East Cobb Politics & Elections

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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Republican announces bid for Cobb Commission District 3

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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.

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2025 East Cobb Elections: Marietta mayor barely re-elected

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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.

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East Cobb Republican political activist Pam Reardon dies

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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.”

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Tuesday elections to decide Georgia PSC and Marietta races

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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.

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Democratic activist announces candidacy for Cobb commissioner

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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.

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Ga. PSC, Marietta elections early voting concludes this week

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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.

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Cobb Elections Board members to get major stipend increases

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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.

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

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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.

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‘Community Coffee and Protest’ group gathering in East Cobb

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'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.”

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Cobb Democratic Party blasts ‘unfair punishment of teachers’

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The chairwoman of the Cobb County Democratic Committee on Wednesday issued a statement blasting the Cobb County School District for placing teachers on leave for the comments they’re accused of making about the death of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk.Cobb Democratic Party blasts 'Unfair Punishment of Teachers'

Essence Johnson said in a statement authorized by the party that the school district “is once again picking and choosing which employees get a pass, and which are harassed until the ends of the earth.”

The district announced Monday that it had placed an unspecified number of employees on administrative leave while it investigates allegations that they posted social media messages “appearing to celebrate the death of Charlie Kirk.”

The district didn’t specify what the messages said, but indicated that the employees won’t be allowed in classroom settings while on leave, and that they could be subject to disciplinary action that could involve possible revocation of their teaching certificates.

Johnson said the Cobb school district’s decision smacks of hypocrisy, and referenced a December 2023 report in the Cobb County Courier alleging that employees in the district’s communications office had ties to a conservative Powder Springs group, American Vision.

In that report, Cobb school district chief accountability officer John Floresta—who oversees the communications staff—was quoted as saying that the district isn’t “interested in the personal or political views of any of our staff.”

“For those unfamiliar, Gary DeMar, the [American Vision] founder, supports the death penalty for people in the LGBTQ community,” Johnson said in her statement Wednesday. “Now, after two years the school system has changed its stance on the personal or political views of its staff according to a statement released on Monday about the suspension of a teacher.”

Johnson, an East Cobb resident and former Georgia legislative candidate, further stated that “make no mistake, we reject political violence, regardless of which ‘side’ it comes from. However, Mr. Kirk’s killing has been used as an excuse by MAGA to persecute anyone who doesn’t adhere to their beliefs.”

“To those hellbent on rewriting history and ratting out their neighbors over perceived slights, we urge you to stop. To Cobb County Schools, we demand you stop using our teachers as political pawns and allow them to do their jobs.”

The Cobb school district has a social media policy for employees that also has provisions for what employees are permitted to post on their personal and social media accounts.

Among the provisions, employees are refrained from posting material that “displays inappropriate personal information, videos, or pictures that impair the employee’s professionalism and reputation” and “harms the reputation of or discredits the District.”

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East Cobb Charlie Kirk vigil relocated to Woodlawn Square

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UPDATE: The event has been moved again, to East Cobb Park, at 7 p.m. Thursday.

The organizers of the East Cobb vigil for Charlie Kirk on Thursday said they have relocated the event to the Woodlawn Square Shopping Center on Johnson Ferry Road.

The vigil is set for the same time—7 p.m.—and will take place near the Chick-Fil-A (1201 Johnson Ferry Road).

The organizers were forced to find a new venue after Cobb County officials said Tuesday they could not have it at the East Cobb Government Services Center on Lower Roswell Road, which had been announced as the location.

The facility houses Cobb Police Precinct 4 and Cobb Fire Station 21.

County officials said they weren’t informed there was a group meeting there, and said that such gatherings are not allowed “due to the potential disruption of public safety operations. Anyone who attempts to attend will not be permitted to gather there.”

Candles will be provided and the vigil along the lines of other vigils across the country for Kirk, a conservative activist who was shot to death last week at a college event in Utah.

He was the founder of Turning Point USA, an advocacy group that organized youth around a message of conservative populism.

Kirk was a strong ally of Trump who hosted his own podcast and spoke at the Republican National Convention in 2024.

A public memorial service is scheduled for Sunday at a football stadium near Phoenix, where Kirk lived.

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Cobb Elections director leaving after less than two years

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Tate Fall, who was hired less than two years ago to run the the Cobb Board of Elections and Registration, will be leaving her post.New Cobb Elections director hired

Cobb government announced last week that she will be departing near the end of the year, after her leave period expires.

Fall has been on an unspecified leave for the last few months. Michael D’Itri, a deputy director in the elections office, has been named the acting director.

A former deputy elections director in Arlington County, Va., Fall started her tenure to succeed Janine Eveler in Cobb County in December 2023.

Fall was chosen after a search for Eveler’s successor was extended because a lack of qualified candidates.

At the time, then-Elections Board Chairwoman Tori Silas said that “it was difficult to find someone with the level of experience needed along with the zeal for this job. We believe we have found the right person at the right time.”

In Fall’s time in Cobb, the five-member appointed board has been embroiled in a number of disputes, including county commission redistricting.

