East Cobb Politics & Elections

Bills to make Cobb local races non-partisan get first votes

by
Bills to make Cobb local races non-partisan get first votes
Sens. Kay Kirkpatrick and John Albers

Two bills that would end partisan elections for the Cobb Board of Commissioners and the Cobb Board of Education were favorably reported out of Georgia Senate committees on Tuesday.

The Senate Ethics Committee favorably reported out SB 573, which calls for county officers in Cobb and several other counties in metro Atlanta to be elected in non-partisan races. Those offices include county commission and district attorney.

In Georgia, local municipal offices, such as city council and city school boards, are non-partisan, and county offices have traditionally been partisan (judicial seats in Georgia are all non-partisan).

But GOP lawmakers have been responding to Democratic gains in recent years in what had been Republican strongholds in suburban Atlanta (Republicans are in the majority in both chambers of the legislature and hold all statewide state government offices).

The other counties included in SB 573 are Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties. Like Cobb, they have appointed rather than elected medical examiners and their judicial circuits cover only a single county.

If passed by the General Assembly, the legislation would become law on Jan. 1, 2027 and would be in effect for the 2028 elections.

The bill’s co-sponsors include Sen. Ed Setzler of Kennesaw and Sens. Kay Kirkpatrick and John Albers, who have East Cobb constituencies.

They are all Republicans in areas of Cobb that retain some GOP voting strength in a county that has been trending Democratic in recent years.

Democrats hold all partisan countywide elected offices in Cobb as well as a 3-2 majority on the Cobb commission. Partisan wrangling on the board included two years of disputes over the redistricting of commission electoral maps before former commissioner Jerica Richardson was removed from office.

In this year’s Cobb commission races, the two Republican incumbents are up for re-election, including JoAnn Birrell of District 3 in East Cobb. Birrell on Tuesday qualified as she seeks a fifth term.

Setzler, Kirkpatrick and Albers are the sponsors of SB 510, which would make Cobb school board races non-partisan. That bill was favorably reported out of the Senate State and Local Government Operations Committee.

Republicans hold a 4-3 majority on the Cobb school board, and partisan battles in recent years have flared up over COVID-related spending, racial issues, Cobb County School District accreditation and the leadership of Superintendent Chris Ragsdale.

Two years ago Cobb Republicans in the Georgia legislature approved redistricting maps that shifted electoral boundaries on the Cobb school board to favor GOP constituencies. That included moving Post 6 out of East Cobb, which is represented by two of the current four Republican members.

One of them, Post 4 incumbent David Chastain, is seeking re-election for a fourth term, and he also qualified on Tuesday.

If passed, SB 510 would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2028, in time for 2028 elections, when the other three Republican-held seats expire.

Friday is “crossover day” in the Georgia legislature. Bills must be voted out of their chamber of origin to be considered for the rest of the session, which ends April 2.

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

 

 

Cobb candidate qualifying to take place for 2026 elections

by

Qualifying takes place this coming week for 2026 elections in Georgia, and candidates in Cobb have separate criteria to meet for officially launching their campaigns.Georgia runoff elections

Qualifying for all state, local and federal candidates in Georgia starts Monday, March 2 at 9 a.m. and ends on Friday, March 6 at 12 p.m. for the May 19 primaries.

In the East Cobb area, voters will have the District 3 race on the Cobb Board of Commissioners and the Post 4 race on the Cobb Board of Education on their ballots.

Other races of note include the 11th District for the U.S. House of Representatives, a U.S. Senate seat, races for Georgia governor and other statewide elected offices and all seats in the Georgia legislature.

In East Cobb those legislative seats include Senate districts 32, 33 and 56 and House seats 37, 43, 44, 45 and 46.

Here’s a complete list of offices to be filled that will be included on Cobb ballots in 2026.

In Cobb, there also will be two non-partisan races for State Court judge to be determined in the primaries. Primary winners in partisan races will move on to the Nov. 3 general election.

Cobb Elections has posted when and where local candidates must qualify, and the qualifying fees associated with each office.

Non-partisan candidates will qualify at the Cobb Elections offices; partisan candidates for Cobb solicitor, county commissioner, Cobb school board and surveyor must qualify at their county political party offices.

State and federal candidates qualify at their respective party offices at the Georgia Capitol. The Georgia Secretary of State’s Office has more information about qualifying.

East Cobb News will provide updates during the week as candidates qualify; if you’re a candidate or represent one you can send your qualifying press release to us: editor@eastcobbnews.com.

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

 

Chastain to launch Cobb school board re-election campaign

by

David Chastain, Cobb school board candidate

Cobb Board of Education member David Chastain, a three-term Republican from Post 4 in Northeast Cobb, will be officially launching his re-election campaign next week.

His campaign sent a message Thursday about a “meet and greet fundraiser” next Wednesday in the Town Center area organized by the campaign’s steering committee.

The names include some of the most prominent members of Cobb Republican and business leadership.

They include John Loud of Loud Security Systems, a former Cobb Chamber of Commerce chairman who’s gotten involved recently in local Republican campaigns, and who is Chastain’s steering committee chairman.

Republicans hold a 4-3 majority on the Cobb school board, which has been roiled by a number of partisan controversies in recent years.

Three of the seven school board posts are up for election in 2026, and Chastain is the only Republican. Post 4 includes the Kell, Lassiter and Sprayberry high school attendance zones (post map here).

In 2022, Chastain was re-elected with 55 percent of the vote in a bitter general election campaign (he was later fined for campaign finance violations).

