Cristadoro pledges open door after Cobb school board election

Cobb school board candidate John Cristadoro

Like many people on the day after an election, John Cristadoro reported to work on Wednesday.

But he admittedly wasn’t getting much done on the job after receiving, and sending, messages from well-wishers and even his opponent in a Cobb Board of Education race.

Cristadoro, a Republican who won the open Post 5 seat from East Cobb, defeated Democrat Laura Judge with 55 percent of the vote (full results here), winning 21 of 24 precincts.

He received 33,308 votes to 27,368 for Judge in a race involving two parents in the Walton High School cluster who’ve known each other well—Cristadoro coached Judge’s son in youth football.

His race was one of three held by Republicans Tuesday as the GOP clings to a 4-3 majority on the Cobb school board, which has been racked with partisan wrangling in recent years (our previous campaign profile of Cristadoro is here).

But he said he wants his tenure on the board to mirror his campaign to represent the area that includes the Walton, Wheeler and Pope attendance zones.

“I want to be focused on the willingness of people in this community to have a conversation,” Cristadoro told East Cobb News Wednesday afternoon, shortly before he met with current board chairman Randy Scamihorn, a Republican who was re-elected.

“I want to have cordial, and productive conversations.”

Before sitting down with Scamihorn, Cristadoro said he sent a text message to Judge, congratulating her on “a great race” and who is “a good person who cares a lot about about kids.”

Cristadoro pointed out Judge’s vote total and said he wants to continue having a dialogue with her and those who supported her, regardless of partisan affiliation.

He said a good friend who’s a staunch Democrat congratulated him and said she hoped his win would “unite a sadly divisive community.”

Judge, who like Cristadoro was a first-time political candidate, congratulated him in a message to her supporters (her campaign profile is here).

She said that “our campaign was rooted in a desire to improve our schools and ensure every child receives a quality education in a safe and supportive environment.

“Although the outcome wasn’t what we hoped for, our work does not end here. I will continue to advocate for our students and work alongside the community to support our schools in any way I can.”

Like Scamihorn, of Post 1 in North Cobb, and Brad Wheeler, of Post 7 in West Cobb, Cristadoro campaigned on continuing academic excellence in the Cobb County School District.

Democratic candidates in the other races talked about making more dramatic changes than their Republican opponents.

David Chastain, the other GOP board member from Post 4 in East Cobb, sent out occasional campaign e-mails called a “Town Hall Newsletter” noting the district’s high test scores, and alleging that the “far left” Democratic challengers wanted to “indoctrinate our teachers.”

Cristadoro defended Superintendent Chris Ragsdale’s decisions to remove sexually explicit books and materials but stressed academic and financial issues more frequently than cultural conflicts.

“This race means that there was confidence that the people of Post 5 and the county as a whole, that, for the most part, are happy with the direction of our schools,” he said.

He added that there is room for improvement in academics, and with transparency and that the board has an obligation to communicate with the public.

“You can’t make everyone happy,” Cristadoro said. “But it doesn’t mean we cannot continue to strive to hear everyone.”

Cristadoro will take the oath office in January, but wants to start preparing for all that entails right now.

“I’m not just a guy who sits around and waits,” he said.

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Cobb Democrats win countywide races; GOP holds school board

Cobb Democrats win countywide races; GOP holds school board
Lisa Cupid

Cobb voters sent a mixed message Tuesday night in the 2024 general elections.

Democrats now hold power in all countywide offices, while Republicans maintain a slender majority on the school board.

The split votes reflect an electorate that has turned a county that switched from Republican dominance since the 1980s to more competitive terrain since 2016.

While Democratic Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid easily won a second term, the Cobb Mobility SPLOST she championed went down to a heavy defeat.

Cupid defeated Republican Kay Morgan by getting 55 percent of the vote (full results here). Morgan won a number of East Cobb precincts, but Cupid dominated in her home area around South Cobb and Smyrna.

But the transit tax was soundly rejected across the county (full results here).

The 30-year, one-percent sales tax that would have collected $11 billion to expand transit services across the county.

With all 148 precincts reporting, “No” votes were 62 percent, and “Yes” votes tallied only 37 percent.

In a statement to supporters, Cupid said that she was “deeply honored and grateful to have the trust of Cobb County’s residents to serve as your Chairwoman for another term. My vision remains rooted in service and a commitment to seeing Cobb flourish for everyone, as we work to make our county a more vibrant, inclusive, and thriving place.”

Cobb school board candidate John Cristadoro
John Cristadoro

She mentioned the transit tax failure but said that [I] “also know the work for making Cobb a better connected place for all is not done.”

But opponents of the tax were jubilant. Lance Lamberton of the Cobb Taxpayers Association sent out a message Wednesday morning saying that “all the Queen’s horses and all the Queen’s men couldn’t put this turkey back to together again.”

A similar transit tax in Gwinnett also was defeated by voters in a county, that, like Cobb, has shifted from Republican to Democratic political control.

Republicans will hang on to a 4-3 majority on the Cobb Board of Education for two more years.

John Cristadoro, a Republican, defeated Democrat Laura Judge to win the open Post 5 seat in East Cobb, which covers the Walton, Wheeler and Pope attendance zones (separate post coming with reaction on that race).

He received 55 percent of the vote (full results here), winning 21 of 24 precincts.

In January, Cristadoro will succeed David Banks, a four-term Republican who did not seek re-election.

Current GOP board chairman Randy Scamihorn won a third term in Post 1 (North Cobb) with 53 percent of the vote (full results here), and two-term Republican Brad Wheeler held on to Post 7 (West Cobb) with 52 percent of the vote (full results here).

In other Cobb races, Democrats won contested battles for Sheriff and Superior Court Clerk and were unopposed for District Attorney and Tax Commissioner.

