Early voting is April 22-30 and election day is Saturday May 4, 2024. To learn more, visit www.markforduncanville.com.

Norma Adams-Wade, is a proud Dallas native, University of Texas at Austin journalism graduate and retired Dallas Morning News senior staff writer. She is a founder of the National Association of Black Journalists and was its first southwest regional director. She became The News’ first Black full-time reporter in 1974. norma_adams_wade@yahoo.com.