East Cobb News

Lassiter graduate honored for thesis at Naval Postgraduate School

June 17, 2020 4:05 PMJune 17, 2020 1:54 PM by Wendy Parker

Lauren O'Malley, Lassiter graduate

Submitted information and photo:

The Naval Postgraduate School’s (NPS) Operations Research (OR) Department offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Located in Monterey, California, it is one of the oldest, largest, and highest ranking OR departments in the world. It is without peer in terms of the extent to which graduate education is integrated with a commitment to solving real military problems. The NPS Military Operations Research Society selected four graduate students as finalists for the top thesis award. The students presented theses examining a variety of research topics, including machine learning, surface ship maintenance and active shooter scenarios, to a panel of judges for the Military Operations Research Society (MORS) Stephen A. Tisdale Thesis Award, held May 21, 2020.

Following the detailed presentations and deliberations, the judges awarded Ensign Lauren O’Malley (parents Brian and Shelley O’Malley and graduate of Lassiter High School (2015), Marietta, GA and United States Naval Academy (2019), Annapolis, MD) with the MORS/Tisdale Award and asserted that her research represented the most immediate or near-term value to the defense of the United States and its allies. In her thesis entitled, “Level Loading Surface Ship Maintenance Availabilities,” Ensign O’Malley developed a mixed integer linear programming model to produce an optimal surface ship maintenance schedule to provide private shipyards with a more sustainable and predictable workload, which in turn reduces the risk of maintenance backlogs for the Navy. Ensign O’Malley’s timely research promises to be applied immediately to real-world applications in order to improve current maintenance planning. Her research strives to advance the state-of-the-art surface ship maintenance, extending previous research conducted by NPS graduates Lieutenant Commander Adam Hilliard (2019) and Vice Admiral Richard Brown (1992).

“We’re all very proud of Lauren and the work she has done while at NPS; winning the MORS/Tisdale Award is always a great accomplishment, and she was in very strong company,” stated Dr. Matt Carlyle, Operations Research Department Chair. O’Malley joins a lengthy roster of students earning the esteemed award dating back to the 1970s. “The MORS Tisdale competition is a time where we, as a department, get to celebrate the excellent work that our students do,” said Carlyle. “Anytime anyone asks me about examples of the work we do here, I have a long list of examples that I can show to anyone who’s interested about the fantastic, relevant work that we do in this department.”

O’Malley presented her Award Winning Thesis to Vice Admiral Richard A. Brown, Commander, Naval Surface Forces/Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. O’Malley next reports to her ship home ported in San Diego, the Destroyer USS John Finn, where she will receive her designation as a Naval Surface Warfare Officer. From there, Lauren will attend the Navy’s Nuclear Power School in Charleston, SC, studying Nuclear Engineering which will ultimately lead her to being responsible for the operations of the nuclear propulsion system on an U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier.

The MORS/Tisdale Award is named in honor of Lieutenant Commander Stephen A. Tisdale, who graduated from the Naval Post Graduate school in 1989 with two master’s degrees: an M.S. in Operations Research and an M.S. in Space Systems Operations. His outstanding and influential thesis, “Assessing Optimal Utilization of Potential Anti-Satellite Architectures,” won the MORS prize. The MORS prize was renamed in honor of this outstanding officer-scholar after his tragic death in the collision of two P-3 Orions conducting a submarine tracking exercise at low altitude off the California coast on 21 March 1991.

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East Cobb Rotary partners with YMCA in hunger relief effort

June 17, 2020 3:47 PMJune 17, 2020 9:40 AM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Rotary YMCA hunger relief

Submitted information and photo:

The East Cobb Rotary and The YMCAs of East Cobb both stand out as leaders in the hunger relief efforts of our community. The Cobb YMCA facilities have always been about growing a stronger community through feeding programs year round, but with the help of the prompt, proactive East Cobb Rotary’s partnership, The Y began distributing much-needed meals to food-insecure households from school age children to seniors. Since the beginning of the health crisis, the East Cobb Ys have been responding in new and unique ways because of the unwavering support of the East Cobb Rotary.

This impactful donation of $15,000 has been vital to sustaining The Ys operations to deliver hunger relief programs serving over 1150 families each week. Before the official start of the school’s out summer break, The East Cobb Ys had already served more meals than we served all of last year. Unprecedented needs in our community, were met with unprecedented generosity from the East Cobb Rotary members. The ability to expand our already robust summer feeding program throughout Cobb County at this urgent time allows us to provide emergency relief, and the ability to provide ongoing help through one of the busiest time – the summer months.

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Petitions demand name changes for Walton, Wheeler high schools

June 18, 2020 6:50 PMJune 16, 2020 10:01 PM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb school lockdowns

Online petitions have been circulating in recent days demanding that the Cobb County School District change the names of Walton High School and Wheeler High School in East Cobb because of their namesakes.

The petitions, created at change.org, say that the names should be changed because of the racism of George Walton and Joseph Wheeler.

Walton was one of Georgia’s signatories to the Declaration of Independence and Wheeler was a Confederate general in the Civil War.

The Walton petition was created Monday by Joseph Fisher, who identified himself as a Walton student, and is titled “Rename Walton High School, Break the Cycle of White Supremacy.”

Despite George Walton’s historical significance, the petition states that:

“No one ever talks about how George Walton was a white supremacist, belonged to a slave owning family, and spent his political career championing white supremacy in Georgia by stripping Native Americans time and time again of their land. For a school well known on the national stage, it is sickening that they choose to carry themselves using a man who represents one thing: continuing white supremacy in the American South.”

Fisher said as a Walton student:

“Every day that I am on campus I feel hate and oppression from the student body and the administration. I am constantly gaslighted and singled out for my experiences as a person of color, made fun of or the subject of jokes based on the color of my skin. This year, Walton made the news when a white student followed a black student around the school making whipping noises on their cell phone. I couldn’t even say I was surprised, just because that behavior is so normalized at Walton. I wouldn’t wish that mistreatment on anyone, and I certainly won’t stand for it in my community.”

His petition had 500 signatures as of Tuesday evening.

Georgia Department of Education data last updated on March 5 indicated that Walton, which opened in 1974, had 155 black students out of an enrollment of 2,616.

Wheeler graduation rate, East Cobb graduation rates

The Wheeler petition was created over the weekend by “Wildcats for Change,” and those individuals also have started a private Facebook group.