The only elected Republican countywide was defeated on Tuesday. State Court Clerk Robin Bishop lost to Democrat Tahnicia Phillips, who got 52 percent of the vote.

Democrats also will keep their majority in the Cobb legislative delegation.

More on legislative and Congressional races are coming in a separate post.

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East Cobb Food Scores: Fire Stone; Longhorn; Jim ‘N Nick’s; more

Fire Stone Chinese open East Cobb early 2023

The following food scores have been compiled by the Cobb & Douglas Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing for inspection details:

Duck Donuts
1281 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 116
November 5, 2024, Score: 96, Grade: A

El Huarache Veloz
1157 Roswell Road
November 5, 2024, Score: 91, Grade: A

Fire Stone Chinese Cuisine
1401 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 128
November 4, 2024, Score: 87, Grade: B

Great American Cookie/Marble Slab Creamery
4101 Roswell Road, Suite 108
November 5, 2024, Score: 100, Grade: A

Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q
3420 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 200
November 4, 2024, Score: 90, Grade: A

Laredo’s Mexican Bar and Grill
1860 Sandy Plains Road, Suite 400
November 4, 2024, Score: 87, Grade: B

Lemon Butter Seafood Restaurant
1854 Terrell Mill Road, Suite 113
November 4, 2024, Score: 81, Grade: B

Lomghorn Steakouse
4370 Roswell Road
November 5, 2024, Score: 93, Grade: A

Minas Emporium
2555 Delk Road, Suite B4
November 5, 2024, Score 98, Grade: A

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East Cobb Votes: Close school board races; transit tax fails

East Cobb Votes: 2024 general election results, reaction and more

UPDATED, 12 A.M.:

The ballot-counting in Cobb County is continuing into Wednesday, without much significant change in local election results.

Here’s our special link with real-time results for races in the East Cobb area from the Georgia Secretary of State’s office.

We’ll have more complete results later Wednesday, but for now it looks as though Cobb Democrats will sweep to countywide wins while Republicans will hold onto the majority of the Cobb Board of Education.

The Cobb transit tax referendum is going down to a decisive defeat, with 62 percent voting against thus far in the counting.

Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid appears to have won a second term, as have Cobb Sheriff Craig Owens and Superior Court Clerk Connie Taylor.

Republican incumbent school board members Randy Scamihorn and Brad Wheeler are holding on to leads, as is fellow GOP candidate John Cristadoro in the open Post 5 seat in East Cobb.

All Georgia legislators with East Cobb constituencies also were leading in their races late Tuesday.

In the presidential race, Donald Trump is holding onto a slim lead in Geoergia, while Kamala Harris has a solid lead in Cobb County.

UPDATED, 10:30 P.M.

Democrats have comfortable leads in all contested county races—Commission Chairwoman Sheriff, Superior Court Clerk. Democrats were unopposed for District Attorney and Tax Commissioner. The only GOP countywide elected official, State Court Clerk Robin Bishop, appears headed for defeat.

Follow this link for the latest updates on key races in the East Cobb area.

UPDATED, 9:30 P.M.:

Most of the precincts in Cobb County are reporting, and it appears the three Cobb Board of Education seats held by Republicans will remain in GOP hands and a 4-3 majority. That includes John Cristadoro, who leads Democrat Laura Judge 54-46 percent for Post 5 in East Cobb, in seat being vacated by David Banks.

Real-time updates (link here) also have incumbent GOP board members Randy Scamihorn and Brad Wheeler holding tight leads in Post 1 (North Cobb) and Post 7 (West Cobb), respectively.

UPDATED, 9 P.M.:

While local races are still being counted, the presidential race in Georgia is tightening, with Donald Trump leading Kamala Harris roughly 53-47 percent with 66 percent of the votes counted (real-time update link).

He’s got big leads in early voting and election day voting; she’s dominating in absentee voting. In Cobb Harris leads 57-41 through the early election day count.

UPDATED, 8:15 P.M.:

Early results from our key local races:

  • Cobb School Board, Post 5: John Cristadoro (R) leads Laura Judge (D), 55-45
  • Cobb Commission Chairwoman: Incumbent Lisa Cupid (D) leads Kay Morgan (R) 55-45
  • Cobb Transit Tax Referendum: 62 percent no, 37 percent yes

Regarding the latter, the transit tax referendum is losing in nearly every precinct in the county early on, and theses are early voting results. Even in areas of South Cobb and Smyrna/Cumberland, where transit is most frequent, voters thus far are rejecting the sales tax (link here).

UPDATED, 7:40 P.M.:

No Cobb returns have been posted yet, but Cobb Elections is reporting that 85,400 ballots were cast today, and approximately 403,000 in total for an overall turnout of 78,5 percent.

ORIGINAL POST, 7 P.M.

The polls have closed in Georgia, and the counting has begun for the 2024 general elections.

(The Marietta 6B precinct and Kell 01 precinct are open until 7:20 due to equipment issues).

East Cobb News will continuously update this post all evening with results, reaction and more coverage.

In addition to the U.S. presidential race, voters in East Cobb are selecting a new member of the Cobb Board of Education (Post 5), as well as Cobb Commission Chairwoman, 11th District U.S. House of Representatives, and five contested Georgia legislative seats.

Here are real-time links for election results for contested local races we’re tracking, including precinct breakdowns:

Cobb voters also will be voting on the 30-year transit sales tax referendum and contested races for Cobb Sheriff, Cobb Superior Court Clerk and Cobb State Court Clerk.

Here’s a link to Cobb results in all of those races.

Typically early voting and absentee figures are tallied first, followed by same-day voting results and more recent absentee votes.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger projected on Monday that nearly 70 percent of all votes cast statewide could report by 8 p.m., due to record early voting turnout.

While we await full results, we’ll post early voting and absentee figures as they are revealed.

