Two candidates who announced their campaigns for the Cobb Board of Education from East Cobb nearly a year ago qualified for the 2024 primary elections on Monday.
Republican John Cristadoro and Democrat Laura Judge filed qualifying paperwork and fees at their local party offices on Monday.
They’re both parents in the Walton attendance zones, and are seeking the Post 5 seat on the school board being vacated by David Banks, a four-term Republican who is not seeking re-election.
The primary election is on May 21.
Post 5, which includes the Walton, Pope and some of the Wheeler attendance zones, is one of four school board posts on the ballot this year.
Three of those seats are held by Republicans, who have a 4-3 majority on a Cobb school board that has been strongly divided along partisan lines in recent years.
In a statement released by his campaign, Cristadoro said that “I am honored to have the opportunity to represent Walton, Wheeler, and Pope High Schools. I believe that maintaining common sense leadership for Cobb schools is paramount to the continued success of all Cobb students.”
After qualifying, Judge announced that she will be holding a fundraiser Thursday hosted by Dr. Dahlia Levine of Dentistry at East Piedmont.
Here are the respective campaign websites for Cristadoro and Judge; and you can find our at-length interviews with both candidates from last spring here and here.
They are the only announced candidates to have qualified thus far. Qualifying continues through noon Friday for Congressional, legislative and local offices across Georgia.
In Cobb, there are three seats on the Board of Commissioners on the ballot—all three currently held by Democrats.
That includes District 2, where first-term Democrat Jerica Richardson has announced her candidacy for the 6th Congressional District.
The Cobb Board of Elections announced Friday it would be honoring “home rule” maps that include some of East Cobb in District 2 while a legal dispute is played out before the Georgia Supreme Court.
The legislature included most of East Cobb in District 3, represented by GOP member JoAnn Birrell. But the county is appealing a ruling by a Cobb judge that said the “home rule” maps preferred by Democrats violates the Georgia Constitution.
Oral arguments before the court are scheduled for April 17, but on Monday Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger blasted the Cobb Elections map decision.
“The Cobb County Commission’s irresponsible decision to proceed with commission-drawn maps jeopardizes candidate qualifying and puts Cobb County voters at risk for disenfranchisement,” Raffensperger said in a release. “The court has already ruled that the commission must use the maps enacted by the General Assembly. Their unilateral decision will add confusion, likely errors, and unnecessary burdens on election officials at the 11th hour. This decision does not serve the people of Georgia.”
On Monday, two previously announced Democratic candidates for District 2 qualified. They are former State Rep. Erick Allen, who drew up the home rule maps that the county is using, and former Cobb school board member Jaha Howard.
William Costa of the Kennesaw area also qualified as a Democrat for District 2.
The other seats up this year include District 4 in South Cobb and the countywide-elected chair.
Related:
- Cobb Elections to use disputed maps in primary qualifying
- Cobb Elections sends out incorrect absentee ballots
- Georgia sample ballots released for 2024 presidential primaries
- Ex-Marietta City Council member running for Cobb Commission
- GOP-back Cobb school board electoral map signed into law
- Ga. Senate approves Republican Cobb school board maps
- Former Cobb school board member eyeing commission race
- Richardson to run in redrawn 6th Congressional District
- Judge rules Cobb home rule claim unconstitutional
- Cobb Commission candidate reports $30K+ in fundraising
- New Ga. legislative, Congressional maps approved
- Federal judge orders new Cobb school board electoral maps
- Cobb commissioners approve 2024 transit sales tax referendum
Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
