An update to our story from Monday about Republican John Cristadoro, who’s seeking the Post 5 Cobb Board of Education seat currently held by David Banks and whose term expires in 2024:
Cristadoro on Friday revealed his steering committee with several prominent individuals, including a former school board member from East Cobb, and officially unveiled his campaign website.
Among those on the steering committee are Scott Sweeney, who represented the East Cobb area for two terms on the school board from Post 6 (Walton and Wheeler attendance zones) and Cindy Cooperman, a leader of the Committee for East Cobb Cityhood group.
The committee chairman is John Loud, owner of Loud Security Systems and a former president of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.
Other committee members include Mitch Rhoden of East Cobb, head of the Futren Corp., which manages the Indian Hills Country Club; Rob Stearns, a longtime media executive and former director of the East Marietta Basketball League; Jonathan Page, a former candidate for the Cobb Board of Commissioners; David Walens, an exhibit and event industry CEO and a trustee of Kennesaw State University; and former Lassiter High School quarterback Eddie Printz.
Cristadoro confirmed to East Cobb News Thursday he will be making a formal announcement of his campaign Saturday at the Cobb Republican Party breakfast.
On his website, Cristadoro said in a video that his campaign theme would be “passion, precision and purpose,” delivered with sports theme.
Involved in the Walton youth football and wrestling programs, he’s seen holding a football and acknowledging his love of sports.
“As your Cobb County school board member, I will be bringing these three elements to the table each and every day,” he said.
“The quality of classroom instruction must always be our number one goal.”
He references that subject as among his top priorities, along with school safety, maintain the Cobb schools senior tax exemption and continuing the Cobb Education SPLOST (Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax) and fostering entrepreneurship in educational programs.
Cristadoro is an Army veteran who is president of Alliance Tax Solutions, which helps businesses resolve tax issues. He and his wife Gosia have two children in the Walton attendance zone.
Post 5 was redrawn last year to include the Walton and Wheeler zones, along with the Pope zone. Banks, a Republican who is in his fourth term and is the current school board vice chairman, hasn’t announced whether he’ll seek re-election.
Related:
- Cobb ethics board dismisses complaint against Richardson
- East Cobb legislator excused from voting on youth transgender bill
- Cobb commission redistricting bill dies in Ga. Senate
- East Cobb resident, commissioner, file redistricting lawsuit
- East Cobb resident files ethics complaint against Richardson
- Cobb Republican commissioners vote, contest meeting minutes
- Ga. Attorney General: Cobb electoral maps are ‘not legally binding’
- Cobb Republican commissioners leave meeting over abstentions
- East Cobb News Politics & Elections page
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Several reasons to be cautious about this candidate.
His very early announcement, supported by his group of high-recognition Republican committee members, appears to be designed to seize the field, dominate the race, and discourage other candidates from opposing him. At the same time, it would seem that his steering committee might lend their support and expertise to other Republican candidates. Frankly, the last thing this school board needs is more Republican members.
Add to this Mr. Cristadoro’s long list of time-consuming business and family obligations, and his respect for Leader Ragsdale, who definitely needs more supervision, not admiration, and we have all the makings of another highly-politicized school board, run by Ragsdale and “supported” by a committee of heavy-weight, deep-pocket Republicans.
I, for one see very little opportunity for more community involvement or true school improvement if this is what we have to look forward to.
Good luck to Mr. Cristadoro, who seems like a very solid candidate. Basically *anybody* would be an improvement on David Banks–the very *best* to be said of him is that he’s a deranged kook
Great news! I’ll be there Saturday for the announcement.