East Cobb Politics & Elections

Cobb commission candidate profile: JoAnn Birrell, District 3

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During a time of political flux and at times turmoil in recent years, JoAnn Birrell said her tenure on the Cobb Board of Commissioners reflects a record of steady leadership that continues to be needed.Commissioner Birrell recognized

A Republican first elected to represent District 3 in 2010, Birrell is seeking a fifth term in the May 19 primary against Chris Wasserman, a first-time candidate.

She said that continuing her advocacy for improving public safety salaries and benefits, working to establish a Cobb veterans memorial and seeing through various renovations and other initiatives in her District are her priorities as she seeks re-election.

“I am seeking another term to ensure the projects I have initiated come to fruition and to continue serving the people of District 3 and Cobb County,” Birrell told East Cobb News.

Birrell’s website can be found by clicking here. The winner of the GOP primary on May 19 will face Democrat Kevin Redmon in November.

Early voting began Monday and continues through May 15; consult our early voting guide for more information. Our profile of Wasserman can be found by clicking here.

District 3 includes most of East Cobb (see the map). In 2022, Birrell was easily re-elected with similar boundaries. There has been some speculation since then that she would not seek another term, especially as tempers flared on the board over redistricting, a conflict she called “two years of hell.”

Wasserman has said that the five-member board needs new energy and ideas, and that Birrell bears some responsibility for occasionally fractured proceedings.

But Birrell responded by saying that she’s forged deep connections that reflect a high level of energy that she will continue to exert if re-elected.

“I have faced primary opposition in all four of my previous terms, so this was not a surprise,” Birrell said of Wasserman’s candidacy.

“Regarding the need for ‘new energy,’ a constituent recently compared my pace to the ‘Energizer Bunny.’ I have built strong community relationships and business partnerships over many years of leadership. I would be interested to know what new ideas are being proposed that have not already been explored.”

For a larger view of District 3, click here.

Wasserman has been critical of what he says is the board’s inability to separate needs from wants in budgeting, and that the focus should be on what he calls “core services.”

Birrell countered that she’s advocated fiscally responsible spending in county government, and that her top priorities have been public safety and reducing the amount of general fund money the county receives from Cobb Water revenues.

“I am committed to reducing the water transfer to zero percent,” Birrell said (the current rate is 4 percent, and it has been as high as 10 percent during her time on the board).

She also voted against imposing a stormwater fee for that reason, saying at the time that “I can’t justify any more revenue. I just can’t.”

In addition to supporting the gradual installment of a pay-and-grade salary structure for public safety personnel, Birrell also pushed for the creation of a new police precinct in Northeast Cobb that eventually will be full-service.

“Public safety has always been my top priority,” Birrell said. “I am dedicated to supporting our law enforcement, firefighters, 911, EMA, and animal services to ensure the safety of our citizens, businesses, and visitors.”

Birrell also pulled together a variety of sources to fund the rebuild of the Gritters Library, which now houses the Northeast Cobb Community Center.

But it’s more recent projects that have prompted objections from Wasserman. He’s against the proposed relocation of the East Cobb Library, and thinks the $20 million price tag could be even higher, perhaps more than double that amount.

Birrell recently proposed shifting $5 million from that project to address flooding issues along Columns Drive and for park upgrades in District 3.

Birrell (center) with East Cobb Civic Association members at an April Adopt-A-Mile cleanup.

In 2017, Birrell suggested closing the East Cobb library during a budget crunch (and when it was not in her district.) Now, she is justifying the need for a new library facility not just for financial but also for space reasons.

It’s the second-busiest branch in the Cobb library system, and the county pays $400,000 annually in rent at the Parkaire Landing Shopping Center. The proposed relocation would be to county-owned property that hasn’t been revealed.

That lease ends in 2029, and she said that “it is fiscally prudent to use SPLOST dollars to build a county-owned facility rather than continuing these lease payments.”

She added that the original cost for the relocation came to $35 million, but that has been reduced by keeping the square footage comparable to the current size.

“Despite receiving very little negative feedback directly, we still reevaluated and scaled back the costs, and the final survey showed significant community support,” she said.

