Andrea Cooke to announce run for Macon-Bibb Commission District 5

Special election expected after Seth Clark steps down from Macon-Bibb Commission seat.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Andrea Cooke plans to announce her candidacy for the Macon-Bibb County Commission District 5 seat during a news conference Tuesday morning.

According to a news release from her campaign, the announcement is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Leadership Lab at Wesleyan College, located at 522 Cherry St. in Macon. Cooke is expected to appear alongside supporters.

Cooke’s announcement comes after Seth Clark, who also served as mayor pro tem, announced he is resigning from the Macon-Bibb County Commission. Clark, who served in the role since 2020, later confirmed he is running for lieutenant governor of Georgia.

Because more than 12 months remain in Clark’s term, the Macon-Bibb Charter requires a special election to fill the District 5 vacancy. The Board of Commissioners must pass a resolution calling for that election. Until a new commissioner is elected and sworn in, District 5 will not have direct representation on the commission.

According to the campaign release, Cooke is a longtime District 5 resident and community leader who has focused on mental health access and family support across Macon-Bibb County. The release says she has played a role in Macon Mental Health Matters, an initiative that provides no-cost counseling, wellness events and mental health resources in neighborhoods.

The release adds Cooke serves as development director for the Southern Center for Choice Theory and as executive director of C-QUL, also known as Choosing a Quality Life. Her work has centered on expanding access to mental health care and reducing stigma through community partnerships and programming, according to the release.