He’s the only Republican to announce thus far for the Post 4 seat; Micheal Garza, a vocal critic of Cobb County School District and Republican school board leadership, is the only Democrat who has announced. The primaries are May 19.

Chastain’s campaign has been stressing what it calls his “record of proven success” as reflected by Cobb school district scores in student academic performance, upgrading facilities through SPLOST sales-tax extensions, school safety initiatives and “leadership that puts students first.”

Here’s Chastain’s campaign website. His campaign Facebook page also has recently been making many of those claims, with some critics of district and board leadership taking issue.

Loud is the head of Chastain’s steering committee, which incudes Jay Cunningham of Superior Plumbing, another former Chamber luminary, as well as former Chamber chairman David Connell; Mitch Rhoden, president and CEO of Futren Hospitality, which manages Indian Hills Country Club; business and community leaders Frank Wigington, Stan Wise and Shane Spink, Chastain’s appointee to the board’s facilities and technology committee; and Donna Rowe, head of the Cobb Veterans Memorial Foundation.

Others from GOP politics include former Cobb school board member Scott Sweeney of East Cobb; former Cobb Republican Party chairmen Jason Shepherd and Scott Johnson; former Georgia State Sen. Chuck Clay; and Larry Savage of East Cobb, a former candidate for Cobb Commission Chairman.

Loud previously worked in 2024 to elect John Cristadoro, the Post 5 Republican school board member from East Cobb, and also recruited realtor Kay Morgan, the GOP nominee for Cobb Commission Chair who was defeated in 2024 by incumbent Democrat Lisa Cupid.

Chastain’s campaign chairwoman is Joy Doss, a securities fraud attorney.

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

 

Local, gubernatorial candidates to visit East Cobb Democrats

by
Local, gubernatorial candidates to visit East Cobb Democrats
Michael Garza (L) and Chris Harden

Announced candidates for local elections in East Cobb as well as a candidate for Georgia governor will be visiting the February meeting of the East Cobb Democrats.

The meeting is Feb. 25 at Round Trip Brewing at Avenue East Cobb (4475 Roswell Road, Suite 1600). The featured guests include former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for Georgia governor.

Chris Harden has announced as a Democratic candidate for the Georgia 11th Congressional District seat, and Micheal Garza is running for Post 4 on the Cobb Board of Education.

The event takes place at 7 p.m. and attendees must RSVP at this link.

Local, gubernatorial candidates to visit East Cobb Democrats
Keisha Lance Bottoms

Bottoms (campaign website) is in a crowded Democratic race to succeed outgoing Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. Former State Sen. Jason Esteves, former Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and former DeKalb County CEO and ex-Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond also are among the candidates vying in the May 19 primary.

In the 11th District Congressional race, Harden (campaign website) is an attorney in Cherokee County and is one of four Democrats who have announced. Republican incumbent GOP Congressman Barry Loudermilk is not seeking re-election.

Garza is an East Cobb resident who is seeking a seat on the Cobb school board currently held by Republican David Chastain.

Thus far they are the only announced candidates for Post 4, which includes the Kell, Lassiter and Sprayberry attendance zones.

Garza (campaign website) who ran for the District 46 Georgia House seat in 2024, has been a frequent critic of the Cobb County School District and the GOP leadership on the Cobb school board, which holds a 4-3 majority.

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb Elections seeks public input on polling locations

by

Submitted information:Cobb Elections Office seeks public input on polling locations

Cobb County Elections & Registration is seeking community partners to help serve voters by hosting polling locations for upcoming elections. To ensure Cobb County voters have convenient and accessible places to cast their ballots, the department is currently identifying both primary and backup polling locations throughout the county.

The initiative was highlighted during the Cobb County Board of Elections & Registration meeting on Monday, February 10, 2026, where Elections & Registration staff introduced a new tool designed to strengthen community involvement in the polling location selection process.

“We are excited to release a new way for the community to partner with us in sourcing polling locations in their communities,” said Michael D’Itri, Interim Director of Cobb County Elections & Registration. “Cobb voters know their neighborhoods best, and this partnership helps us find locations we might not otherwise know about.”

Voters, community organizations, faith-based institutions, schools, and other facilities are encouraged to participate by suggesting locations that may be suitable for use as polling places. Public participation is a critical part of ensuring elections are accessible, secure, and efficiently administered for Cobb County’s more than half-million registered voters.

To support this effort, Cobb County Elections & Registration has launched two new public-facing tools:

  • An online Polling Location Suggestion Form, allowing community members and organizations to submit potential polling sites for consideration.
  • An interactive Geographic Information System (GIS) map, available on the Elections & Registration website, which highlights areas of the county where polling locations are most needed. The GIS application was formally introduced during the February 10 Board meeting as part of the department’s ongoing modernization efforts

Hosting a polling location is an important public service that directly supports voter access and civic engagement. All proposed locations are carefully evaluated to ensure they meet accessibility, security, parking, and operational requirements established by state and federal election guidelines.

Facilities interested in being considered should review the Polling Location Expectations outlined on the Elections & Registration website before submitting a suggestion.

For more information, to view the interactive GIS map, or to submit a suggested polling location, visit: https://www.cobbcounty.gov/elections/election-reference/suggest-polling-location

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Physician announces campaign for Ga. 11th District Congress

by

Dr. John Cowan, a physician from Cartersville, announced Monday he will be running for the 11th Congressional District seat in Georgia.Physician announces run for Ga. 11th District Congress

The 11th District includes most of East Cobb and is represented by U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, a six-term Republican who said last week he is not seeking re-election.