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November ‘Walk With a Doc’ event focus is on hormonal health

Living At Your Finest Wellness Clinic in East Cobb holds a free monthly “Walk With a Doc” community session at East Cobb Park featuring selected health-related topics.

On Saturday, Nov. 9, the guest speaker is Dr. Shenelle Wilson of Metro Atlanta Urology and Pelvic Health Center.

The theme is “Hormones and Their Role in Healthy Living,” which will focus on how balanced hormones can boost energy, improve mental clarity, and support every step of your wellness journey.

The event begins at 9 a.m. at East Cobb Park 3322 Roswell Road. The weather is expected to be cloudy with showers, highs around 68, slight winds and a 60 percent chance of rain.

Dr. Dolapo Babaloa of Living at Your Finest Wellness (1230 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite A-20) began “Walk With a Doc” early this year to support those in the community seeking better wellness solutions and support (our profile of her from March).

The sessions include stretching before and after the walk, and participants can walk at any pace.

“Walking for mental health is good,” she says. “You feel more energized and you get to start somewhere.”

 

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ACAP to hold program in East Cobb for senior living options

Submitted information:ACAP to hold program in East Cobb for senior living options

ACAP Cobb & Cherokee will offer its free monthly educational program on Thursday, November 21, 2024. The program is in person at Covenant Presbyterian Church, Kapperman-Williams Hall, 2881 Canton Road, Marietta, GA. The program begins at 6:30 p.m.

This month’s topic is the “Residential Options When Home No Longer Meets Your Parents’ Needs.” Navigate the complexities of senior housing with confidence. Our program offers an overview of diverse residential options, from independent living to skilled nursing facilities. Gain essential knowledge to evaluate and choose the best housing and services for your aging parents, ensuring their safety and comfort. Learn to ask the right questions and explore the resources available in your community.

Presenters for this month’s program are Kelly Graffius, Oasis Senior Advisor; Melanie Stevens, WayMaker Downsizing and Move Management; and Stephanie Domanik, Director of Marketing for Canterfield of Kennesaw.

ACAP Cobb & Cherokee is a chapter of ACAPcommunity.org, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization established in 2012. ACAP Cobb & Cherokee meets on the third Thursday of each month at Covenant Presbyterian Church,  Kapperman-Williams Hall, 2881 Canton Road, Marietta, GA.

For more information, or to register for this and other upcoming free programs, visit www.acapcommunity.org/events, or contact Mr. Christian Kuswita, ACAP Cobb & Cherokee chapter co-coordinator, at cobbcherokee@acapcommunity.org.

 

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Cobb Veterans Day events include parade, East Cobb luncheon

A veterans' appreciation at East Cobb ParkSubmitted information:

Cobb County Government offices, libraries, and PARKS facilities will be closed Monday, Nov. 11 in observance of the Veterans Day holiday. Events celebrating the day will be held throughout the county this week, including:

★ A Tribute to Veterans, 1 – 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 at West Cobb Senior Center. Free. Learn the history behind Veterans Day and honor those who served.

★ Bravo to the Brave at North Cobb Senior Center – Coffee and sweets, 1 – 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8. 770-975-7740

★ Kennesaw Veterans Day Luncheon, noon Friday, Nov. 8, at the Ben Robertson Community Center, 2753 Watts Drive. No registration needed.

★ Acworth Veterans Day Ceremony, 2 p.m. Nov. 11 at Patriot’s Point in Cauble Park, 4425 Beach Street, Acworth

★ Marietta Veterans Day Parade, The Horace Orr Post 29 American Legion and City of Marietta invites the public to honor the community’s veterans at the annual Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony on Monday, Nov. 11, on the Marietta Square. The parade will start at 11 a.m., proceed down Roswell Street to the Square and at approximately 11:11 a.m., an observance will be held with a gun salute and Taps.

★ Smyrna Veterans Day ceremony, 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 11, at the Veterans Memorial (next to City Hall).

★ Veterans Day Lunch, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 13 at Tim Lee Senior Center. Free. Register here. 770-509-4900

 

 

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East Cobb 2024 general election day voters guide and info

Georgia runoff elections

Updated 1 p.m., from Cobb County government:

A Cobb County Superior Court Judge has issued an order to keep two Cobb County voting precincts open until 7:20 p.m. after delayed openings this morning caused by equipment issues.

The judge’s order affects the Marietta 6B and Kell 01 precincts.

Marietta 6Bis located at Mount Paran Church of God, 1700 Allgood Rd NE, Marietta, GA 30062.

Kell 01 is located at Kell High School, 4770 Lee Waters Road, Marietta, GA 30066

Voters should be aware that, due to federal races on the ballot, anyone casting a ballot at these precincts during the extended hours will need to vote via a provisional ballot.

According to Ga. Code Ann. § 21-2-418:

(d) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, in primaries and elections in which there is a federal candidate on the ballot, in the event that the time for closing the polls at a polling place or places is extended by court order, all electors who vote during such extended time period shall vote by provisional ballot only. Such ballots shall be separated and held apart from other provisional ballots cast by electors during normal poll hours. Primaries and elections in which there is no federal candidate on the ballot shall not be subject to the provisions of this subsection.


On the web and to view the order:
 https://www.cobbcounty.org/communications/news/judge-orders-two-cobb-voting-precincts-stay-open-past-7-pm

Original Post:

On Tuesday voters are going to the polls to conclude the 2024 general elections.

After record-setting early voting in Cobb and across Georgia, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at all precincts.

We will be updating this post during voting hours on Tuesday, with news about the elections as the precincts are open, and will provide coverage of the results on a separate post, to be published at 7 p.m.

In addition to the U.S. presidential election, voters in East Cobb will be deciding on Cobb Commission Chairwoman, the Post 5 representative on the Cobb Board of Education, the 11th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, and several legislative seats.