They identify themselves as “lifelong members of Wildcat Nation” but contend it’s “past time” to remove Wheeler’s name from the school:

“Students do not deserve to attend a school whose namesake celebrates a Confederate history and one that was named for a hateful purpose: to hurt and shame Black youth that were, by court order, integrated into our county’s white school system. It does not go unnoticed that the school was named after the passing of Brown v Board of Education, in which the Supreme Court of the United States unanimously ruled that racial segregation of children in public schools was unconstitutional. It does not go unnoticed that the school was named after the state of Georgia finally began to adhere to the ruling, seven years after it passed. It does not go unnoticed that the Cobb County School Board finally voted to desegregate in 1965—the same year they named Joseph Wheeler High School.”

The Wheeler petition—which referenced the deaths of black citizens George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery in recent weeks, sparking nationwide protests—has more than 2,100 signatures.

Wheeler, which opened in 1965, has a black student body of 811 out of a total enrollment of 2,159 as of March 5.

Cobb Board of Education member Charisse Davis, who represents the Walton and Wheeler clusters, said in an interview with The Marietta Daily Journal that she’s heard from some people who wanted to change Wheeler’s name.

“I think that this is just a start in Cobb as these conversations happen all around the country, including among military leaders, who are calling for bases to be renamed,” she was quoted as saying in the MDJ‘s “Around Town” political fodder column to be published Wednesday.

Davis said in response to a request for comment from East Cobb News that “I support community members feeling empowered enough to organize around an issue.”

When asked if she supported the name changes and if so would she propose resolutions, Davis said: “With everything I know about our board majority and district leadership, I do not see this formally being debated anytime soon.”

UPDATED: After this story was published Davis signed the Wheeler petition.

George Walton, who lived from 1749-1804 and served in the Revolutionary War as a colonel in the Georgia Militia, also was twice a Georgia governor and served as a U.S. Senator.

George Walton Academy, a private school in Monroe, Ga., also is named after him.

Joseph Wheeler lived from 1836-1906, grew up in Georgia and Connecticut and was a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy. He was a cavalry officer for the Confederacy, commanding at campaigns in Shiloh, Chickamauga, Chattanooga and Atlanta and against the Union army’s March to the Sea under Gen. William Sherman.

After the war, Wheeler was readmitted to the U.S. Army, represented Alabama in Congress, and served with Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War.

He is one of the few Confederate veterans buried at Arlington National Cemetery. A bronze statue of Wheeler is one of 11 honoring Confederate military leaders at the U.S. Capitol.

It’s recently become a subject of efforts to be removed by Congressional Democrats.

Neither of the petitions offer suggestions for new names for Walton and Wheeler.

Tokyo Valentino sign goes up at vacant East Cobb store

June 16, 2020 8:18 PMJune 16, 2020 4:42 PM by Wendy Parker

Tokyo Valentino East Cobb

A Tokyo Valentino sign has gone up over the doors of what had been a Mattress Firm store at 1290 Johnson Ferry Road in East Cobb.

But there’s nothing in public documents that indicates a change of business from what had been applied for and is listed in Cobb County new business filings and state business formation documents as a clothing store.

East Cobb News first reported on May 25 that Michael S. Morrison, owner of the Atlanta-based Tokyo Valentino adult store chain, was named in Georgia Secretary of State’s records as the organizer and authorizer of a new business at that address to be called 1290 Clothing Co., LLC.

That’s the same name of a general retail store that was granted a new business license by the Cobb Community Development Agency on March 13.

Initially Morrison denied he knew anything about 1290 Clothing Co., saying he had a Tokyo Valentino store in Marietta.

But he later said he wasn’t sure what was going to go in the Johnson Ferry space, which would be his first venture in East Cobb.

East Cobb News has left a message with Morrison seeking comment about the Tokyo Valentino sign in East Cobb.

The five Tokyo Valentino stores and another store owned by Morrison called Stardust in Brookhaven sell a variety of adult books, DVDs, sex toys, adult lingerie and “smoking accessories.”

The Sandy Springs Tokyo Valentino store opened last December, also in a former Mattress Firm store. Initial filings indicated it would be for dancers’ clothes, but it opened as Tokyo Valentino. After a dispute with the city, he added non-adult items to meet code requirements.

Cobb Commission District 2 Republican race still razor-thin

June 16, 2020 11:31 AM by Wendy Parker

Cobb Commission District 2 race — *From left, Fitz Johnson, Andy Smith, Kevin Nicholas*

According to Cobb Elections on Tuesday morning, 9,500 absentee ballots still have to be counted from last week’s primary elections.

The process may have to be fully completed before it’s known who will be moving on to an Aug. 11 Republican runoff in the District 2 race for the Cobb Board of Commissioners.

The three GOP primary candidates are currently separated by 636 votes, and the top two finishers will continue to campaign.

As of 10 a.m. Tuesday, Vinings resident Fitz Johnson leads with 6,468 votes, or 36 percent. Former Cobb Planning Commission member Andy Smith has received 5,832 votes, or 32.5 percent, and Cobb Development Authority member Kevin Nicholas has 5,640 votes, or 31.4 percent.

They are vying to succeed Bob Ott, a Republican who is retiring after three terms.

(Track real-time updates here.)

Since we last tracked the results on Friday, Johnson had opened up a slightly bigger lead, and Smith separated himself a little bit more from Nicholas.

Cobb Elections staff worked into the weekend counting absentee ballots, and after Saturday still had 16,000 ballots to go. It’s not known how many of the uncounted ballots are Republican ballots cast by voters in District 2.

More than 106,000 absentee ballots were cast in the primary, a record in Cobb, and Democratic turnout has been higher overall.

Despite the close race in District 2, which is heavily Republican and includes most of East Cobb, a total of 17,940 votes have been cast for the three GOP candidates combined.

By contrast, Jerica Richardson, the only Democrat who qualified in the District 2 race, has 23,173 votes. She will face the Republican runoff winner in November.

Commissioner Lisa Cupid, the only Democrat running for Cobb Commission Chairman, got 87,555 votes. She will meet Republican incumbent Mike Boyce, who won the GOP primary wit 68 percent of the vote but received only 44,443 votes.

A total of 65,419 votes have been cast for the three GOP chairman candidates.

In Cobb Board of Education Post 5 results, Republican incumbent David Banks won a three-way primary with 6,943 votes. But his November Democratic opponent, first-time candidate Julia Hurtado, prevailed against one other foe and got 6,391 votes in a post that has been heavily GOP for years.