Cowan is a Republican who ran for the 14th Congressional District seat in 2020 and lost to Marjorie Taylor Greene in a GOP runoff. Greene recently resigned her seat in Congress.

Cowan said in his announcement that he has $1.5 million in his campaign account.

“I’m running for Congress because I believe our country works best when serious people step up to solve serious problems,” Cowan said in a statement.

“I’m not running to be loud or to chase headlines. I’m running to put people ahead of politics and do what’s right for hardworking Georgians, representing the 11th District with integrity and common sense.”

The only other Republican to announce thus far for the 11th District race is Chris Mora, a local party activist from Pickens County. Several Democrats have announced in what is expected to be a GOP-leaning seat.

The 11th District includes East Cobb, some of North Cobb, western Cherokee County, as well as Bartow, Gordon and Pickens counties.

Cowan is from a long-standing family in Bartow County and grew up on a family farm. He graduated from  Cartersville High School as valedictorian and his father was a physician.

Cowan is a neurosurgeon with a private practice in Cartersville and he has led small businesses in Bartow, Cobb, Cherokee, and Gordon counties.

Cowan graduated from Davidson College with a B.S. in physics and received an M.D. from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed a residency in neurosurgery at the University of Michigan Medical School and is the founder of Cortex Toys and Cortex Holdings.

“Leadership in the operating room and in business requires listening, caring, and sound judgment,” Cowan said in his statement.

“The people of the 11th District care for their communities and expect the same from their leaders. Washington too often loses sight of the everyday pressures facing working families. I will provide a steady hand on my constituents’ behalf.”

He does not yet have a campaign website and his campaign announcement did not specify other priorities.

Cowan aand his wife, Dr. Anne Cowan, are the parents of four children and are active members of First Presbyterian Church of Rome, where he serves as an elder.

The Georgia Congressional primaries will be May 19. Candidate qualifying takes place from March 2-6.

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

New Georgia gubernatorial candidate to run Super Bowl ad

by

Republican Rick Jackson, who announced his campaign this week for Georgia governor, has purchased advertising time during the Super Bowl game on Sunday.New Georgia gubernatorial candidate to run Super Bowl ad

The 30-second ad (you can watch it below) references his childhood growing up in public housing and in foster care to becoming a self-made billionaire as the CEO of Jackson Health Care.

A longtime supporter of President Donald Trump, Jackson said in the ad that “like President Trump, I don’t owe anybody anything.”

He pledged in the ad that Georgia would lead in criminal deportations of illegal immigrants if he’s elected and advocates cutting the state income tax rate in half and freezing property taxes.

Jackson’s priorities also include stopping “woke ideology” and ending reverse discrimination and supporting children in foster care.

In announcing his campaign earlier this week (his campaign website can be found here), Jackson said he was putting $50 million of his own money into his campaign account, including an initial $40 million advertising blitz to introduce himself to the public.

The Super Bowl is the most expensive advertising window in American television. While national ad rates for Sunday’s game between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks are estimated to cost an average $8 million for a 30-second spot, local rates are lower.

According to ALM Corp., a marketing agency, Super Bowl rates in markets like Atlanta could cost $300,000 and $600,000 for 30 seconds, and the same time slot typically costs from $50,000 to $300,000 in smaller and mid-tier markets.

The surprise entry by Jackson—who has never sought public office before—crowds an already loaded Republican battle to succeed Gov. Brian Kemp. That field includes Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Attorney General Chris Carr.

In announcing his campaign Wednesday, Jackson called Raffensperger a “Judas” for not bowing to Trump’s demands to find more votes in the 2020 Georgia presidential election.

Jackson called the Georgia political establishment a “cartel” that he intends to break up.

Although he donated $1 million to Trump’s campaigns, the president has endorsed Jones.

On the Democratic side, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, former State Sen. Jason Esteves, former Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and former DeKalb County CEO and ex-Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond are among the candidates vying in the May 19 primary.

 

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

U.S. Rep. Loudermilk not seeking re-election to Congress

by

Congressman Barry Loudermilk, whose 11th District in Georgia includes East Cobb, announced Wednesday he won’t be seeking re-election.

Ga. Congress members respond to ' One Big Beautiful Bill'
U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk

He issued a statement on his Congressional website as well as social media accounts saying that “while serving my constituents in Congress ranks among my greatest honors, being a husband, a father, and a grandfather holds even greater importance to me; and at this time, I wish to spend more dedicated time with my family.”

Loudermilk, 62, a Republican serving his sixth term in a conservative district, is a strong ally of President Donald Trump, but the narrow GOP majority in the U.S. House could be in jeopardy in 2026 midterm elections.

He is the 29th incumbent Republican in the House who is leaving Congress, and the fourth sitting member from the Georgia delegation not seeking re-election.

Loudermilk had been serving as chairman of a Republican-led subcommittee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 invasion of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters as the Electoral College was meeting to certify the 2020 presidential election.

In 2024, Loudermilk won the general election by 34 percent. Another Republican has previously announced for the 11th District seat, Chris Mora, a local party activist from Pickens County. Several Democrats have announced in what is expected to be a GOP-leaning seat.

The 11th District is one of the most conservative in Georgia and in addition to East Cobb includes western Cherokee County, as well as Bartow, Gordon and Pickens counties.

The Georgia Congressional primaries will be May 19. Candidate qualifying takes place from March 2-6.

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Democrat announces 11th Congressional District candidacy

by
Democrat announces 11th Congressional District candidacy
Chris Harden

Chris Harden, an attorney from Cherokee County, has announced his candidacy for the 11th Congressional District of Georgia as a Democrat.