Countywide, Cobb voters also will have contested races for Cobb Sheriff and Cobb Superior Court Clerk on their ballots, as well as a proposed 30-year, $11 billion sales tax to expand transit programs.

You can find a consolidated Cobb ballot by clicking here. To get a sample ballot customized for you, and to check which races you will be able to vote in and precinct information, visit the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter Page portal by clicking here.

The only way to return an absentee ballot in-person Tuesday is at the main office for Cobb Elections (995 Roswell Street), between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

An estimated 3,400 voters who have been mailed absentee ballots since last Wednesday must return their ballots to Cobb Elections by 7 p.m. Tuesday, after a ruling Monday by the Georgia Supreme Court.

Voters must present a valid photo identification or a special voter ID card with them to the polls.

For more voting information, visit the Cobb Elections website.

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Court rules Cobb cannot extend deadline for absentee ballots

Cobb elections board chairwoman Tori Silas

The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday overturned a Cobb judge’s ruling to allow more time for some 3,400 late-mailed absentee ballots to be returned.

Instead, they must be received by 7 p.m. Tuesday by Cobb Elections or they won’t be counted.

By a 5-3 vote, the state’s high court ruled that those absentee ballots in question—mailed after last Wednesday, Oct. 30, must be in Cobb Elections custody when the polls close on Election Day on Tuesday.

The Georgia Republican Party and the Cobb Republican Party filed an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court on Monday, after Cobb Superior Court Judge Robert Flournoy extended the deadline for those absentee ballots to be returned by 5 p.m. Friday.

Democratic Party interests made that request, and in his order Friday Flournoy ruled that the outstanding absentee ballots in question still had to be postmarked by 7 p.m. Tuesday.

But in its ruling (you can read it here), the Supreme Court cited a state law in concluding that “the Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration may count only those absentee ballots received by the statutory deadline of 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, November 5, 2024.”

The returned ballots of those “affected voters” must be kept separate by Cobb Elections “in a secure, safe and sealed container separate from the other voted ballots” should there be other legal proceedings, and “until the further order of the Court.”

Cobb Elections also was ordered to notify those voters of the 7 p.m. Tuesday deadline.

Cobb Elections Board chairwoman Tori Silas, a Democratic appointee who welcomed Flournoy’s ruling on Friday, said in response to the Supreme Court ruling on Monday that the board will comply with the latter.

She said in a statement issued Monday by Cobb County government that:

“However, because the order only addressed to the motion for a stay, we will anticipate the Supreme Court’s final ruling to see whether it ultimately allow these voters additional time to return their ballots or whether we must only count those received by the close of polls on Tuesday.”

The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot in Georgia was Oct 25. Cobb Elections said a surge of voters requested absentee ballots as the deadline approached, and those ballots were mailed in expedited fashion.

They received ballots with prepaid overnight return mail.

Those voters can still vote in person or deliver their ballots to the Cobb Elections Office (995 Roswell St., Marietta) between 7-7 Tuesday.

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Kell HS marching band triumphs at 2024 Conquest of Champions

Kell HS marching band triumphs at 2024 Conquest of Champions

Submitted information:

At the recent Conquest of Champions hosted by Allatoona High School, the Kell Longhorn Marching Band walked away with a whole host of awards, including Conquest Grand Champion, first in AAAAA Division, overall Gold Division winner, Best General Effect, and Best Music Performance!

Their current show, “Pop,” explores all things pop—music, pop art, things that go “pop,” even pops of color. The production features instantly recognizable classical music from well-known movies and musicals and iconic music by pop legends Michael Jackson, Madonna, Beyonce, and more!

“The beauty of marching band is that it is very subjective,” said Kell Band Director David Roth. “We can only control what we do, not what other bands do or what a judge focuses on. Our barometer for a successful performance at any competition is how good we feel when we walk off the field.”

After their performance at Conquest, every Longhorn band member knew exactly how they had done.

“The students walked off the field literally in tears because they knew they just had their best performance of the season to date. The energy was unmistakable, and the emotion was palpable,” Director Roth said.

The 2024 Kell Marching Band is the largest in school history, with 170 members. The students have been working on this show since band camp in July. All that practice paid off with a superb performance on Buccaneer Field to claim the title of Conquest Grand Champions!

“We are very passionate about using competition as a means to better OURSELVES, not just to win awards,” Director Roth continued. “We constantly remind the students that they will remember the feeling of performing with their best friends in an activity they love far more than any amount of trophies they win.”

That said, Director Roth was still thrilled with the judge’s confirmation of an exceptional performance.

“We are so incredibly happy for them,” he concluded proudly about his Conquest Grand Champions. “Not only for the placements but for their performance and the memories they will carry with them forever.” 

East Cobb residential real estate sales, Oct. 15-18, 2024

East Hampton, East Cobb real estate sales
East Hampton

The following East Cobb residential real estate sales were compiled from agency reports and Cobb County property records.