In March, Cobb PARKS officials “paused” plans to redevelop Shaw Park after softball families complained a field would be taken out for pickleball courts.

Wasserman accused Birrell of waffling on the issue, saying that the pause on park plans is only because “she’s seeking re-election.”

But she said in acknowledging a miscommunication on the issue that the fields that are being relocated are being spread out, not reduced.

Birrell said previously that some critics were “trying to make it sound like we don’t care about girls softball. I’m a girl. I care.”

She said she’s stressing to voters a long history of keeping their priorities and their pocket books in mind, especially when it comes to taxes.

“Keeping taxes low and maintaining fiscal discipline remains a primary focus,” Birrell said. “My conservative record reflects this; I have never voted for a millage increase in 16 years.”

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Cobb commission candidate profile: Chris Wasserman, District 3

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As a business owner and young father raising a family in East Cobb, Chris Wasserman said he has become alarmed in recent years about the leadership of county government, and in particular how it taxes its citizens and spends their money.Republican announces bid for Cobb Commission District 3

The founder of Wasserman Talent Solutions, the Osborne High School graduate now lives in a Northeast Cobb neighborhood where his children attend school, and where he has become invested in community affairs.

He said that as he has watched a fractured Cobb Board of Commissioners spar over budgets, spending priorities and other issues in recent years, “I became very concerned about the decisions and directions” made by that five-member elected body.

Calling himself a “home-grown candidate,” Wasserman announced earlier this year that he would challenge the elder member of the board in his first campaign for public office.

“It’s time for fresh blood and new ideas,” said Wasserman, a Republican facing four-term incumbent commissioner JoAnn Birrell in the May 19 general election, with the winner to face Democrat Kevin Redmon in November.

(Early voting began Monday and continues through May 15; consult our early voting guide for more information. Here is our candidate profile of Birrell.)

Wasserman’s campaign website can be found by clicking here. He’s also having a public campaign event next Thursday, May 7, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at East Cobb Park.

Wassserman and his wife are the parents of a daughter, 10, who attends Keheley Elementary School, and a son, age 4.

District 3 includes most of East Cobb (see the map). In 2022, Birrell was easily re-elected with similar boundaries. There has been some speculation since then that she would not seek another term, especially as tempers flared on the board over redistricting, a conflict she called “two years of hell.”

Wasserman said he met with Birrell several months ago when those rumors were abounding not just in East Cobb, but around the county.

Cobb BOC District 3 map
For a larger view of District 3, click here.

When Birrell announced she would be running again, Wasserman said he wasn’t deterred from launching his bid “to be an advocate for our taxpayers and their champion.”

In an interview with East Cobb News, Wasserman said that the board requires some new leadership.

“Sixteen years is a long time,” Wasserman said, referring to Birrell. “It’s time that we expect more from our county government.”

Since 2021, the commission has had a 3-2 Democratic majority, led by Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, who previously had served as the only Democrat on a board when Republicans dominated with a 4-1 majority.

Birrell has bridged that transition, and Wasserman said she bears some responsibility for a county government that he said taxes too much and doesn’t spend that money as wisely as it should.

“The county is basically nickel- and diming us,” he said. “Enough is enough.”

He said the commission needs greater fiscal discipline, and it hasn’t been separating “needs and wants.” If he’s elected, Wasserman said, “I will be looking out for the taxpayer.”

The current Cobb fiscal year 2026 budget of $1.325 billion has held the line in general fund property tax rates, but includes increased revenues due to rising assessments that have drawn citizen protests.

But the board hasn’t reduced the millage rate to reflect that, and in starting in June, Cobb property owners will pay a stormwater fee for services that previously had been included in their water and sewer bills.

Wasserman said his priorities would be to “focus on the core services and take a hard look” at everything else.

As an entrepreneur, he continued, “I have a superpower for looking at a budget and cutting the waste. The lack of a small business owner on the BOC is a detriment.”

Among those priorities are better pay and benefits for public safety personnel, which has been one of Birrell’s signature issues during her term on the board.

“We need to do a better job of looking after the people protecting our community,” Wasserman said.

More specifically, he pointed to projects in the East Cobb area where he thinks Birrell has come up short.