The 11th District includes East Cobb and parts of North Cobb and is represented by Republican U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, who is serving his sixth term.

In announcing his campaign, Harden is calling himself “a moderate Democrat focused on results, not rhetoric.” The 11th District is one of the most conservative in Georgia and includes western Cherokee County, as well as Bartow, Gordon and Pickens counties.

Harden’s campaign website can be found by clicking here.

He said his priorities would be strengthening public education, expanding affordable healthcare access and “restoring common sense and stability in government.

“My life is proof that when communities invest in people, families can thrive,” Harden said in his announcement statement that was issued over the weekend.

“But right now, too many families in Northwest Georgia feel like they’re falling behind while chaos and dysfunction dominate our politics. I’m running for Congress to bring common sense back into the conversation — and to focus on real solutions, not shouting matches.”

Harden is one of four Democratic candidates who have announced for the 11th District seat. The others are Chase Lamanick of Kennesaw, Christopher Dale Vines of Atlanta and Barry Wolfert, a real estate professional.

Loudermilk, of Cassville, was re-elected in 2024 with 65 percent of the vote. The only other Republican who has announced is Chris Mora, a Republican Party activist from Pickens County. There is one independent candidate, Natalie Richoz, of Cassville.

The Georgia Congressional primaries will be May 19. Candidate qualifying takes place from March 2-6.

Harden is a native Rossville, Ga., and graduated from Georgia State University. He earned a law degree from John Marshall Law School in Atlanta.

He worked as an attorney in juvenile courts in northwest Georgia and founded Harden Law Firm, LLC, an estate planning and probate practice in downtown Woodstock he operates with his wife. They are the parents of triplets.

Harden said he would work to make healthcare and prescription drug costs lower and to expand coverage to rural and underserved communities, offering a few more details about that and his other main issues on his website.

“Northwest Georgia deserves a representative who shows up, treats people with respect, and works every single day to make their lives better,” Harden said. “I’m not running to add to the noise—I’m running to cut through it. Together, we can build a future rooted in stability, opportunity, and common sense.”

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

 

East Cobb rally to protest fatal ICE shooting in Minnesota

by
East Cobb rally to protest fatal ICE shooting in Minnesota
A “No Kings” protest took place in East Cobb last June. ECN file photo.

A liberal political organization that has held protests in East Cobb since last summer against the administration of President Donald Trump is holding another rally Sunday following a fatal shooting this week in Minnesota over immigration.

What’s being called an “ICE Out for Good” protest will take place from 1-2:30 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of Roswell and Johnson Ferry roads.

Indivisible Cobb said in a release Friday that the group is “demanding that ICE cease their unchecked harassment and intimidation and insist on justice for the killing of Renee Good.”

On Thursday, an officer with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency shot and killed Good, 37, in Minneapolis during an ICE operation.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has launched on investigation into the shooting, which prompted immediate protests in Minnesota.

The rally in East Cobb is among others planned nationally. Indivisible Cobb previously held rallies at the Roswell-Johnson Ferry intersection, including two “No Kings” protests against Trump policies.

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Republicans to continue leadership of Cobb school board

by
Cobb school board chairman Randy Scamihorn
Randy Scamihorn

In predictable 4-3 partisan votes Tuesday, the Cobb Board of Education will once again have two Republican members in leadership roles in 2026.

During an organizational meeting that took less than 10 minues, the four GOP members voted for Randy Scamihorn to serve as chair and outgoing chair David Chastain to serve as vice chair.

The elections are required at the start of every calendar year and any board member can be nominated for either role. But the chair cannot serve successive terms.

Democratic board member Tre’ Hutchins was nominated for both posts by fellow Democratic member Becky Sayler, but he received only three votes each.

Hutchins nominated Republican Brad Wheeler to serve as chair, but Wheeler declined.

There was no discussion before the votes were cast. The board also approved the 2026 meeting calendar (click here).

Scamihorn, a Republican from Post 1 in Northwest Cobb, is a retired Cobb school teacher and administrator, and will be serving as chairman for the fifth time since he was first elected in 2012.

Republican John Cristadoro of Post 5 in East Cobb, who served as vice chair last year in his first year on the board, nominated Scamihorn to serve as chair but was not nominated for a leadership post.

In October, Cristadoro and his marketing company settled a lawsuit in Fulton County with a former client who alleged he misused $250,000 meant and advertising campaign.

Sayler had asked for a hearing to determine to determine if Cristadoro violated the school board’s code of ethics. But as chairman, Chastain said the board had no authority to take any action.

Scamihorn was last chairman in 2024, and has been a vocal and at times combative supporter of decisions made by the Republican majority and the leadership of Cobb County School District Superintendent Chris Ragsdale.

Two years ago, as he faced re-election, Scamihorn pushed back against critics who claimed the district wasn’t doing enough to tighten security in wake of the deadly shootings at Apalachee High School in Winder.

The chair controls the meetings and has the power, along with the superintendent, to unilaterally place items on the meeting agendas. Other board members must get a majority of their colleagues to approve agenda items.

That’s been a flashpoint of partisan contention on the school board in recent years. Republicans held a 6-1 majority until 2018, when their margins were reduced to 4-3.

Since then, the GOP members have voted to change board policies to prohibit board members from offering comment at meetings. Board members also have squabbled over school board redistricting and accreditation along the same partisan lines.

Last July, the board voted to discontinue airing public comment from citizens in a measure proposed by Ragsdale, who did not consult board members beforehand, and that prompted critics to complain was an attempt to quash dissenting views.