They include the street address, subdivision name and sales price listed under their respective high school attendance zones:

Kell

5061 Ravenwood Drive, 30066 (Ravenwood): $415,000

4900 Willow Cove Way, 30066 (Willow Creek): $499,500

Lassiter

2707 Limerick Court, 30066 (Bluffs at Jamerson): $1.135 million

Pope

3270 Normandy Circle, 30062 (Normandy): $640,000

3037 Windrose Glenn, 30062 (Windrush): $725,000

2400 Prince Howard Trail, 30062 (Corinth): $640,000

Sprayberry

2645 Lee Ann Drive, 30066 (Piedmont Hills): $385,000

3987 Devonshire Drive, 30066 (Canterbury Park): $429,900

2907 Rockbridge Court, 30066 (Piedmont Hills): $465,000

1514 Pleasant Street, 30066 (Oak Creek Estates): $476,500

3579 Autumn Leaves Way, 30066 (Autumn Ridge): $385,000

1779 Chasewood Park Lane, 30066 (Chasewood Park): $465,000

1411 Windburn Drive, 30066 (Shaw Woods): $423,000

3345 Bryant Lane, 30066 (North Forty): $368,700

2021 Grove Park Court, 30062 (Grove Park): $490,000

2683 Arbor Glen Place, 30066 (Arbor Glen): $290,000

524 Chapman Lane, 30066 (Wyndcliff): $550,000

Walton

2602 Holly Lane, 30062 (Holly Hills Estates): $499,900

4137 Avid Park, 30062 (St. Clair): $810,000

836 Barn Owl Road, 30068 (High Gates at Robinson Farm): $2.5 million

977 Muirfield Drive, 30068 (Pinecrest): $640,000

1836 Pemberton Place, 30062 (East Hampton): $1.2 million

291 Kings Court, 30067 (Kings Cove): $750,000

635 Serramonte Drive, 30068 (Villas at Parkaire): $390,000

550 Ridgewater Drive, 30068 (Indian Hills): $700,000

Wheeler

703 Wynnes Ridge Circle, 30067 (Wynnes Ridge): $212,000

2780 Sagamore Hill Drive, 30067 (Hyde Park): $459,900

2200 Powers Ferry Drive, 30067 (Sunvalley Estates): $400,000

2978 Grey Squirrel Court, 30067 (The Village): $350,000

577 Lullingstone Drive, 30067 (Glens at Powers Ferry): $450,000

3016 Greenfield Drive, 30068 (Indian Hills): $735,000

3091 Milledge Gate Court, 30067 (Belmont Point 1): $655,000

2880 Grove Park Lane, 30067 (Grovemeade): $550,000

2341 Monterey Drive, 30068 (Spring Creek): $830,000

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Editor’s Note: On elections, early voting and endorsements

 

Who’s ready for Tuesday to be over?

I ask that strictly as a rhetorical question, one that really shouldn’t be asked at all.

Election Day has been a hallowed event on the civic calendar of democratic nations for decades.

But especially for the last decade or so, and in particular the last few months, the voting public in the United States, Georgia and even in Cobb County has weathered what has seemed to be a constant rhetorical war.

Overheated and apocalyptic rhetoric has become the hallmark of both major political parties, advocacy groups of all kinds and the media, as they gleefully hurl and repeat these ludicrous contentions about those seeking your vote:

Fascists, Nazis, Hitler, Commie Libtards, Garbage, Stupid, Lazy, etc.

There are plenty more epithets being bandied about, and surely more to follow in Tuesday’s voting finale, and the ballot-counting mayhem that’s certain to ensue.

With three weeks of early voting here in Georgia, admonitions to get out and vote! have been relentless.

Many of you have done so, in record numbers, here in Cobb and Georgia, as we buckle up to be a presidential battleground state yet again.

We’re told to be proud of this high turnout, and it is encouraging that so many citizens are paying attention to those who are seeking elected office.

But as I dawdled over whether to join you, I recalled what baseball Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra, master of the malapropism, is said to have quipped in response to a question about frequenting a popular restaurant:

“Nobody goes there any more, it’s too crowded.”

That’s sort of how I feel about early voting.

I’m not undecided about anything that’s on my ballot, but after several years of voting early, it’s lost its appeal for me. Lines have been long at times, other times not so much.

Yet that’s not why I am reluctant now to vote early. I voted absentee in 2020, like many people. It was easy, and convenient and I felt my vote was secure.

I waited for a while to choose when to vote this year, until, as Berra also said, “when you come to a fork in the road . . . take it.”

I enjoy the excitement of going to the polls on Election Day and casting a ballot that will be counted that day, and not having to wait long to find out the result.

I found the exhortations from those holding up their “I Voted” stickers two weeks ahead of time a bit off-putting, along with constant text messages from shadowy groups who know whether or not you’ve voted.

I know there’s no going back to Election Day-only voting, but other nations seem to handle it just fine—witness the recent elections in Great Britain and France, with all the results known within hours.

Like those countries, I would be in favor making Election Day a national holiday. Schools are already out here on Tuesday, so why not work too?

Or hold elections on a weekend. In recent regional German elections, the polls closed around sundown on a Sunday, and by mid-evening the returns were in.

Here, we may be facing days and even weeks before all the votes are counted in some states, and already lawsuits have been threatened or filed to manipulate the process.

So on Tuesday I will resume an old tradition that I’ve missed the last couple of election cycles.

I’ll go to my precinct late morning, cast my vote, affix my sticker to my shirt, and grab a late breakfast at Waffle House: Two eggs scrambled, whole-wheat toast, sausage and hash browns, smothered.

I want to reconnect with that, and a mid-afternoon siesta—”I usually take a two-hour nap from 1 to 4,” another Yogi classic—before a long night of reporting on local election results for you.


The august practice of newspaper political endorsements has been dwindling for a couple of decades, mirroring industry decline. Not long after I left The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2008, it discontinued that practice.

One of the factors was the shuttering of suburban offices—I worked at the Cobb bureau off the Marietta Square in the early 1990s—that provided editorial writers with crucial information about candidates and issues in down-ballot races.

Other newspapers have also dropped endorsements for similar reasons, without much fuss from their readers.

But when The Washington Post announced it wouldn’t endorse in this presidential race—after an intervention from publisher Jeff Bezos—several editorial staffers resigned. The same happened at the Los Angeles Times, which also went neutral at the last minute.

The Post editorial page staff—which is separate from newsroom reporters and editors—had prepared an endorsement for Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, when Bezos stepped in.

