Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid will hold a fundraiser next week at the formal launch of her re-election campaign.
The event takes place next Thursday, June 29, from 5-7 p.m. at 45 South Avenue in the city of Marietta, just below Roswell Street.
Cupid, a Democrat in her first term in the position, sent an official announcement to supporters on Thursday, and included a link for donations.
Cupid is the first woman and the first African-American to be the elected head of county government, as well as the first Democrat since Ernest Barrett in the 1980s.
She also is one of three members of the Cobb Board of Commissioners whose terms expire at the end of 2024. They include fellow Democrats Monique Sheffield of District 4 in South Cobb that Cupid represented for two terms, and the District 2 seat occupied by Jerica Richardson that is embroiled in a legal battle over reapportionment.
Cupid’s updated campaign website declares that she’s a “History Maker. Difference Maker.”
In her message to supporters, Cupid said Cobb has “accomplished a lot and overcome much by way of a pandemic, cityhood efforts and historic redistricting to limit all five of our commissioners from serving. Through all of this, Cobb remains a vibrant, economically strong county that continues to attract new residents, businesses, and energy.”
She noted that the county has maintained its triple AAA bond rating and has expanded partnerships to boost transit, provide housing assistance, and recover from the COVID pandemic.
“Moreover, we have increased in population and diversity with measures to strengthen policing in a way that builds trust. We are also modernizing our purchasing processes to make it easier for minority-, women-, and service-disabled veteran businesses to do business with the County.
Over the next four years, we have the opportunity to continue the important work of aligning our county with sound business practices in strategic management, sustainability, and workforce retention. We also look forward to finally letting citizens cast their vote on transit investment and expansion in 2024.”
Cupid’s first two-and-a-half years as chairwoman have come with some controversy, and the five-woman board has been divided along partisan lines on a number of issues.
Republican District 1 member Keli Gambrill has filed a lawsuit against the county over the Democrats’ vote to invoke home rule to keep Richardson in office [a hearing has been scheduled in Cobb Superior Court next month].
Gambrill and fellow GOP member JoAnn Birrell of District 3–whose East Cobb boundaries are also being contested in the legal dispute—have opposed the Democrats on the need for a county strategic plan, the length of the proposed transit tax, and some diversity issues.
At the first meeting of the year in January, they tried to protest the home rule vote by refusing to vote on routine county business, but Cupid said that violated board policy and she ordered them to leave the dais.
More recently, Cupid responded to citizens who have lashed out at her during public comment periods. At a recent Cobb Prayer Breakfast, Cupid referenced the Cobb school district and drew a sharp rebuke from Superintendent Chris Ragsdale.
Cupid—who has themed her agenda around the slogan “All in Cobb,”—didn’t specify in her supporters’ message details of her priorities in a second term.
“I am positive about where we are headed; however, I recognize we still have more work to do,” she said. “I look forward to making these strides with you.”
Cupid, who defeated then-incumbent Republican chairman Mike Boyce in 2020, is the only announced candidate thus far.
In 2024, most countywide offices will be on the ballot, including District Attorney and Sheriff.
Democrats hold all but one of them in a Cobb County that until recent years was dominated by GOP office-holders. Tax Commissioner Carla Jackson is the only Republican, and in 2020 had no Democratic opposition.
Related:
- U.S. Rep. McCormick endorses DeSantis in GOP presidential race
- Cobb school board hires law firm in redistricting lawsuit
- Cobb school board candidate: ‘You have to be passionate to do this’
- East Cobb advocate declares intent to run for school board
- Banks undecided about seeking re-election to Cobb school board
- Post 5 school board candidate reveals steering committee
- East Cobb News Politics & Elections page
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