Chastain, from Post 4 in Northeast Cobb, is one of three board members—and the only Republican—whose terms expire at the end of this year.

He has indicated he will be seeking a fourth term. Michael Garza, a frequent critic of the board’s leadership, is the only Democrat thus far who has announced he will be running for that seat.

The school board will hold its first regular meetings of 2026 on Jan. 22.

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up and you’re good to go!

Republican announces bid for Cobb Commission District 3

by

Republican announces bid for Cobb Commission District 3

Updated Friday, Jan. 9, 5:30 p.m.:

Birrell told us Friday she is running again and is making her announcement official on Saturday.

Original story:

Chris Wasserman, the head of an Atlanta-based executive talent search firm, has announced he’s running for the District 3 seat on the Cobb Board of Commissioners.

Wasserman, a Republican who is seeking elected office for the first time, said he’s running to “change the direction” of the Democratic-led commission or else “homeowners will certainly face even more property tax increases and more poor County planning. I’m running because we need fresh leadership and new energy to fight for us.”

The District 3 seat, which includes most of East Cobb, has been held since 2010 by Republican JoAnn Birrell, who has not indicated whether she’ll seek re-election. Her fourth term ends at the end of 2026.

Wasserman is the first Republican to announce; Democrat Kevin Redmon announced last fall he would be seeking the District 3 post.

Party primaries in the 2026 elections are May 19. Wasserman’s campaign website can be found by clicking here.

Democrats hold a 3-2 majority on the Cobb commission, and both seats held by Republicans will be decided this year.

Wasserman is the CEO of Wasserman Talent Solutions, which in 2025 was included on the Forbes 5000 list of America’s Fastest Growing Companies. The firm also was the Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s top small business of the year in 2025,

Wasserman also is a member of the Northeast Cobb Business Association (where Birrell is a former co-president).

In a release issued Monday, Wasserman said that while he appreciate’s Birrell’s service, “it’s time for a change. No one should serve two decades in the same Commission seat. . . . I’m running because we need fresh leadership and new energy to fight for us.”

He said tax, fiscal and government spending issues are his man concern, and that “taxpayers should expect more from their county government for what we pay. I’ll rely on my business experience to bring about efficiency and cost savings. I’ll work to save taxpayer dollars and prevent tax increases.

“Many residents I have spoken with also say they have grown disconnected with the County Government. As our next Commissioner, I’ll restore communication with residents and improve technology to make public information more accessible and easier to find.”

Wasserman, who lives in District 3 with his wife Lily, is a graduate of Osborne High School. He earned a business degree from Georgia Tech with an emphasis on finance and information technology.

Among his community activities includes serving on the board of the East Cobb Area Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce. Wasserman also has served on the board of the SafePath Child Advocacy Center, The Center for Family Resources and the Tommy Nobis Center.

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

2025 East Cobb Elections: Marietta mayor barely re-elected

by

Longtime Marietta Mayor Steve “Thunder” Tumlin was narrowly returned to office on Tuesday in an election that was closer than expected. Georgia runoff elections

Tumlin, who has been mayor for 16 years, defeated first-time candidate Sam Foster by fewer than 100 votes (updated results are here) 6,762 to 6,675.

Foster is a 24-year-old recent Kennesaw State graduate who won seven of the city’s 13 precincts, some by large margins.

But Tumlin overcame a late deficit when the final votes were cast to claim 50.32 percent to 49.68.

Several East Cobb precincts are in the City of Marietta, including 4B, which Tumlin barely won, and 6B, which Foster won easily.

Voters in East Cobb did not have a contested city council race, as incumbents Andre Sims (Ward 6) and Joseph Goldstein (Ward 7) were re-elected without opposition.

Ward 7 Marietta Board of Education incumbent Holly Berens was re-elected without opposition, while the new Ward 6 member is Christina Rogers. She defeated Tony Viola with nearly 57 percent of the vote (results here).

The races were officially non-partisan, but Tumlin, a former Republican legislator, received open support from GOP organizations. Foster, who’s involved with the A Better Cobb advocacy group, outraised Tumlin and was supported by Democratic State Rep. Gabe Sanchez, a Democratic Socialist who scored a major Georgia House upset last year.

In the Georgia Public Service Commission special elections, both Republican incumbents were defeated.

Alicia Johnson downed Tim Echols and Peter Hubbard beat Fitz Johnson, both around 62 percent of the vote, and will serve out the last year of the remaining terms (results here).

The PSC regulates utility rates in Georgia, and they will be the first Democrats to serve on the board since 2006. Those seats are both up in 2026, and Echols and Johnson have said they will seek their old offices.

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

 

East Cobb Republican political activist Pam Reardon dies

by

Pam Reardon, an East Cobb resident who was a candidate for the Cobb Board of Commissioners in 2024 and was involved in Cobb and Georgia Republican politics, has died.East Cobb Republican political activist Pam Reardon dies

Her death was announced over the weekend by Salleigh Grubbs, the former head of the Cobb GOP, and Josh McKoon, the chairman of the Georgia Republican Party.

Reardon served both bodies in a variety of positions. A native of Canada and a retired real estate agent, Reardon had been suffering from cancer.

“Pamela Reardon was a shining star whose legacy will continue to inspire,” Grubbs said on her Facebook page Saturday.

“As her friend, I was blessed to witness her unwavering dedication to her values and her unrelenting passion for serving others.”

McKoon wrote Sunday that Reardon’s “unwavering commitment to our values and her tireless efforts to serve those around her have left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing her.”