The Cobb Board of Elections and Registration, which certifies elections results, has postponed its scheduled meeting from Wednesday to Friday at 12 p.m. That meeting will be held online, and the public can watch by signing up here.

Cobb school superintendent responds to anti-racism concerns

June 16, 2020 10:30 AM by Wendy Parker

Cobb school superintendent honored

Cobb school superintendent Chris Ragsdale has sent a note to Cobb County School District employees in response to requests by two school board members for anti-racism measures.

Last week board members Charisse Davis and Jaha Howard wrote to Ragsdale, urging him to undertake steps to address racial inequities in the district, including bias training for employees and “nontraditional solutions” to increase teacher diversity.

Ragsdale didn’t address those matters in his e-mailed note, but said that board member Randy Scamihorn is proposing an anti-racism resolution at the board’s June 25 meeting.

“Board member [David] Morgan has also placed an item on the agenda regarding ‘Moving Forward.’ I will be making a statement during the meeting as well,” Ragsdale said.

Davis and Howard have been pressing the district on equity issues for several months, but protests and other events in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, a black man in Minneapolis in police custody, have triggered a new wave of efforts to prompt action by Cobb schools.

Cobb is Georgia’s second-largest school district, with nearly 114,000 students, a majority of them from minority groups. According to district data, 30 percent of all students are black, 22 percent are while and six percent are Asian.

“To say that we are hurting is very much an understatement,” Ragsdale wrote, “but it does convey that we all have a part to play in moving forward. Philonise Floyd, George Floyd’s brother, made a statement that said ‘You can do your job and still maintain respect for others.’

“We should all take that statement and live by it. As we all work together to move forward, we will continue to maintain and improve upon an environment free from hate of any type. We are very successful as a school district, because we work together as One Team. Let us be the example to others of how to come together and work together for a common goal.”

Some Cobb school parents have wanted Cobb schools to respond in a fashion similar to Marietta City Schools, which in late May issued a lengthy statement from Superintendent Grant Rivera. His “call to action” highlighted steps that district is taking to address diversity issues, including a cultural fluency project at Marietta High School.

A school board candidate from East Cobb has also weighed in on the matter.

Julia Hurtado, who won last week’s Democratic primary for Post 5, wrote to Ragsdale saying “this delayed response sends a message of apathy and indifference to those who have been demanding progress for some time.

“Why did our families have to wait over a month [since Floyd’s death] for CCSD leadership to commit to a mere conversation, let alone solutions?”

She urged that Ragsdale “take steps to address systemic racism that can be found in every school system, including ours.”

In November, Hurtado will be facing Republican incumbent David Banks, who has said the district has adequately handed racial concerns in the schools.

Cobb to hold virtual open houses on 2022 SPLOST projects

June 16, 2020 8:13 AM by Wendy Parker

Following up the passage a couple weeks ago of the 2022 Cobb SPLOST project list that will be on the November ballot, the county is sending out word of two “virtual” open houses this week soliciting your feedback:

“Learn more about what is included in the lists, the impact on the county’s budget if these projects are funded with SPLOST proceeds and ask your questions during two online open houses this week.

To view more information on SPLOST Renewal projects, visit cobbcounty.org/communications/news/cobb-boc-approves-list-splost-projects.

6-8 p.m., Wednesday, June 17
Join us on the CobbTV networks for a SPLOST overview featuring Chairman Mike Boyce, Cobb commissioners and county department heads as they present items on the project list.

6-8 p.m., Thursday, June 18
Representatives from Cobb’s six cities will join us to discuss their needed infrastructure improvement plans and the impact on their budgets if their projects are funded with SPLOST proceeds. You will have a chance to have your questions answered by commenting online or sending your email questions to SPLOSTcomments@cobbcounty.org. You can watch live and join the discussion at cobbcounty.org/CobbTV, facebook.com/cobbcountygovernment or youtube.com/cobbcountygovt.

The county had scheduled town halls about the SPLOST this spring but they were cancelled due to COVID19. You can read through the full project list here.

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!

Georgia House passes MUST Ministries-inspired sandwich bill

June 15, 2020 3:11 PM by Wendy Parker

State Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick

Both houses of the Georgia legislature have easily approved a bill by an East Cobb lawmaker that would allow non-profit organizations to make sandwiches in church and similar kitchens as part of their efforts to feed those in need.

The House on Monday passed SB 345, the so-called “Save Our Sandwich Bill” by a 150-12 vote, after passing the Senate 53-0 in March, before the legislative session was shut down due to COVID-19.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, an East Cobb Republican, changed a provision in state law that allowed only sandwiches that had been prepared in certified, licensed kitchens.

Sponsored in the House by Rep. Bart Reeves of Marietta, the bill still prohibits the distribution of sandwiches made in private homes.

(You can read the bill here.)

The bill will be sent to Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature. The legislature, which returned to action Monday, still has to pass a state budget.

Last summer, right before its summer lunch program began, Cobb-based MUST Ministries was told by the Georgia Department of Public Health it could not distribute homemade sandwiches, even those that had been made for years in church kitchens, and by other civic organizations.

MUST scrambled to raise money to purchase sandwiches made in approved kitchens, and is doing the same this summer.

Since COVID-19 shut down schools in March, MUST has teamed up with the Cobb County School District to provide meals for students, and is continuing that program through the end of June.

MUST also is providing summer meal kits through July in East Cobb at Blackwell Elementary School (Mondays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church (Fridays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.).

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!

Cobb DA’s Office marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

June 15, 2020 2:18 PMJune 15, 2020 10:42 AM by Wendy Parker

Cobb DA World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Submitted information and photos:

Cobb District Attorney Joyette M. Holmes recognizes today as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

“Nearly 100,000 people over the age of 65 call Cobb home, according to Census estimates,” DA Holmes said. “Abuse, neglect and exploitation against this vibrant but vulnerable group cannot be tolerated.”

Holmes’ office partnered with liveSAFE Resources on “yarn storm” art installations in Marietta and Acworth to mark the day. Community members donated hundreds of crocheted and knitted squares for the project. The yarn storms are located at First United Methodist Church near the Marietta Square; around the Acworth Community Center in Logan Farm Park; and at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Acworth. Two photos are attached; see more on Facebook @cobbda. Please visit in person to see the installations and learn more about elder abuse. The Marietta installation will remain up all week.