Many readers cancelled their subscriptions, and legendary Post names like Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward of Watergate fame weighed in with the gravitas that’s all the rage these days.

As a former legacy newspaper reporter turned independent local news operator, I found that amusing. In my days in the print world, I knew that political endorsements rarely swayed readers.

I also knew that no matter what the editorial page staff decided, that was the voice of the paper. I was a reporter, not an opinionator.

But as a publisher myself, I see this matter through different eyes. Bezos offered a common-sense reply as he battles to right the ship of a newspaper that lost nearly $80 million last year.

He’s been at the helm for more than a decade, so his reign surely can be questioned about all the red ink that’s been spilled.

But his larger concern—about a loss of credibility in legacy (traditional) media—is a valid one.

The trust of our readers, our audience, and our communities is all we have. Journalists are keen to tell the public what they think about many things, including whom to vote for.

But the public that isn’t amped up 24/7 on politics isn’t buying that these days.

East Cobb News doesn’t endorse candidates or ballot issues and never will.

The reason this site exists is to address the dearth of local news here.

Our mission is to provide you with information about what’s happening around you so you can make up your mind, and to take action if you wish.

You don’t need us to tell us you what you think or how to vote. Every post on this site and our social media channels is available for reader comments, and we get plenty.

We always want to hear from you about your concerns—political or otherwise—that may shape our everyday coverage.

As we prepare to close another eventful election year, that offer remains standing, and always will.

Despite the shrieks about “saving democracy!”–presumably by voting for candidates preferred by those doing the shouting—we’ll stick with a cliched, but true adage that has served us well, about doing the reporting, and letting you do the deciding.

That’s a tradition worth saving, and it’s no Yogism at all.

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As Cobb Election Day 2024 awaits: Early voting sets records

Nearly 60 percent of registered voters in Cobb County have voted as the final phase of the 2024 general elections awaits.cobb advance voting, Cobb voter registration deadline, Walton and Dickerson PTSA candidates forum

On Tuesday, Election Day, those voters who haven’t voted must go to their assigned precincts to cast their ballots, or submit absentee ballots.

After Friday’s finale for three weeks of early voting, Cobb Elections reports that 311,389 early votes have been cast, almost all of them in-person.

Nearly 18,000 absentee ballots have been accepted, and following a court order on Friday, those voters who got their ballots late and mailed them after Wednesday will have some extra time for them to be received in order to be counted.

The two early voting locations in East Cobb had some of the highest turnout, and here are the final individual breakdowns (full details here):

  • Tim D. Lee Senior Center: 40,508
  • Smyrna Community Center: 37,380
  • Cobb Elections Office: 34,036
  • East Cobb Government Service Center: 33,898
  • Ben Robertson Community Center: 26,900
  • Boots Ward Recreation Center: 24,197
  • South Cobb Community Center: 22,735
  • North Cobb Senior Center: 20,516
  • Ron Anderson Recreation Center: 18,383
  • West Cobb Regional Library: 16,304
  • Collar Park Community Center: 9,961
  • Fair Oaks Recreation Center: 8,805

Across Georgia, more than 3.7 million early votes have been cast, and total turnout is around 4 million, according to the Georgia Secretary of State’s Election Data Hub.

That’s also more than 55 percent of the eligible state electorate, as Georgia is once again a battleground state in the presidential race.

Nearly all of Georgia’s 159 counties have reported turnout of 40 percent or more, and with a few reporting near or surpassing 70 percent.

The polls on Tuesday will be open from 7-7, and voters must bring an photo identification with them.

To check your voter registration status and polling station, and to get a customized sample ballot, visit the Georgia Secretary of State’s My Voter Page.

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Cobb judge extends deadline for returning 3K absentee ballots

Cobb absentee ballots

An estimated 3,200 voters who were mailed absentee ballots late this week will get extra time to return them.

Cobb Superior Court Judge Robert Flournoy ruled Friday that they will have until 5 p.m. Friday to either mail or return their absentee ballots by hand to the Cobb Elections Office.

Flournoy issued an injunction extending the time from Tuesday’s 7 p.m. deadline following a lawsuit from several individual voters and the Democratic National Committee and Democratic Party of Georgia, who accused the Cobb Elections office of failing to mail out the ballots in a timely fashion.

Cobb Elections began expediting the absentee ballots that were requested near the Oct. 25 deadline, saying they were overwhelmed with such requests and there was an “equipment failure.”

But more than 1,000 of those requested ballots are out of state, ruling out in-person return and making timely mail return difficult.

Those ballots covered under the order were mailed after Oct. 30 and must be postmarked by 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The injunction (you can read it here) also:

  • Orders the Board of Elections to mail absentee ballots with prepaid express return envelopes by the end of the day on Nov. 1, 2024.
  • Directs the Elections Department to segregate absentee ballots returned after 7 p.m. on Election Day and on or before 5 p.m. on Nov. 8 and keep them in a secure container.
  • Requires the Elections Department to notify affected voters of the situation and this order via phone or email if contact information is available.
  • Requires the Elections Department to provide a list of affected voters to all parties in the case.

Voter who did not get absentee ballots may still vote in person on Tuesday at their assigned.

“The agreement gives us a solution that helps ensure the voting rights of those affected and gives the public the assurance that all those who want to cast a ballot legally can do so,” Cobb Elections board chairwoman Tori Silas said in a statement issued by Cobb government Friday.

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Parents sue Cobb school district over public comment scuffle

Cobb school board public conduct policy
Jenny Peterson of East Cobb is a frequent commenter at Cobb school board meetings.

More than a year after they were denied public comment slots in a chaotic incident before a Cobb Board of Education meeting, two parents are suing the Cobb County School District and several employees from its communications department.

Attorneys for Melissa Marten and Jenny Peterson filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for Northern Georgia on Thursday, alleging the district and staff members violated their constitutional free speech rights.