For many years Reardon volunteered in party activities and for candidates, and was involved in efforts to challenge voter eligibility following a Georgia elections law in 2021.

She invited a progressive journalist into her East Cobb home in the summer of 2021, only to throw him out during an on-camera interview.

Reardon was a frequent speaker at commissioners’ public comment sessions, then decided to take the political plunge herself in 2024.

She qualified as a candidate for Cobb Commission District 2 during a dispute over electoral maps. But court rulings upholding legislative-drawn maps, meant that she was a resident instead of District 3, and a special election was called that resulted in Democrat Erick Allen being elected to that seat.

Reardon was from Calgary, Alberta, and came to the Atlanta area in the late 1980s. She became an American citizen in 1996, and she and her husband Tom had six children and eight grandchildren.

In addition to her political activities, Reardon also was an officer with the women’s council at the Catholic Church of St. Ann, and served on the board of directors at the Family Life Restoration Center in Mableton.

Cobb Elections Board member Debbie Fisher, a Republican from East Cobb, provided this remembrance to East Cobb News:

“When I first joined the Republican Party, I had no idea what I was getting into. I was working full time, traveling about half the time, and politics was nowhere near the top of my to-do list. Somehow, I got railroaded into becoming a precinct officer — and that’s when Pam Reardon entered my life.

“I didn’t know Pam very well then, but one day I got a call from her. In that unmistakable, no-nonsense voice, she told me that if I wanted to be an officer, I needed to poll watch. I admitted I had no idea what poll watching involved and said I didn’t really have the time. Pam didn’t miss a beat — she simply told me to find the time and meet her. It was clear right away that saying “no” wasn’t an option.

“Out of respect for her position — or maybe fear of the unknown — I met with her, hoping for a little coaching. Instead, she handed me the law and the rules, told me to memorize them, and then assigned me to six precincts with detailed instructions on when to show up. Something told me you just didn’t say no to Pam. And that’s how my journey into elections began — all because of Pam Reardon.

“Over time, Pam and I became close friends. We had a lot in common, but we were both strong-willed, so our friendship came with plenty of lively (and sometimes heated) debates — which we both secretly loved. The longer I knew her, the more my respect grew. She was a force to be reckoned with — determined, tireless, and absolutely unshakable in her convictions. But beneath that fierce spirit was a kind and generous soul who gave endlessly of herself to help others.

“Pam didn’t take no for an answer. she was always focused on one thing: the win. Half the people in the Georgia legislature might not have been elected if it weren’t for Pam and her husband, Tom, who together knocked on more doors than anyone. Even Marjorie Taylor Greene was among those who benefited from Pam’s hard work during her first run for Congress.

“The only battle I ever saw Pam lose was the one with cancer. She fought it with every ounce of strength she had, but in the end, God had a different plan for her. Heaven gained a new pair of wings, and we lost a dear friend here on earth.

“We are all better for having known and loved our feisty, one-of-a-kind friend, Pam Reardon. She will be deeply missed — but never forgotten.”

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

 

Tuesday elections to decide Georgia PSC and Marietta races

by

UPDATED, TUESDAY, NOV. 4, 7:33 P.M.:

Follow real-time updates from Tuesday’s elections at this link; we’ll have further updates with the final results on Wednesday.

ORIGINAL REPORT:

The 2025 elections end on Tuesday with voters going to their assigned precincts to cast votes.East Cobb advance voting

For voters in East Cobb, there will be two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission appearing on their ballots.

Some voters in East Cobb also also will be eligible to vote in Marietta municipal elections.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at all precincts.

You can check your voting status and precinct location and get a personalized sample ballot by visiting the GA My Voter Page from the Georgia Secretary of State’s office.

In order to vote in person, you must produce one of six forms of photo identification.

According to Cobb Elections, turnout in early voting was very light.

The Georgia Public Service Commission elections are being determined in a statewide vote, and two Republican incumbents are being challenged by Democrats. The terms are for four years.

Republican incumbent Fitz Johnson of Vinings (website) is being challenged by Democrat Peter Hubbard (website).

Another Republican incumbent, Tim Echols (website) is opposed by Democrat Alicia Johnson (website).

Here’s a PSC primer from WABE; more from the Associated Press.

In Marietta, all the races are non-partisan, and also are for four-year terms.

East Cobb voters eligible for City of Marietta elections will be choosing Mayor as well as seats in Ward 5, 6 and 7 of the Marietta City Council, and Ward 5, 6 and 7 on the Marietta Board of Education.

Mayor Steve “Thunder” Tumlin, who has been in office 16 years, is seeking another term from 24-year-old Sam Foster in a non-partisan race that has drawn some attention.

Tumlin has been a legislator and served as chair of the Marietta school board. Foster, a recent Kennesaw State graduate, is part of A Better Cobb, which advocates for increased transit and mobility and affordable housing options.

Ward 5 includes most of East Marietta, and the election this year features the two men who have held that seat in recent years. Incumbent Carlyle Kent (website) is seeking a second four-year term. In 2022 he unseated Reggie Copeland, who is trying to win back his old seat (website).

In City Council seats for Ward 6 and Ward 7, only the incumbents qualified—Andre Sims and Joseph Goldstein, respectively.

In the Ward 5 Marietta school board race, incumbent Angela Orange (website) is seeking re-election, and is facing first-time candidate Jessie Bonner Jr. (website).

The Ward 6 school board race is an open seat, and the candidates are Christina Rogers (website) and Tony Viola (website).