Last month, the board sparred over electing officers following the appointments of two new members. Fall was absent at that meeting, at which the extension of her leave was announced.

No timetable was mentioned for hiring her successor, which will be chosen by the elections board.

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East Cobb vigil for Charlie Kirk scheduled for Thursday

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UPDATED: The vigil has been relocated to the Woodlawn Square Shopping Center.

A vigil for the slain conservative political activist Charlie Kirk has been scheduled for Thursday in East Cobb.

But the vigil that had originally been scheduled to take place at 7 p.m. Thursday at the East Cobb Government Services Center (4400 Lower Roswell Road) is being relocated

A group of East Cobb mothers organized the event, according to a message about the event sent to East Cobb News on Monday. The East Cobb Government Services Center facility includes Cobb Police Precinct 4 and the Cobb Fire Station 21.

But they did so without notifying the county, which told East Cobb News on Tuesday “that this location is not appropriate for large public gatherings, as such activity could interfere with critical police and fire operations.

“Public safety officials have attempted to contact the organizers without success. The public should be aware that this facility cannot accommodate this event due to the potential disruption of public safety operations. Anyone who attempts to attend will not be permitted to gather there.”

Randi Beth Soniker, one of the organizers, told East Cobb News Tuesday that “we were not told no” but said her group was making arrangements for another location to be determined.

A number of vigils have been taking place across the country since Kirk was killed last Wednesday while speaking at a university in Utah.

Among the vigils included a Sunday event at the Kennedy Center in Washington that drew cabinet members of the Trump Administration and 85 members of Congress.

A vigil even was held in the Utah hometown of the 22-year-old suspect, Tyler Robinson.

The East Cobb organizers said that at Thursday’s vigil, it will be “just community coming together to talk about Charlie Kirk and open with a prayer or two. People can speak about how they are feeling and what’s on their mind. We’ll light candles in honor of Charlie Kirk. Just a peaceful event to bring the community together.”

Kirk, 31, was shot once in the neck from long range while speaking at Utah Valley University, and later was pronounced dead at a hospital.

He was the founder of Turning Point USA, an advocacy group that organized youth around a message of conservative populism.

Kirk was a strong ally of Trump who hosted his own podcast and spoke at the Republican National Convention in 2024.

A public memorial service is scheduled for Sunday at a football stadium near Phoenix, where Kirk lived.

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Cobb Elections Board dispute roils along partisan lines

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Cobb Elections Board dispute roils along partisan lines
New Cobb Elections Board chairwoman Jennifer Mosbacher of East Cobb was presiding over her first meeting in that role on Monday.

Two East Cobb residents presided over the Cobb Board of Elections meeting on Monday, but their elevation to those posts last month has been called into question.

Two Democrats—Jennifer Mosbacher and Stacy Efrat—were voted as chair and vice-chair of the five-member board in July, as two other members were slated to rotate off the board due to term limits.

But the board’s lone Republican attempted to change the by-laws to allow for elections after new members begin their terms.

That GOP board member, Debbie Fisher of East Cobb, tabled her motion Monday and said she would bring it up again in September.

The terms of the Cobb legislative delegation appointments, Democrats Tori Silas and Steve Bruning, expired at the end of June.

The existing elections board by-laws state that officer elections are to be held every odd-numbered year in July “unless otherwise necessary.”

But the delegation, which has a Democratic majority of one, was late in naming their successors, Reginald Turner and Kendall Watkins, who will begin their tenures in September. (Cobb Republican legislators have objected to those appointments, saying they weren’t properly consulted beforehand.)

The elections board approves policy for the administration of Cobb Elections, which is non-partisan, and certifies elections results, among other duties (more on the board and what it does here).

During a contentious meeting Monday afternoon, Fisher said in reference to the board officer elections that “what happened was unprecedented.”

Fisher was the lone vote against the elections of Mosbacher and Efrat in a 3-1-1 vote. Abstaining was Silas, the outgoing chairwoman.

Debbie Fisher

“There is a problem that exists with just having the language that exists today,” Fisher said in explaining her motion.

A number of public speakers commented in favor of her proposal, and for greater transparency on the elections board, which has a 4-1 Democratic majority. Others said the board had done nothing improper or illegal.

Mosbacher was appointed by Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, a Democrat, and Efrat is an appointee of the Cobb Democratic Party. Fisher was appointed by the Cobb Republican Party, which on Monday called for an audit of the board officer elections process.

Fisher said near the end of the meeting that “once the voters’ trust is lost, that is not something that is easily restored.”

Some commenters took aim at Mosbacher for previously not standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. She did so on Monday. Cobb resident Hugh Norris, who’s been openly critical of her before, said he noticed she didn’t have her hand over her heart, alleging that she “might have allegiances elsewhere.”

He did commend Silas, an attorney who in her closing remarks noted that the board officer elections “have come at a time of heightened polarization, unlike anything I’ve seen in my 51 years on this earth.

But said she reminded the audience that the administration of Cobb Elections is non-partisan, and that during her tenure she was committed to her “top guiding principle . . . what best serves Cobb County voters.”

You can watch the full meeting below; it’s around an hour and 43 minutes.

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