Senior ADA Jason Marbutt chairs the Cobb Elder Abuse Task Force and regularly speaks to citizen groups on how to avoid falling prey to relentless scammers and others who seek to exploit elders. (See attached ‘Tips from the Chairman.’) Marbutt also specializes in prosecuting those who harm the elderly or disabled. Often, perpetrators are ‘friends’ of the victim, or even relatives.

Abuse, neglect and exploitation against people age 65 or older are felony crimes under Georgia law punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

“We hear lots of excuses or rationalizations as to why someone abuses, neglects or exploits an elderly person,” Marbutt said. “This is by no means an exhaustive list, but here are some common situations:

Using undue influence or coercing an elder person to give money or resources to another person IS ELDER EXPLOITATION.

Using a Power of Attorney to help yourself to an elder person’s money or assets without benefit to the elder IS ELDER EXPLOITATION.

Failing to provide health care as needed for an elder person IS ELDER NEGLECT.

Striking, pushing, and yelling at a senior citizen are all ELDER ABUSE.”

If someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. Non-emergency reports can be made to Adult Protective Services at 866-552-4464 or online at aging.georgia.gov.

Additional resources:

liveSAFE Resources is a 501(c)3 that provides safety and healing to those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse by offering services, creating awareness and fostering support within our community. Its 24-Hour Crisis Line is available to anyone needing help: 770-427-3390. For more information, go to: www.livesaferesources.org

National Institute on Aging, www.nia.nih.gov.

Cobb DA World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

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!

Updated 6.13.20: Mapping Cobb COVID-19 cases by ZIP Code

June 13, 2020 2:15 PM by Wendy Parker

Cobb COVID ZIP code map

Since there’s been a bit of a bump in COVID-19 cases in Georgia, we’re taking a second look this week at how that breaks down in Cobb County and East Cobb in particular.

On Monday, we posted with an update showing 608 positive tests (cumulative) in the five ZIP codes in East Cobb.

As of Friday afternoon, that number had grown to 650, according to figures posted by Cobb and Douglas Public Health.

Here’s a link to a hover map (screenshot above) that tracks the number of cases by each ZIP Code and contains related data.

The biggest jump in East Cobb took place in 30067, which had 174 cases at the start of the week, and now has a reported 192 cases. The biggest number in the county remains 30060, which has 430 positive cases, followed by 30127 (337) and 30008 (309).

The figures below show the number of cases in East Cobb, with Friday’s figures next to the ZIP Code, and Monday’s totals in parenthesis:

30067: 192 (174)
30062: 180 (172)
30066: 150 (140)
30068: 113 (109)
30075: 15 (13)

The totals are compiled by the Georgia Department of Public Health, State Electronic Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (SENDSS) but do not include the number of deaths by ZIP Code.

Across Cobb County there have been 3,522 confirmed cases of COVID-19 overall, 215 total deaths and 752 hospitalizations.

Those are among the highest figures in the state for any county, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health, which updates figures daily at 3 p.m.

The rate of testing also has gone up significantly in Georgia, with 586,426 viral tests (to determine whether someone’s infected) and 110,825 antibody tests.

Georgia DPH had been combining them but now lists them separately.

The number of positive viral tests now stands at 50,251 for an infection rate of 8.6 percent. A total of 2,418 Georgians have died due to COVID-19. In Cobb County, the test positivity rate is 5.26 percent.

The state data also breaks down cases and deaths by race, sex and ethnicity.

For more data from Cobb and Douglas Public Health, click here.

Cobb government has a COVID-19 dashboard using data from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering.

East Cobb Election Update: 2020 primary results breakdown

June 13, 2020 12:54 PMJune 13, 2020 10:52 AM by Wendy Parker

While all results from Tuesday’s primary elections remain unofficial—and a few, like the District 2 Cobb Board of Commissioners Republican race—are still too close to call—we’re serving up here a breakdown how voters in the county, and in particular East Cobb, voted the way they did in a variety of local, state and federal elections.

Absentee ballot-counting is going on this weekend, and a controversy that’s sure to linger into the November general election centers on who’s to blame for the problems many voters had on Tuesday.

If you want to look through Cobb-specific results on one link, click here. Otherwise, what follows are the latest vote tallies, as of late Saturday morning, listing the top finishers in selected contested primaries.

Keep in mind that results won’t be certified until next Friday, and that runoffs will take place on Aug. 11 in races in which the leading vote-getter did not receive 50 percent plus one vote in the primary.

You can track updates in real-time by clicking the link for each race that includes precinct-by-precinct totals:

Cobb Commission Chairman (GOP)

Mike Boyce (incumbent): 40,671 (68.4%)
Mike Boyce
Larry Savage: 14,274 (24%)
Ricci Mason 4,515 (7.6%)
View full results

Cobb Commission District 2 (GOP)

Fitz Johnson: 5,715 (35.6%)
Andy Smith: 5,238 (32.6%)
Kevin Nicholas: 5,074 (3.166)
View full results

Cobb Board of Education Post 5 (GOP)

David Banks (incumbent): 6,383 (55%)
Shelley O’Malley: 2,802 (24%)
Matt Harper: 2,405 (20%)
View full results

Cobb Board of Education Post 5 (Democrat)

Julia Hurtado: 5,581 (58%)
Julia Hurtado
Tammy Andress: 4,043 (42%)
View full results

U.S. Senate (Democrat)

Jon Ossoff: 516,283 (51.7%)
Teresa Tomlinson: 155,663 (15.6%)
Sarah Riggs Amico : 121,514 (12%)
View full results | Cobb results

6th District U.S. House (GOP)

Karen Handel: 41,509 (74.4%)
Joe Profit: 8,208 (14.7%)
View full results | East Cobb results

Cobb Superior Court Judge (non-partisan)

Jason Marbutt: 51,682 (38.8%)
Greg Shenton: 43,696 (32.8%)
John Robert Greco: 37,856 (28.4%)
View full results

Cobb Superior Court Judge (non-partisan)

Kellie Hill: 87,246 (63%)
Kellie Hill
Daniele Johnson: 50.281 (36.8%)
View full results

Cobb Superior Court Judge (non-partisan)

Angela Brown: 83,335 (57%)
Reuben Green (incumbent): 62,396 (42.8%)

46th District Georgia House (Democrat)

Caroline Holko: 3,093 (54.8%)
Shirley Ritchie: 2,548 (45.1%)
View full results

Cobb Sheriff (Democrat)

Craig Owens: 41,350 (49%)
Greg Gilstrap: 22,554 (26.8%)
Jimmy Herndon: 20,185 (24%)
View full results

Cobb State Court Judge Post 6 (non-partisan)

Trina Griffiths: 32,543 (23.6%)
Diana Simmons: 30,568 (22.1%)
View full results

Boyce defends Cobb Elections, blasts Ga. Secretary of State

June 12, 2020 4:50 PM by Wendy Parker

Cobb budget town hall, Mike Boyce, Cobb public safety bonus, Cobb millage rate

Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce had some harsh words this week for the Georgia Secretary of State and strongly defended the county’s elections chief as absentee ballot counting from Tuesday’s primary elections continues into the weekend.