He doesn’t like the proposed relocation of the East Cobb Library, and thinks the $20 million price tag could be even higher, perhaps more than double that amount.

Wasserman campaigning at Shaw Park in late March.

The original cost for the new library that was cited in the proposed 2028 Cobb SPLOST (Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax) was $25 million, but Birrell recently proposed shifting $5 million to address flooding issues along Columns Drive and for park upgrades in District 3.

“That’s just a number on paper today,” Wasserman said, adding that this typifies what he’s seeing from a county government that is “trying to remodel the basement when you’ve got a leaky roof.”

He pointed to the $60 million cost to rebuild the Cobb Animal Services shelter. While acknowledging that “costs are rising, we need to be taking care of our core services.”

As his campaign got underway, Birrell came under fire for the proposed redevelopment of Shaw Park to include more pickleball courts. Softball parents objected, saying a softball field would be taken away, a charge that Birrell and Cobb PARKS say isn’t true.

Wasserman quickly sprung into action, meeting with Sandy Plains Softball parents and taping a campaign video at Shaw Park. The county quickly announced that it was putting an indefinite hold on the redevelopment.

He accused Birrell of waffling on the issue, saying that the pause on park plans is only because “she’s seeking re-election.”

Wasserman said he’s also running to help small businesses deal with red tape and other frustrations he says he hears a lot about, including the slow pace of permitting (“there’s no sense of urgency”) and the need for better technology in county government and a “customer service mentality.”

But the larger issues concerning Cobb government are larger and deeper than that, Wasserman said, pointing to a lot of “bad blood” on the commission that he claims is preventing collaborations and healthy conversations to take place about the future of the county.

He said Birrell “should be doing that. That’s her job. We should expect more.

“People are telling me that while they appreciate what she’s done, they are ready for change. My value proposition is resonating.”

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Cobb Elections changes polling locations for 2026 elections

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The Cobb Board of Elections and Registration said Tuesday that a number of voting precinct locations will be changing for the 2026 elections, starting with the May 19 primaries.East Cobb advance voting

These changes will not affect early voting for the primaries—see our guide to how to do that—or for the general election early voting period, but only for election-day voting.

Here are the changes for precincts in the East Cobb area:

  • BELLS FERRY 02 (formerly Christ Worship Church)—Kulture Event Center, 2932 Canton Road, Suite 290
  • EASTSIDE 02 (formerly Eastside Baptist Church)—Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center, 2051 Lower Roswell Road
  • ELIZABETH 02 (formerly Covenant Presbyterian Church)—Crossview Baptist Church, 1100 Piedmont Road
  • HIGHTOWER 01 (formerly Shallowford Church)—Chestnut Ridge Christian Church, 2663 Johnson Ferry Road
  • ROSWELL 01 (formerly East Cobb Church of Christ)—Catholic Church of St. Ann, 4905 Roswell Road
  • TERRELL MILL 01 (formerly Old Eastvalley Elementary School)—Sope Creek Elementary, 3320 Paper Mill Road
  • WILLEO 01 (formerly Cobb Community Church)—Wesley Chapel Methodist Church, 4495 Sandy Plains Road

The other locations can be found by clicking here; and here’s what else Cobb Elections is saying about these changes:

“Signage will be posted at former polling locations directing voters to their new assigned location, and affected voters will also receive an updated precinct card by mail reflecting their new polling place. All voters are strongly encouraged to confirm their assigned polling location before heading to vote. Personalized voter information, including polling location, sample ballot, and more, is available through the Georgia My Voter Page at www.mvp.sos.ga.gov .

“Cobb County Elections & Registration also welcomes public input on future polling locations. Residents may submit suggestions using the Polling Location Suggestion Form available on the Cobb County website at
https://www.cobbcounty.gov/elections/election-reference/suggest-polling-location.”

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East Cobb early voting guide for the 2026 primary elections

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Georgia runoff elections

From April 27-May 15, Cobb voters can cast their ballots in person in advance of the May 19 primary elections.

On the ballot will be a variety of local, state and federal offices, ranging from county commissioner and school board to the Georgia legislature, governor and U.S. Congress, as well as judicial offices (more details below).