In Ward 7, school board member Irene Holly Berens is running unopposed.

(You can view the Marietta ward maps by clicking here).

For more election day information from Cobb Elections, click here.

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Democratic activist announces candidacy for Cobb commissioner

by

Kevin Redmon, an East Cobb resident who ran for the Cobb Board of Commissioners in 2024, will be trying again in 2026.Richardson advisor declares intent for Cobb commission campaign

Redmon announced last week that he will be a Democratic candidate for District 3, which covers most of East Cobb. That seat is held by Republican JoAnn Birrell, who is in her fourth term.

Redmon filed to run in 2024 for District 2 during an electoral map controversy and finished fourth in a five-way primary last spring.

But that election was overturned by a Cobb judge and a special election was held last fall that was won by Democrat Erick Allen.

In making his announcement last week, Redmon said that “this District and County deserve leadership that will show up and be present, one that is responsive, and someone who has a vision to carry us into a future that is already here. And I’m honored to have the opportunity to step up and lead us down this path.”

No other candidates have announced for the District 3 race.

Redmon has lived in East Cobb for 20 years, and served as a member of the “community cabinet” of former Commissioner Jerica Richardson. In response to a request for details from East Cobb News about his campaign, here’s what Redmon told us:

“My priorities will be to help our county become even more proactive than reactive in its services, drive innovative ways to create efficiencies where needed, and help make Cobb a more competitive place to work to fill any existing gaps—especially within Cobb’s Public Safety organization.

“One of the fundamental foundations of this job that I learned from serving on former-Commissioner Richardson’s Cabinet is that there is an opportunity here to create real, sustainable programs that will outlive any specific person who sits in this seat.

“Yes, there are basic parts to this job, like keeping taxes low. Will I commit to keeping our taxes low? Of course. I live here, too. But this job is so much more than this. It’s about leveraging the resources we have to create programs that lift all of our residents and businesses.”

He also referenced a recent controversy in which Cobb commissioners declined to provide additional funding for a Cobb veterans memorial. Birrell proposed the additional funding but couldn’t get her colleagues to support it.

Redmon didn’t mention her by name, but said that “it’s not just about building memorials for our veterans who deserve to be remembered and honored; they also deserve our help in housing the unhoused vets in our community.”

Also:

“It’s not just about feeding the hungry, but about helping our seniors and even young people learn new skills to compete in today’s AI-driven job market, so they can gain employment and keep food on their tables.

“It’s not just about filling potholes, but designing safer streets so we can prevent more needless injuries and deaths of our students who are just trying to walk to school.”

Moving into the future does not mean to leave anyone behind. We will build our future here together, and I am honored to have the opportunity to lead us there.”

Here’s more about Redmon from his 2024 campaign website.

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Ga. PSC, Marietta elections early voting concludes this week

by

One more week of early voting will take place through Friday of this coming week in 2025 elections for two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission and municipal races in Marietta and other Cobb cities.cobb advance voting, Cobb voter registration deadline, Walton and Dickerson PTSA candidates forum

Voters in Cobb County can go to any of seven locations to cast their votes, including the East Cobb Government Service Center (4400 Lower Roswell Road).

Early voting takes place from 12-6 Sunday, and from Monday-Friday from 7-7 (see all locations, dates and times in the flyer below).

You can check your voting status and get a personalized sample ballot by visiting the GA My Voter Page from the Georgia Secretary of State’s office.

In order to vote in person, you must produce one of six forms of photo identification.

The elections will conclude on Tuesday, Nov. 4, when voters will go their assigned precincts.

The elections include all seven Cobb municipalities, as well as a special election for Georgia State Senate District 35, which includes some of South Cobb.

Some voters in East Cobb also will be eligible to vote in several races in the City of Marietta—Mayor, Ward 5, 6 and 7 City Council, and Ward 5, 6 and 7 Marietta Board of Education.

According to Cobb Elections, turnout in early voting thus far has been very light.

All voters in East Cobb will be voting for two seats on the Georgia PSC, which are elected statewide and whose members regulate electricity and utility rates across the state. Both are contested races.

Republican incumbent Fitz Johnson of Vinings (website) is being challenged by Democrat Peter Hubbard (website).

Another Republican incumbent, Tim Echols (website) is opposed by Democrat Alicia Johnson (website).

Here’s a PSC primer from WABE; more from the Associated Press from earlier this week.

In Marietta, 16-year Mayor “Thunder” Tumlin is seeking another term from 24-year-old Sam Foster in a non-partisan race that has drawn some attention.

Tumlin has been a legislator and served as chair of the Marietta school board, while Foster, a recent Kennesaw State graduate, is part of A Better Cobb, which advocates for increased transit and mobility and affordable housing options.

Ward 5 includes most of East Marietta, and the election this year features the two men who have held that seat in recent years. Incumbent Carlyle Kent (website) is seeking a second four-year term. In 2022 he unseated Reggie Copeland, who is trying to win back his old seat (website).

In City Council seats for Ward 6 and Ward 7, only the incumbents qualified—Andre Sims and Joseph Goldstein, respectively.

In the Ward 5 Marietta school board race, incumbent Angela Orange (website) is seeking re-election, and is facing first-time candidate Jessie Bonner Jr. (website).

The Ward 6 school board race is an open seat, and the candidates are Christina Rogers (website) and Tony Viola (website).

In Ward 7, school board member Irene Holly Berens is running unopposed.

(You can view the Marietta ward maps by clicking here).

For more election day information from Cobb Elections, click here.