In his weekly newsletter issued Friday, Boyce modified comments he made earlier this week that Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger should resign over his handling of the elections, a subject that’s drawn national attention.

Voting issues included new machines that didn’t work properly in some precincts, including several in Cobb County, and that caused long voter lines that lasted for hours in certain areas, especially in Fulton and DeKalb counties.

Raffensperger blamed county elections offices for a lack of staffing and training, which caused a furor at the local level.

He’s a Republican, as is Boyce, who won 67 percent of the in-person vote during Tuesday’s GOP primary. In November, Boyce will face Democratic commissioner Lisa Cupid.

“I have since sent the Secretary of State an email stating if he would own up to his office’s responsibility for the problems, and work toward a solution to prevent them from happening again, I would reassess my position,” Boyce said in his newsletter.

He especially defended the Cobb Board of Elections and Registration and director Janine Eveler. Shifting blame to her and her staff, Boyce, said, “is not warranted. They have all been true public servants and are continuing to do so. This endorsement comes from watching all that they have been doing over many months to prepare for this election. We should be optimistic that a record number of people voted in this primary and did so by absentee balloting. Every one of these absentee ballots has to be validated and scanned. It takes time.”

Cobb government spokesman Ross Cavitt said by midday Friday 73,000 absentee ballots had been counted, and another 33,000 to 36,000 are still left to be counted. On Thursday, the uncounted number was more than 61,000.

The record absentee ballots were the result of COVID-19, and Cavitt estimates that 109,000 absentee ballots will be counted—which represents around a fifth of the 518,000 registered voters in Cobb County. He also said 1,250 provisional ballots also are being counted.

(You can monitor the counting by clicking here.)

Among the local races hanging in the balance of absentee voting is the Republican primary for District 2 on the Cobb Board of Commissioners, which includes some of East Cobb. Fitz Johnson leads with 35.7 percent of the vote, followed by Andy Smith with 32.5 percent and Kevin Nicholas with with 31 percent.

All three candidates are separated by less than 500 votes. An Aug. 11 runoff awaits for the top two finishers, but primary results won’t be certified until next Friday.

Boyce said it wasn’t a surprise that given all the circumstances there would be election-day problems. “But I have learned that once you have to defend a position to the public you generally have lost the argument. So we are going to own up to the problems and fix them.”

Boyce added that November’s elections—which include two U.S. Senate races in Georgia as well as a presidential contest—will attract even more voters “and we can expect similar circumstances.

“As much as I believe the current system is broken, I don’t see it being replaced or repaired in a significant way before November,” he said in his newsletter, which is distributed to Cobb citizens. “What I can assure you is that the elections team is taking the necessary measures to ensure that your vote is protected and counted.”

Cobb school board members ask CCSD for anti-racism response

June 12, 2020 4:57 PMJune 12, 2020 3:34 PM by Wendy Parker

Cobb school board member Charisse Davis

Two of the three black members of the Cobb Board of Education have sent a letter to Superintendent Chris Ragsdale asking for several “action items” to address racial and diversity issues within the Cobb County School District.

Charisse Davis of Post 6, who represents the Walton and Wheeler clusters, and Jaha Howard of Post 2 (Osborne and Campbell) dated the letter on Friday.

On her Facebook page, Davis said Friday afternoon that the other five board members were asked to sign the letter before it was sent to Ragsdale, but “there was no response.”

That includes the other black board member, David Morgan, who is one of three Democrats on the board with Davis and Howard.

The letter (you can read it here) states that “we acknowledge that racial discrimination permeates our courts, housing, employment, healthcare and yes—our schools” and requests the district “commit to the practice of anti-racism” by adopting the following measures, and this is verbatim from the letter:

Provide consistent cultural relevancy and bias training for all employees
Seek nontraditional solutions for increasing teacher diversity in all schools
Examine the discrepancies in disciplinary outcomes by race
Reevaluate the requirements of standardized test scores as criteria for program admittance
Formally speak out against state level policies (such as voucher bills) that redirect public school funding and contribute to inequities.

Davis noted on her Facebook page that “we are weeks into a national conversation on systemic racism in this country and neither the board as a whole nor district leadership has made a statement.”

In response to a message from East Cobb News seeking comment, a district spokeswoman said late Friday afternoon that board member Randy Scamihorn—one of the board’s four Republicans—has requested a resolution condemning racism be included on the board’s agenda for its June 25 meeting.

Davis and Howard have been pressing the district and other board members on diversity issues for several months, including asking for the designation of a chief equity officer.

They have openly clashed with board members on related matters, and last year claimed the Republican majority was censoring them by banishing board member comments during meetings.

Some of those comments centered around racial issues that Howard was addressing at the local, state and federal level, and not just related to Cobb schools.

In late May, Davis and Howard held an anti-racism rally in Smyrna in the wake of the recent killings of black citizens George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery by police in Minneapolis, Louisville, and Brunswick, Ga., respectively.

Their names were included in the letter to Ragsdale, their deaths, Davis and Howard wrote, being “symptoms of this much larger issue.”

Earlier this week the Cobb Board of Commissioners passed an anti-racism resolution, but not after clashing during a work session and behind the scenes over revisions. The cities of Smyrna, Marietta and Acworth also have passed anti-racism resolutions in the last two weeks.

Kemp lifts more restrictions on 65+, dining, public gatherings

June 22, 2020 6:45 PMJune 11, 2020 7:09 PM by Wendy Parker

Kemp executive order

Another gradual lifting of restrictions due to COVID-19 was announced by Gov. Brian Kemp on Thursday, including removal of a general shelter-in-place order for Georgia citizens aged 65 and older that had been in place since March.