Voters must choose to vote in one of the following primaries: Democratic, Republican or non-partisan; no switching over is allowed.

Early voting locations will be set up around the county. Absentee ballots also can be mailed or dropped off at select locations during this period.

The Cobb Board of Elections and Cobb GIS are providing an estimated wait-time map that will be updated several times a day during the early voting period.

When, where, how to vote

Early voting will take place at select locations around the county, including the East Cobb Government Service Center (4400 Lower Roswell Road) and the Tim D. Lee Senior Center (3332 Sandy Plains Road) as follows:

  • April 27-May 1, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • May 2, Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • May 3, Sunday, 12-5 p.m. (East Cobb Govt. Center)
  • May 4-8, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • May 9, Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • May 10, Sunday, 12-5 p.m. (East Cobb Govt. Center)
  • May 11-15, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

There is no early voting May 16-18. On election day, May 19, voters will go their assigned precincts.

For more locations for early voting, click here. Cobb voters can cast early ballots at any location in the county regardless of where they live.

Voters must bring a valid photo ID with them to the polls (click here for details).

Absentee ballots must be received in person or by mail at the Cobb Elections office or delivered to a designated drop box by 7 p.m. on May 19, when the polls close for good on election day.

There is an absentee ballot drop box at the East Cobb Government Service Center that is open during early voting hours.

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

Cobb Elections also has prepared consolidated sample ballots: Democratic | Republican | Non-Partisan

Who/What’s on the ballot?

At the local level, voters in East Cobb will be choosing candidates in a number of races, including the Republican nominee for District 3 on the Board of Commissioners. Four-term incumbent JoAnn Birrell is facing a challenge from first-time candidate Chris Wasserman. Democrat Kevin Redmon awaits in November.

In Post 4 on the Cobb Board of Education, three-term Republican incumbent David Chastain will face either Micheal Garza or Susan McCartney, the Democratic candidates who have qualified.

First-term Democratic incumbent Nichelle Davis is being opposed in Post 6 on the Cobb Board of Education by Jennifer Susko.

East Cobb News has interviewed the candidates in these contested primaries and will be publishing individual stories this week.

The only countywide race on the ballot is Cobb Solicitor General. Democratic incumbent Maria Metzger has a primary opponent in Christopher Futch; no Republican qualified.

There are seven incumbent judges on Cobb Superior Court and Cobb State Court who are running unopposed.

At the state level, crowded primaries are in store for the governor’s race, where incumbent Brian Kemp is term-limited. Other statewide races include lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, the commissioners of agriculture, labor and insurance and state school superintendent.

There are five races for Georgia Public Service Commissioner, and all state legislative seats will be decided in 2026.

In East Cobb, there is only one contested primary for a legislative seat. Democratic incumbent Mary Frances Williams will face Graham Bowers in the District 37 race.

There are contested primaries in both the Democratic and Republican parties in the race to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk in the 11th Congressional District that includes most of East Cobb.

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff is unopposed in the Democratic primary as he seeks a second term, while there are five candidates seeking the Republican nomination.

There are three contested non-partisan primaries for Georgia Supreme Court Justice and another for Georgia Court of Appeals Justice, as those incumbents are facing opposition.

East Cobb News will have more details about those state and federal races in the coming week as well.

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East Cobb News Explainer: Covering politics and elections

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As part of our continuing effort to help the public understand why we do things the way we do, East Cobb News is running a short feature on an occasional basis that will give you a better understanding of what goes behind some of our news coverage.

East Cobb News Explainer: Covering politics and elections
We won’t tell you whom you should vote for, just how to go about doing it.

It’s called East Cobb News Explainer, and we started off a couple weeks ago with a look at how we cover reports of crime and publishing mug shots.

With the 2026 election season underway, we thought we’d share our approach to covering politics and elections.

We’re doing it the same way we have from the beginning, giving our readers nuts-and-bolts information on how to vote, what candidates are on the ballot and what the issues are in a particular race.

(Here’s our early voting guide to the primaries that’s a handy-dandy, all-in-one resource.)

What we will never do is tell you whom to vote for—or against.