Related:

 

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb Elections Board members to get major stipend increases

by
Cobb Elections Board dispute roils along partisan lines
East Cobb resident Jennifer Mosbacher, chairwoman of the Cobb Board of Elections

Members of the Cobb Board of Elections will be receiving a big pay boost for the work that they do.

The Cobb Board of Commissioners on Tuesday voted to increase the monthly stipends for the five-member board, which is one of only six appointed bodies in the county getting them.

By a 3-2 vote, commissioners approved a request to increase the stipends by $50 a month.

The chair’s monthly stipend will go from $200 a month to $450 a month, and the other four members’ stipends are rising from $150 to $350 a month.

While those represent more than double what they had been paid, the new amounts are less than what was requested. An agenda item stated that $600 monthly stipend was being sought for the chair and $500 a month for everyone else.

Interim Cobb Elections director Michael D’Istri said at Tuesday’s commissioners meeting that elections board members haven’t received a raise in more than three decades, and in more recent years, their workload has increased.

Typically board members are now meeting several times a month during occasionally long meetings. A new Georgia elections law requires elections boards across the state to hold additional certification meetings around elections.

This year alone, with several municipal elections concluding in November, board members will be holding more than 30 meetings.

D’Istri also noted more recent political tensions, including in Cobb, which has swung from Republican domination in local offices to Democrats holding all countywide offices as well as majorities on the commission and legislative delegation. The GOP has a slight edge on the Cobb school board.

“The culture, the environment, the atmosphere of elections has changed drastically over the years,” D’Istri said.

Those tensions have broken out into the open at elections board meetings, including a proposed by-law change that was dropped in August. Democrats have four appointees on the current board; the Republicans one.

Current chair Jennifer Mosbacher, an appointee of Democratic Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, has been attacked by some citizens for her refusal to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

After Cupid made a comparison to the stipends for Cobb Planning Commission members, who get around $10,00 a year, Commissioner JoAnn Birrell of East Cobb said the comparison wasn’t fair.

She said planning board members, who meet once a month, do a lot of outside work, visiting sites and holding community meetings.

But Birrell, who voted against the elections board increases along with Keli Gambrill, the other Republican commissioner, was more concerned about the precedent.

“If we do this outside of the budget, we’re going to get a lot of other requests” from other appointed bodies.

According to the agenda item, the additional annual expense for the elections board stipend rises comes to $21,600, and those raises are effective immediately.

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Another ‘No Kings’ rally planned in East Cobb on Saturday

by

Another 'No Kings' rally planned in East Cobb on Saturday

Another nationwide protest against the Trump Administration entitled “No Kings” is slated for Saturday, and local organizers are once again coming to a busy intersection East Cobb.

Indivisible Cobb will be staging a protest at Roswell and Johnson Ferry roads starting at 2 p.m., following a similar rally in downtown Atlanta.

“We are planning an inclusive, safe, and fun time while addressing a profoundly serious subject–Trump and this administration claiming powers they do not have, launching one unconstitutional action after another. The citizens of Cobb County and this country are saying ‘Enough.’ We are coming together, peacefully and with one voice, to register our opposition,” said Stacey Parlotto of Indivisible Cobb.

What’s being called “No Kings 2” follows June protests that drew several hundred people to the East Cobb event.

Indivisible Cobb describes itself as ” a local, grassroots, non-partisan group dedicated to building community. We organize around progressive ideals that honor our basic human dignity and resist the oppressive policies coming out of the current administration.”

Other groups involved in the protests include the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Federation of Teachers, Human Rights Campaign, League of Conservation Voters and MoveOn.

For more information, visit the No Kings and Indivisible Cobb websites.

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

‘Community Coffee and Protest’ group gathering in East Cobb

by

'Community Coffee and Protest' group gathering in East Cobb

For the last few weeks East Cobb and Roswell residents have been gathering in front of the Trader Joe’s at Pine Straw Plaza—where anti-Trump protests took place this summer—”to bring the resistance to their own neighborhood corner” on a regular basis.

The group calls itself “The Dissenters,” and they meet every Saturday from 8-10 a.m. at the Johnson Ferry-Roswell intersection in what’s being called the “Community Coffee and Protest” initiative. Organizers provide free coffee and donuts as participants “engage in community building and peaceful advocacy on rotating weekly themes.”

The group was formed by four women who met on their neighborhood corner with coffee and donuts, as well as political signs.

“We believe real change starts with neighbors who know each other’s names and show up for each other consistently,” said East Cobb resident, Jennifer Schwert, founder of Community Coffee and Protest, in a release the group sent out this week.

“Big rallies are important, but sustainable change happens when you build genuine community networks at the local level.” 

East Cobb News has left a message seeking more specific information about what “The Dissenters” are dissenting about, how they define what they call “the resistance,” and how many people have turned out for their events thus far.

Schwert said on the group’s website that she got the idea to do something after the 2024 elections, and had around 200 names of  “women and LGBTQIA+ people across metro Atlanta—all of us furious, all of us ready to fight back” but not sure how to proceed.

Based on previous gatherings, their events favor advocacy of politically liberal positions on such issues as immigration and gun control and opposition to Trump Administration actions.

“Last week, community members who are DACA recipients approached the group to express gratitude for neighbors taking a public stand on issues affecting local families and lives,” the release said. 

[DACA means Deferred Action for Childhood Arrrivals, who are the children of illegal immigrants but who have generally been granted a reprieve from deportation.]

“The initiative is intentionally unaffiliated with any political organization, focusing instead on building grassroots community networks that can respond to local needs and concerns.”

Related:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!