The order, which begins on Tuesday, June 16, and continues through June 30, also relaxes restrictions on a wide variety of public gatherings, including sports competitions, summer camps, live performances, conventions and restaurants and bars.

(You can read the full order here.)

Gatherings of up to 50 people will be allowed with social distancing requirements.

Starting on Tuesday, there won’t be a party maximum for the number of people who can sit together, nor will there be a limit on the number of patrons allowed per square foot.

Workers at restaurants, bars, banquet facilities and other private event facilities won’t have to wear face masks unless they’re interacting with patrons.

Bars will be allowed to have 50 people, or 35 percent of the total listed fire capacity, whichever number is greater.

Cafeteria-style service at salad bars and buffets is allowed if the restaurant provides hand sanitizer and sneeze guard, practices social distancing and replaces self-service utensils.

Also starting Tuesday, indoor movie theaters and cinemas won’t have to limit the number of people seated together in a party.

Walk-in customers will be allowed at body art studios, barber shops, hair salons, massage therapy establishments and tanning facilities.

The order also requires professional sports teams and organizations to follow the rules and guidelines set by their respective leagues. High school and collegiate teams and organizations must follow rules and guidelines set by their conferences or associations. Amateur sports teams and organizations must follow criteria for non-critical infrastructure entities in the order.

Those attending or working overnight summer camps must prove they have received a negative COVID-19 test within 12 days—an increase from seven days—prior to the starting date of a camp.

Two other major areas of restrictions to be eased will be effective July 1.

Conventions, trade shows, exhibitions and business retreats (100 people or more) will be allowed if they meet 21 specific requirements and get a special permit.

That does not pertain to regular religious services, business meetings or sporting events.

Also on July 1, live performance venues may reopen if they meet specific criteria based on three tiers of activities.

A shelter-in-place order still applies to the following:

Those persons who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility, including inpatient hospice, assisted living communities, personal care homes, intermediate care homes, community living arrangements, and community integration homes
Those persons who have chronic lung disease
Those persons who have moderate to severe asthma
Those persons who have severe heart disease
Those persons who are immunocompromised
Those persons, of any age, with class III or severe obesity
Those persons diagnosed with the following underlying medical conditions: diabetes, liver disease, and persons with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis.

Pope student plans East Cobb protest for Black Lives Matter

June 11, 2020 5:32 PM by Wendy Parker

Eli Lubell, East Cobb Black Lives Matter protest — *Eli Lubell at a previous Black Lives Matter rally in East Cobb.*

Eli Lubell has been attending a number of demonstrations, rallies and protests for the Black Lives Matter movement over the last couple of weeks.

On Friday, he’s hopeful a teen-organized protest he’s leading will be the biggest yet seen in East Cobb.

It starts at 1 p.m. at the corners of Roswell Road and Johnson Ferry Road, the site of ongoing rallies for the same purpose.

“I just wanted to create a sense of urgency and community,” said Eli, who’s 16 and attends Pope High School.

While similar rallies have drawn a few dozen people, his goal is to have a hundred or more people of all ages attend.

“It’s about visibility, about getting people in a conservative area to be more active and vocal,” Eli says.

Like many whites, Eli was prompted to action after seeing a video of a while Minneapolis police officer kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, a black man, who was handcuffed on the ground and who later died.

That set off protests by Black Lives Matter and other groups around the country, as well as violence attributed largely to other elements.

“People in East Cobb aren’t always outspoken about their beliefs,” he says. “When something doesn’t affect them, they don’t think it’s their problem.”

But Eli said he learned that attending other rallies, especially in Decatur and Woodruff Park in Atlanta, how sheltered he had been from the realities faced by those in other racial and ethnic groups.

“Being a bystander is part of the problem,” he said, “but that’s starting to change.

“I don’t think I was aware. I hadn’t taken the time to educate myself.”

Eli drew some parallels to the Me Too movement, which struck a chord across the larger American society in the wake of sexual assaults and harassment by high-profile men.

He said he’s been hearing from other teens and promoting the rally via Instagram and other social media channels, but anyone of any age group is invited to attend.

Friday’s protest is expected to last two or three hours, he said, and a rally for Black Lives Matter is slated for 5-7 p.m. at the same Roswell-Johnson Ferry intersection that’s had daily protests.

More than 61K Cobb absentee ballots still to be counted

June 11, 2020 6:03 PMJune 11, 2020 3:41 AM by Wendy Parker

We noted Wednesday the long task facing Cobb Elections in counting a record number of absentee ballots, a process that will go into Friday. cobb advance voting, Cobb voter registration deadline, Walton and Dickerson PTSA candidates forum

Cobb County government sent out word at 3 p.m. Thursday that the number of absentee ballots has exceeded 105,000, with more than 61,000 still to be counted, and the process may not be complete until the weekend:

The number of absentee ballots that were mailed or turned in for the June 9th primary in Cobb is now up to more than 105,000. There are a few more still being checked in that were dropped off by the 7 pm Tuesday deadline. We expect elections teams will be working into the weekend to get these ballots processed and scanned in so they can be added to the results.
As of mid-afternoon, there were in excess of 61,500 absentee ballots that had yet to be included in the results.

Cobb Elections has expanded the locations where they are counting absentee ballots. A record (by far) number of voters used absentee voting in the June 9th primary, with well in excess of 90,000 ballots to count. The majority of those remain to be counted, and the results (found at https://bit.ly/2AkK9YY) will continue to be updated throughout the day. Stay tuned for updates on the counting. Workers are currently counting ballots at:

1) Main Elections Office, 736 Whitlock Ave., Marietta
Absentee Voting Room – Viewing from outside through the windows
Elections Reception Lobby – Enter Main entrance, viewing from the hallway through suite door/window
Upstairs Training Room – Enter Main entrance, follow signs, viewing area inside room
2) Jim Miller Park Event Center, 2245 Callaway Rd SW, Marietta, GA 30008

Cobb government spokesman Ross Cavitt issued an alert at 6 p.m. Thursday that the Cobb Board of Elections and Elections is delaying the certification process. The board was to have met next Wednesday to certify results, but that meeting will now take place on Friday, June 17, start time TBA.

