Image Credit: City of Cookeville – Luke Eldridge, Vice Mayor / Facebook
Submitted by Connor B. –
Independent reporter Cam Higby recently released a list of individuals who were part of a Signal chat allegedly used for tracking federal agents and impeding them.
One of the files Higby released directs individuals to donate to a website called Stand with Minnesota, a left-wing organization that appears to have possible foreign ties.
Soon after, the popular account Data Republican compiled a list of people who donated to Stand with Minnesota and shared it with her 900k followers on X.
In one of the files, Luke Eldridge, Vice Mayor of Cookeville, TN, is named.
Upon seeing this, I reached out to Eldridge’s office. After a few clarifying questions, Eldridge provided me with the following written statement:
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
Although Data Republican’s list shows that the Vice Mayor is only a possible match, it hasn’t stopped people from calling him out on social media.
One user reposted a screenshot of the Vice Mayor’s information with the caption “Luke Eldridge, your time is now.”
Eldridge also confirmed he has received contact from several constituents concerned about his name appearing on the donor list.
It is unclear why the Vice Mayor was named or what methods Data Republican used to identify potential matches. One theory is that he was the “Luke Eldridge” with the largest name ID.
I reached out to Data Republican with the Vice Mayor’s statement but received no response.