In the coming weeks, East Cobb News will be publishing candidate profiles in contested races for Cobb commissioner and Cobb school board that voters in East Cobb will be choosing from.

There’s a lot on the line, and some contentious issues that are at the heart of those election battles. We don’t flinch from presenting them to you, and that’s been a hallmark of our political coverage all along.

But at East Cobb News we don’t dwell on the he-said, she-said dynamic that passes for so much media coverage of politics. In the current environment, that’s not very conducive to helping voters understand what’s behind what’s on their ballot.

We have some readers who love the combat-style approach to political coverage—as long as it confirms their priors.

We’re accused all the time of being in one camp or another, because some people just need an enemy to excoriate, and they love to shout from the rooftops that you’ve got to pick a side.

No you don’t. In fact, most people don’t. This is political coverage for normies, not social media-obsessed partisans.

The only “side” we pick at East Cobb News is the civics side. If there’s a need for anything in terms of media coverage of politics, that’s definitely it.

There are times in which we have to shut off social media comments for some our stories because a handful of readers decide to act like children and drive others away.

But for the most part, our readers are pretty grown-up about all this, and we do appreciate that.

We don’t endorse candidates or ballot issues (we even took a pass on the East Cobb cityhood referendum in 2022, although we had some choice commentary after the decisive votes were cast).

We focus on the mechanics of voting—where and how, etc. Especially since the COVID-19 election in 2020, when confusion reigned everywhere, we’ve found that voters just want us to help them figure out how to cast their ballots.

And especially with three weeks of early voting, including weekend voting. You don’t go to your normal polling station then. And the machines have changed. And the electoral maps change.

And of course, the candidates, races and issues are in a constant state of flux. Helping citizens keep up with a dizzying Cobb political scene requires a good bit of purely informative reporting, and that’s how we cover politics and elections at East Cobb News.

So stay tuned for candidate interviews, early voting updates and finally, on May 19, primary election day, with real-time results at your finger tips.

And then for the general election, we’ll rinse and repeat.

Please reach out to us to explain how we give you East Cobb News. E-mail us at [email protected].

East Cobb News Explainer: Covering politics and elections
You don’t have to lose your head over our political coverage, unless you really want to.

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5 East Cobb voting locations could change for 2026 elections

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The Cobb Board of Elections and Registration will be asked to relocate 13 polling stations for the rest of the 2026 election cycle, include five in East Cobb.5 East Cobb voting locations could change for 2026 elections

The board will meet on Monday at 6 p.m. in a special-called meeting to consider the requests.

There isn’t a published agenda yet, but the Cobb Elections office has posted on social media the precinct locations it wants to change, starting with the May 19 primaries.

They include the following precincts in East Cobb:

  • Bells Ferry 02: From Christ Worship Church to Kulture Event Center (2932 Canton Road, Suite 290);
  • Eastside 02: Fron Eastside Baptist Church to the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center (2051 Lower Roswell Road);
  • Elizabeth 02: From Covenant Presbyterian Church to Crossview Baptist Church (11oo Piedmont Road);
  • Hightower o1: From Shallowford Church to Chestnut Ridge Christian Church (2663 Johnson Ferry Road);
  • Willeo 01: From Cobb Community Church to Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church (4495 Sandy Plains Road).

Cobb Elections said that any individuals objecting to the changes can state them verbally or in writing at the meeting, which takes place in the second floor board room of the Cobb Government Office Building (100 Cherokee St., Marietta).

“If no objection is made, the Board will adopt this change at that time,” according to the public notices.

The adopted, the changes would go into affect on Tuesday, April 28. They would not affect early voting for the primaries that begin on Monday, April 27 at select locations in Cobb.

The new locations would be used for the primaries and any runoffs, as well as the November general election and runoffs, but only on an election-day basis.

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Ga. bill making most Cobb elections non-partisan passes

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State Sen. John Albers
State Sen. John Albers

The Georgia legislature this week gave final passage to a bill that would make most Cobb County elected offices non-partisan.

The state House passed HB 369 on Friday by a 93-64 vote, and the bill goes to Gov. Brian Kemp to be signed into law.