Cobb absentee ballot counting may last until Friday

June 10, 2020 5:05 PM by Wendy Parker

Cobb Elections said Wednesday afternoon that an estimated 90,000 absentee ballots are still being counted, leaving a number of close races in East Cobb and around the county still in question. cobb advance voting, Cobb voter registration deadline, Walton and Dickerson PTSA candidates forum

County spokesman Ross Cavitt said all results for the moment (available by clicking here) reflect in-person early voting and Tuesday’s primary voting figures at precincts.

Here’s what else he said:

“But the majority of the absentee ballots either mailed in or dropped off remain to be tallied. Work on sending in results from 70,000+ of those absentee ballots is ongoing and could continue through Friday.”

So it may not be until later in the week that we know who will be in the Republican runoff for District 2 of the Cobb Board of Commissioners. For the moment, Fitz Johnson leads a three-man field with 36 percent of the vote, while Andy Smith has 32 percent and Kevin Nicholas 31 percent.

A total of 583 votes separates them, and all that is certain is that the top two finishers will meet in a runoff in August.

An early check of the 39 precincts shows that Johnson, a retired Army officer and business owner, won seven precincts in East Cobb, while winning all but one in his home base of Cumberland-Vinings (marked in blue).

Smith and Nicholas, both from East Cobb, won precincts marked in light green and dark green, respectively. Click here to hover over precinct totals.

Another close race in East Cobb awaiting absentee ballot totals is the Democratic primary in State House 46.

Caroline Holko was leading Shirley Ritchie by 278 votes in a district that includes 12 precincts in Northeast Cobb and four in Cherokee County. As of 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, only 50 percent of those precincts have reported, with absentee ballots also to be counted.

That is the only contested legislative race in East Cobb.

As we noted late last night, Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce and incumbent Cobb school board member David Banks were leading their GOP primaries without the need for a runoff.

So was Julia Hurtado, a Democrat in a two-way race for Post 5 and who had 58 percent of the vote.

Earlier today it looked as though Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jon Ossoff may not win that primary without a runoff, as he hovered around 48 percent of the vote.

With 81 percent of the in-person vote counted, Ossoff had 49 percent of the vote late Wednesday afternoon, but absentee ballots statewide have not all been counted.

The Democratic primary for Cobb Sheriff also appears headed for a runoff, with Craig Owens collecting 47 percent over Greg Gilstrap (30 percent) and East Cobb resident Jimmy Herndon (25 percent).

In other Cobb elections of note, Reuben Green, Chief Judge of the Cobb Superior Court, appears to have lost his re-election bid to attorney Angela Brown, who led 55-44 percent.

A runoff for an open seat on the Superior Court bench is shaping up between Jason Marbutt and Greg Shenton, while Cobb Magistrate Judge Kellie Hill was leading in a race for another open seat with 61 percent of the vote against Daniele Johnson.

A State Court judge runoff will take place in August between Trina Griffiths and Diana Simmons, also for an open seat.

All Cobb elections results will be updated at this link.

Handel cruises in GOP primary for 6th District Congress

June 10, 2020 9:56 AM by Wendy Parker

There will be a rematch in the 6th Congressional District election in November.

Former Congresswoman Karen Handel easily won the Republican primary Tuesday night against four other candidates, getting 73 percent of the vote.

Karen Handel concedes, 6th Congressional District — *Former U.S. Rep. Karen Handel*

That’s with 135 of the 140 precincts reporting in the district, which stretches from East Cobb to North Fulton and north and central DeKalb.

Handel received 21,287 votes to 4,525 votes for her nearest competitor, former Atlanta Falcons running back Joe Profit (full results here).

She won all 51 precincts in East Cobb, tallying 8,576 votes, or 68 percent.

Handel will be facing U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, a Democrat who was unopposed Tuesday. Two years ago, McBath unseated Handel to become the first Democrat to represent the 6th in 40 years.

After thanking her supporters, Handel said Wednesday that “Democrats like Nancy Pelosi and Michael Bloomberg will be back to pour in millions to protect the investment they’ve made in Lucy McBath. GA-6 deserves serious, proven leadership in these difficult times, and I look forward to taking on Lucy McBath and her do-nothing record.”

McBath’s campaign sent out several messages Wednesday morning, including a response to a Handel comment that during her time as Georgia Secretary of State, Georgia was “a model for voter integrity.”

Said McBath: “I have heard from numerous constituents who have applied for a ballot and never received it, who were stuck in lines for over two hours today in the rain, and many more who never were able to vote. For Karen Handel to cite this as a model for voter integrity is despicable.”

In 2018, McBath prevailed by fewer than 3,000 votes in one of the key races that swung control of the U.S. House to Democrats. It’s considered another bellwether campaign in the fall.

In the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, former 6th Congressional District candidate Jon Ossoff appeared headed for a runoff.

With 77 percent of precincts reporting statewide, he had 48.8 percent of the vote to 14 percent for former Columbus mayor Teresa Tomlinson and 12 percent for former lieutenant governor candidate Sarah Riggs Amico.

They’re vying to compete in November against incumbent Republican David Perdue, who was unopposed.

In a special election in 2017, Ossoff held a commanding lead in a jungle primary for 6th District Congress. But he was forced into a runoff, where Handel defeated him.

Georgia’s other senator, Kelly Loeffler, will be involved in a jungle primary in November. A Republican, she was appointed in January to succeed Johnny Isakson.

The winner in the fall will fill out the last two years of Isakson’s term.

In the Georgia Democratic presidential primary, former vice president Joe Biden got 83 percent, although he wrapped up the nomination several weeks ago.

President Donald Trump was the only Republican on the statewide ballot.

East Cobb Election Update: Boyce, Banks lead in GOP primaries

June 10, 2020 9:10 AMJune 9, 2020 7:59 PM by Wendy Parker

UPDATED, 12:30 AM:

Cobb commission chairman Mike Boyce has a big lead in the Republican nomination Tuesday, earning 67 percent of the vote with 79 percent of the precincts reporting.

Three-term incumbent David Banks also appeared headed for the GOP nomination for Post 5 on the Cobb Board of Education with 55 percent of the vote against two challengers and 85 percent of precincts reporting.

In the Democratic primary for Post 5, physical therapist Julia Hurtado led Lassiter PTSA co-president Tammy Andress 58-42 percent with 85 percent of precincts reporting.

The GOP primary for District 2 on the Cobb Board of Commissioners appears headed to a runoff.

Fitz Johnson has 44 percent of the vote with 75 percent of precincts reporting, while Andy Smith and Kevin Nicholas had 28 and 27 percent respectively.