(You can read the lawsuit by clicking here.)

The matter at hand took place before the September 2023 board meeting, at which the public comment sign-up table was moved from inside the lobby of the Cobb school district headquarters, to a location outside of the entrance.

They claimed in their lawsuit that the changes were made to prevent district critics from speaking out against the firing of a Due West Elementary School teacher for reading a book to her students about a child with gender identity issues.

The teacher, Katie Rinderle, is suing the district for her 2023 termination. Her attorney, Craig Goodmark, also is representing Marten and Peterson in the lawsuit filed Thursday.

They allege that Cobb school district officials purposely changed the public comment sign-up process to prevent critical remarks about the Rinderle situation, referring to some of those critics as the “bad guys.”

Members of a group called the Cobb Community Care Coalition, which is generally critical of  Superintendent Chris Ragsdale and the school board’s Republican majority, held a rally before the meeting.

Marten and Peterson, an East Cobb resident, lost their slots, and some people claimed they were shoved and injured in the ensuing chaos.

Critics said the change in sign-up policy occurred without any warning, and the result, according to the lawsuit, is that the “plaintiffs were blocked from speaking publicly in opposition to Defendants actions and policies.”

Marten and Peterson are seeking court action to prevent the district from “manipulation of the signup procedures limiting the opportunity of disfavored viewpoints from speaking during the public comment portion of the CCBOE public meeting.”

The backdrop of that Sept. 14, 2023 meeting also included a series of book removals by Ragsdale for sexually explicit content, of which the Cobb Community Care Coalition also expressed opposition.

The individual defendants named in the suit are Ragsdale and his Chief Strategy and Accountability Officer, John Floresta.

That’s the office that directs the district’s communications office, and whose staffers, including Julian Coca, Nan Kiel, Daniel Vehar, Zach Alderson and Amanda Chambers are also named as defendants.

The lawsuit claims that they used the district’s Microsoft Teams messaging system to plan a method to prevent critical speakers. Marten and Peterson, who are frequent speakers during public comment sessions, were wearing “Replace Ragsdale” shirts at the Sept. 14, 2023 meeting.

The lawsuit said that according to the Microsoft Teams messages, obtained through a public records request, the district communications staffers communicated about changing the sign-up process although some people had been waiting in line for lengthy periods.

“Citizens that had been participating in the anti-Ragsdale protest in front of the CCBOE building were physically moved away from the signup iPad. A video of the altercation shows a transgender student crying as the student was violently pushed to the ground and suffered injuries,” the lawsuit states.

At the school board meeting later, Ragsdale lit into his critics over the book removals and his decision to fire Rinderle, saying that the “ ‘radical new idea’ is not that schools have an obligation to protect students, but the radical new idea is that all children should somehow be forced to encounter sexually explicit language and instruction while at school.”

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East Cobb artist to present holiday show of abstract works

East Cobb artist to present holiday show of abstract works

Submitted information and photos:

Lynne McDonald, an abstract artist and entrepreneur, presents a Holiday Art Show, Smoke & Mirrors, at Serendipity Labs (3225 Cumberland Blvd., Suite 100, Atlanta), November 13, 2024 from 6:00-8:00 pm. Lynne has been the featured artist at Serendipity for nearly three years. This Holiday Show will be the unveiling of Lynne’s beautiful new pieces. Guests are invited to enjoy lite bites and drinks. For more information and to RSVP, call 770.765.0590, or visit www.lynnemcdonald.com.

“If you had told me in my twenties that I would be making a living as an artist and stirring souls with my artwork, I never would’ve believed you,” says Lynne. “I never allowed myself to dream that far outside the box. Now I tell people to follow their dreams as wild as you think they are because that is what makes their life unique and special. That is their gift to the world. Just keep saying yes!”

Lynne continues, “I’m fascinated by the organic beauty in nature. Most often my inspiration comes from water. It has a spiritual element that tugs at my soul. I am grateful for the time I’ve spent in beautiful, inspiring places around the world.“

Lynne mixes her own paints and adds different additives or mediums to create different viscosity and pours it onto the canvas. Her vibrant, organic artworks are crafted with acrylic paints, brushes, and unconventional tools such as a blow torch, forks, straws, paintbrushes, fingers…whatever is handy.

Participating in juried events like Summerfest and collaborating with interior designers, Lynne has sold over 400 paintings. Since transitioning into her full-time career, Lynne has curated 13 solo exhibitions, including three Live Instagram shows held during the challenges of the Pandemic, each meticulously produced in various locations, alongside four collaborative showcases.

“Art is subjective. When someone connects with my work and it stirs their soul, I consider that a success,” Lynne explains. “In the studio, I am authentic and vulnerable, because each piece of work is a piece of me. I pour large pieces; I prefer the impact of a large statement piece.”

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Lynne McDonald started painting in her kitchen in 2015 and made it her full-time profession by 2020. Lynne carefully creates artworks with organic elements and intricate details, gradually revealing themselves over time to evoke immediate emotional responses. Having reshaped her career and life, she radiates hope, inspiring others to break free and embrace life’s possibilities.

Lynne has developed a following and has sold pieces all over the world; from Georgia to Greece to Dubai. As a juried artist, she’s been able to have over fifteen shows in her short career; thirteen of which have been solo. She’s had her work published in a coffee table book, 101 Art Book Floral Edition 2024; in Simply Buckhead and Best Self Atlanta magazines; won numerous awards; and has been on countless podcasts and radio shows to encourage everyone to live life on their terms.

“It’s amazing! I have to pinch myself! I have hundreds of collectors all over the world,” says Lynne. “I have large commercial buildings with my artwork and am currently the featured artist at Serendipity. I have representation in Florida and Alabama. And I have cleared paintings for film and tv work. I am so proud to say that I am an artist!”