The bill introduced by metro Atlanta Republican lawmakers would make elections for county commissioners, school board members, district attorneys, court clerks, solicitors general and tax commissioners in Cobb, Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett and Clayton counties non-partisan.

County sheriffs elections and DeKalb County commissioners elections would be exempt from the law, which would go into effect Jan. 1, 2028 and would become effective with the 2028 election cycle.

The final vote in the House came down largely along party lines, after the Senate passed the bill 32-21 on Wednesday. You can read the bill here and check the roll call votes at the bottom of the page.

Republican State Rep. Don Parsons of East Cobb broke ranks and voted against the bill. State Rep. Sharon Cooper, another East Cobb Republican, was excused from voting.

All Cobb Democrats voted against the bill, and the rest of the county’s Republicans, in both the House and Senate, voted in favor of the bill.

The legislation applies to counties which have their own judicial circuits and appointed medical examiners.

State Sens. John Albers and Kay Kirkpatrick, Republicans with East Cobb constituencies, were among the main co-sponsors of the bill.

Albers said the bill is necessary for local jurisdictions to focus on public safety, as the five counties are considered “consolidated law enforcement counties.”

But the bill has been criticized by district attorneys in those jurisdictions, including Sonya Allen of Cobb. They claim the legislation is unconstitutional and is politically motivated, aimed in particular at Fulton DA Fani Willis.

Cobb DA Sonya Allen is one of five black female Democrats elected to be chief prosecutor in a metro Atlanta county.

She’s come under fire for her prosecution of Donald Trump relating to the 2020 Georgia presidential election results.

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 Cobb Board of Commissioners has a 3-2 Democratic majority, and recent partisan battles included two years of disputes over the redistricting of commission electoral maps before former commissioner Jerica Richardson was removed from office.

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

The bill was originally introduced as SB 573, and got a favorable vote in the Senate.

But it didn’t get a vote in the House before crossover day. HB 369 did make the crossover deadline, and was introduced as a measure to address food truck safety.

That bill was substituted in the Senate to include the non-partisan elections in the five metro Atlanta counties.

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‘No Kings’ rally to take place at East Cobb intersection

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'No Kings' rally to take place at East Cobb intersection

A liberal political advocacy group is organizing a third rally against the policies of President Donald Trump since last summer for this Saturday in East Cobb.

A “No Kings” event will take place from 12-2 p.m. at the intersections of Roswell Road and Johnson Ferry Road.

Indivisible Cobb has dubbed the intersection “Freedom Corners” and said in a release that the East Cobb event is one of many around the country to “loudly demonstrate that millions of Americans have had enough of [Trump’s] royal aspirations.”

In the release, Stacey Parlotto of Indivisible Cobb repeated many of the group’s complaints about Trump of being an “unpopular president, pushing unpopular policies” and now in the context U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran.

“Now we are fighting an undeclared war of choice, without the aid of allies, and where the justification changes by the hour,” she said.

The first East Cobb “No Kings” rally took place last June, and another was held last October, both without incident.

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.”

The “No Kings” coalition was formed after Trump’s re-election in 2024 and includes the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Federation of Teachers, Human Rights Campaign, League of Conservation Voters, Amnesty International, League of Women Voters, National Organization for Women, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and MoveOn.

Another “No Kings” rally is scheduled Saturday for 3 p.m. at the Marietta Square.

If you would like to comment on this story, please read the East Cobb News comments policy before leaving your remarks below. Comments that don’t abide by this policy will be removed.

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Primaries loom in East Cobb commission, school board races

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Commissioner Birrell recognized
Cobb commissioner JoAnn Birrell

Incumbent Cobb commissioner JoAnn Birrell will have a Republican opponent in the May 19 primaries.

Candidate qualifying ended on Friday for the 2028 elections, and East Cobb voters will have several contested local and state races on their ballots.

Birrell, who represents District 3, is seeking a fifth term, and she will be opposed by Chris Wasserman, a first-time candidate (previous story here).

The only Democrat who qualified for District 3 is Kevin Redmon, a candidate in the 2024 District 2 election, and he will await the primary winner in November.