In the 6th Congressional District Republican primary, former Congresswoman Karen Handel got 68 percent of the vote against four other candidates in polling that stretched from East Cobb to North Fulton to Central DeKalb.

Election night reporting

UPDATED, 11:35 P.M.:

We’re still waiting for election-day precinct totals to come in, and not much has changed in the races noted earlier.

There are some local judicial races that are being contested, including one involving Chief Judge Reuben Green of the Cobb Superior Court. He’s trailing early in his non-partisan race against veteran attorney Angela Brown, 61-39 percent.

UPDATED, 10:30 P.M.:

Some initial results from the 6th DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL GOP primary show former Congresswoman Karen Handel with a big, but early lead, over four other candidates. She has 64 percent of the vote (no precincts yet), and former Atlanta Falcons running back Joe Profit has 24 percent.

In the U.S. SENATE DEMOCRATIC primary, former 6th District Congressional candidate Jon Ossoff has 46 percent, former lieutenant governor candidate Sarah Riggs Amico has 14 percent, and former Columbus mayor Teresa Tomlinson has 12 percent. Again, no precints reporting.

In the STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 46 DEMOCRATIC primary, former Cobb Commission candidate Caroline Holko leads Shirley Ritchie 54-46 percent in early result.

UPDATED, 9:40 P.M.:

Incumbent COBB COMMISSION CHAIRMAN Mike Boyce has 63 percent of the vote in initial returns in the GOP primary, Larry Savage 29 percent, Ricci Mason 8 percent. No precincts reporting yet; those are likely early voting figures.

COBB COMMISSION DISTRICT 2, GOP: Kevin Nicholas 39 percent, Andy Smith 31 percent and Fitz Johnson 30 percent.

COBB SCHOOL BOARD POST 5, GOP: Incumbent David Banks 60 percent, Shelley O’Malley 22 percent, Matt Harper 17 percent.

COBB SCHOOL BOARD POST 5, DEMOCRAT: Julia Hurtado 56 percent, Tammy Andress 44 percent.

COBB SHERIFF, DEMOCRAT: Craig Owens 49 percent, Greg Gilstrap 28 percent, Jimmy Herndon 22 percent.

Again, all of these no precincts reporting yet.

ORIGINAL REPORT, POSTED AT 7:59 P.M.:

The polls closed at 7 p.m. in all but 19 precincts in Cobb County, and what’s expected to be a long wait for results in today’s Georgia primaries is underway.

According to the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office, results won’t be available until after 10:10 p.m., when the last polling precinct in the state that was still open was scheduled to close.

In East Cobb, voters were choosing primary candidates in several closely watched races, including the Republican primary for District 2 on the Cobb Board of Commissioners and Republican and Democratic candidates for Post 5 on the Cobb Board of Education.

They joined other Cobb voters in casting ballots in a contested Republican primary for chairman of the Cobb Board of Commissioners, a contested Democratic Party primary for Cobb Sheriff and several county judgeships and court clerk positions.

East Cobb voters also were choosing a Republican Party nominee for the 6th Congressional District seat.

There is one contested Georgia House primary in East Cobb, between two Democrats in District 46.

Other contested races on the ballot include the Democratic primary for a U.S. Senate seat, and several Cobb Superior Court judgeships.

Although its a fait accompli, Democratic voters in Georgia finally will get to have their party presidential preference primary, delayed from March due to COVID-19.

Since then, former vice president Joe Biden easily wrapped up the nomination, and he is one of a dozen names on a Georgia ballot finalized months ago.

The above link from the Georgia Secretary of State’s office will contain all the results from those and other races that may take some time to determine. You can customize it by race, and by federal, state and local results.

Due to a very high number of absentee ballots that must be counted, as well as delays at some precincts Tuesday due to social distancing and technical problems with new voting machines, some races may not be settled for days.

Typically early voting numbers are tallied first, followed by same-day voting results and then absentee figures.

We’ll also be sending out a special election newsletter some time on Wednesday with the latest election results. If you’re not a subscriber, please click this link to have it delivered to your inbox.

BREAKING NEWS: 19 Cobb precincts staying open until 8 p.m.

June 9, 2020 7:41 PMJune 9, 2020 5:18 PM by Wendy Parker

Cobb precincts staying open late — *Some technical issues affected voting at Murdock ES Tuesday morning, but lines were scant by the afternoon. (ECN photo)*

Due to technical issues that resulted in a late start to primary voting, 19 precincts in Cobb County will be staying open an hour later Tuesday.

County government spokesman Ross Cavitt said Cobb is abiding by a local court order to keep precincts open where technical and other issues have occurred.

The polls will remain open until 8 p.m. at the following precincts in East Cobb:

Addison 01 (Legacy Church, 1040 Blackwell Road)
Bells Ferry 04 (Shiloh Hills Baptist Church, 75 Hawkins Store Road)
Eastside 02 (Eastside Baptist Church, 2450 Lower Roswell Road)
Elizabeth 03 (Piedmont Road Church of Christ, 1630 Piedmont Road)
Sewell Mill 03 (Grace Marietta Church, 675 Holt Road)
Sope Creek 02 (Sope Creek Elementary School, 3320 Paper Mill Road).

If you’re in line at any of those precincts by 8 p.m., you will be allowed to vote. Here’s the rest of the list.

All other precincts close at 7 p.m.

The Cobb order, requested by Cobb Elections officials, was signed by Cobb Superior Court Judge Robert D. Leonard, and was done so due to “significant voting machine complications” at the affected precincts.

Tuesday’s primary is delayed from May 19 due to COVID-19, and this is the first election with new electronic voting machines.

Long lines also were projected because of a lack of poll workers stemming from the virus and social distancing and sanitizing measures, as well as a lengthy ballot for most voters.

More than 80,000 Cobb voters have cast absentee ballots, and more than 11,000 people took place in in-person early voting.

Major voting problems have been underway most of the day in Fulton, Gwinnett and DeKalb counties.

All precincts in Fulton are open until 9 p.m., and Secretary of State Brad Raffensparger is investigating problems there and in DeKalb County. Elected officials in those counties have blamed the state for problems with the new voting machines, but Raffensparger said local elections officials have had time to test them and to prepare for the unusual circumstances surrounding this election.

A total of 15 Gwinnett precincts with technical problems were open until 7:30 p.m..

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