Lynne continues, “We are all worthy of our dreams. I took a leap and created the life I wanted. I stepped into my authenticity and started saying yes to possibilities I had never considered. I hope my work inspires others to embrace life. You are the designer of your life!”

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Deadline nears for Cobb PARKS Fun in the Park photo contest

Mabry Park Opening
Mabry Park

Submitted information:

As you have enjoyed your Cobb parks and activities, take a few minutes to go through your favorite photos and submit your best to the Fun in the Park photo contest. You can enter photos of sports, nature, wildlife and anything else that shows why you enjoy spending time in Cobb’s parks, facilities and at events. Enter up to 10 of your best shots in the 20th annual contest. The competition is open to all photographers, amateur and pro. The entry deadline is Nov. 4. See the rules and download the entry form on the photo contest web page.

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East Cobb Food Scores: Cazadores; New Lucky China; more

Cazadores, East Cobb food scores

The following food scores have been compiled by the Cobb & Douglas Department of Public Health. Click the link under each listing for inspection details:

Aroma Indian Bistro
4785 Alabama Road, Suite 114
October 29, 2024, Grade: 91, Score: A

Cazadores Mexican Restaurant
3165 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite D-2
October 30, 2024, Score: 94, Grade: A

Dunkin Donuts
611 Johnson Ferry Road
October 31, 2024, Score: 100, Grade: A

First Brazilian BBQ
1458 Roswell Road
October 30, 30, 2024, Score: 60, Grade: U

Handmade Noodles and Dumplings
1100 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 365
October 30, 2024, Score: 100, Grade: A

Jacobs Java Cafe
1350 Terrell Mill Road
October 29, 2024, Score: 96, Grade: A

JR Crickets
1854 Terrell Mill Road, Suite 100
October 29, 2024, Score: 88, Grade: B

Marco’s Pizza
2986 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 100
October 30, 2024, Score: 90, Grade: A

New Lucky China
3045 Gordy Parkway, Suite 104
October 31, 2024, Score: 76, Grade: C

Waffle House
4875 Alabama Road
October 28, 2024, Score: 93, Grade: A

Yeero Village
4751 Sandy Plains Road
October 29, 2024, Score: 96, Grade: A

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Cobb Elections express-shipping 3K+ absentee ballots

Cobb absentee ballots

This just in from Cobb County government:

Following a surge of last-minute absentee ballot applications, Cobb Elections is collaborating with postal and delivery companies to expedite sending ballots to voters and ensure their timely return.

As of Wednesday, more than 3,000 absentee ballots requested by last Friday’s deadline had not been mailed. Elections workers will send most of them via USPS Express Mail or UPS Overnight Delivery by Friday morning. These ballots will include prepaid express return envelopes to ensure voters can return them by Tuesday’s deadline.

“We want to maintain voter trust by being transparent about the situation,” said Board of Elections Chairwoman Tori Silas. “We are taking every possible step to get these ballots to the voters who requested them. Unfortunately, we were unprepared for the surge in requests and lacked the necessary equipment to process the ballots quickly.”

Voters who have not received their ballots can still vote in person on Friday, the final day of Advance Voting, or at their polling place on Election Day, Nov. 5. More than 1,000 absentee ballots are being sent out of state, and Elections officials are working with UPS to expedite their delivery.

Cobb Elections had contracted with a state-approved vendor to print and ship absentee ballots.

“After our vendor’s final run on Friday, we needed to utilize our in-house equipment for the final shipment of ballots, but the equipment was not working properly,” said Elections Director Tate Fall. “By the time we got the equipment online, the deadline for mailing the ballots had passed, prompting us to work with the US Postal Service and UPS to take extraordinary measures. Our team has been working around the clock to get the ballots out.”

Absentee ballot requests had been averaging around 440 per day, but in the last week, that number surged to 750 per day, with 985 requests submitted on Friday’s deadline.

Cobb Elections will extend the hours for absentee ballot returns at the Elections Headquarters this weekend. Voters can return their ballots to 995 Roswell Street, Marietta, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday.

Anyone with questions about their absentee ballot request can contact the Cobb Elections Department at 770-528-2581.

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New Gritters Library opening, ribbon-cutting set for November

Gritters Library project to proceed
A rendering of the new Gritters Library-Northeast Cobb Community Center.

It’s been a little more than a year since the Gritters Library branch was demolished (our story on its temporary closing here) to make way for a new, expanded library and Northeast Cobb Community Center in Shaw Park.

The Cobb Library System announced Thursday that the new facility will be opening less than a week from now, on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 10 a.m.

And there will be a ribbon-cutting on Thursday, Nov. 14, at 2 p.m.

The event is sponsored by the Cobb Library Foundation and hosted by the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, Cobb County Manager, Cobb County Public Library Board of Trustees, Cobb County Workforce Development and Cobb PARKS.

The 15,000-square-foot Gritters Library (880 Shaw Park Road), built at a cost of $9.8 million, will include county workforce development programs and the Northeast Cobb Community Center, which is being relocated from another part of Shaw Park.

Other outreach that will stem from Gritters includes civic engagement and health and wellness matters.

Gritters, which opened in Shaw Park in 1973, serves a community of around 65,000 people within a three-mile radius.

The small building had outgrown all of those uses years ago, but securing funding was challenging.

The Gritters replacement project was included in the 2016 Cobb SPLOST, with $6.8 million originally budgeted for the library and $1.2 million for the community center.

There was a ground-breaking ceremony in 2021, but a $2.5 million shortfall emerged due to rising construction costs. Cobb commissioners approved some creative financing in 2023 to set the project in motion.

In addition to CobbWorks, Gritters has partnerships with the Northeast Cobb Business Association, SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) and nearby higher educational institutions.

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