On the Cobb Board of Education, Republican Post 4 incumbent David Chastain qualified in his quest for a fourth term, and he has no primary opposition.

But there will be a contested primary in the Democratic race for that seat, which includes the Kell, Lassiter and Sprayberry high school attendance zones. Micheal Garza, a former Georgia House candidate and frequent critic of the Cobb County School District, has qualified for Post 4, as has retired educator Susan McCartney.

The general election in Post 4 will determine party control of the school board, which has a 4-3 Republican majority.

Post 6 on the Cobb school board includes some of the Wheeler attendance zone, and Democratic first-term incumbent Nichelle Davis has qualified. But she will have a primary opponent in Jennifer Susko, a former Cobb school counselor who also has been a vocal opponent of school district leadership.

Editor's Note: Whither public comments in an age of rage?
Jennifer Susko

No Republicans qualified in Post 6, which primarily includes the Campbell High School attendance zone.

The Post 2 seat also is up for re-election, and Democratic first-term member Becky Sayler qualified without either primary or general election opposition.

All Georgia legislative seats are up for re-election in 2026, and incumbents with East Cobb constituencies have qualified.

Only of those races include a contested primary. Democratic Sen. Michael “Doc” Rhett of District 33 is being challenged by Lisa Anderson; no Republicans qualified.

Democratic State Rep. Mary Frances Williams of District 37 has a primary foe in Graham Bowers; no Republican qualified.

Republican Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick and Democrat Michael Hettig will meet in the general election in District 32.

State Sen. John Albers, a Republican from District 56, has qualified, and in November will face Democrat Patrick Thompson.

State Rep. Solomon Adesanya, a Democrat, is the only candidate in either party to qualify in District 43. In District 44, longtime Republican State Rep. Don Parsons qualified, along with Democrat Danielle Bell.

State Rep. Sharon Cooper, a Republican who represents District 45, has qualified, as has Democrat Michelle Schreiner. Republican State Rep. John Carson has qualified in District 46, as has Democrat Dumont Walker.

At the federal level, Republican U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk is retiring in District 11, which includes most of East Cobb.

Tricia Pridemore

The GOP primary will have seven candidates, including Robert Adkerson of Bartow County, who is Loudermilk’s chief of staff. Current Georgia Public Service Commission member Tricia Pridemore also has announced her candidacy for District 11, along with John Cowan of of Woodstock, Lisa Anne Carlquist of Cobb, Uloma Stacy Kama of Cobb and William Brown of Woodstock.

The Democratic primary candidates are Chris Harden of Woodstock and Cobb realtor Barry Woolfert.

The other Cobb commission election is in District 1 in North Cobb, where Republican two-term incumbent Keli Gambrill has a primary opponent in Clark Hungerford, chairman of the Development Authority of Cobb County. No Democrats qualified for Post 1; Democrats hold a 3-2 commission majority.

The only countywide office on the ballot is Cobb Solicitor, and Democratic incumbent Makia Metzer has a primary opponent in attorney Christopher Futch. No Republicans qualified.

In non-partisan judicial races, Cobb Superior Court incumbents have qualified without opposition. They include Sonja Brown, Ann Harris and Robert Leonard.

In Cobb State Court, incumbent judges Eric Brewton, Jason Fincher, Bridgette Campbell Glover and Ashley Palmer also qualified without opposition.

In a future post, East Cobb News will summarize the primaries for statewide and federal elections, including governor and U.S. senator.

For more primary and 2026 candidate election information; click here.

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

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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.

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Cobb candidate qualifying to take place for 2026 elections

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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: [email protected].

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Chastain to launch Cobb school board re-election campaign

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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.

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Local, gubernatorial candidates to visit East Cobb Democrats

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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.

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Cobb Elections seeks public input on polling locations

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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

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Physician announces campaign for Ga. 11th District Congress

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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.

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New Georgia gubernatorial candidate to run Super Bowl ad

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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.

 

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

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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.

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Democrat announces 11th Congressional District candidacy

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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.”

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East Cobb rally to protest fatal ICE shooting in Minnesota

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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.

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Republicans to continue leadership of Cobb school board

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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.

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