Richardson advisor declares intent for Cobb commission campaign

A member of Cobb commissioner Jerica Richardson’s “community cabinet” is considering making a run to succeed her in 2024.

Kevin Redmon, an East Cobb resident, filed a declaration of intent form with the Cobb Elections Office on Oct. 23.

According to the filings, Redmon, an IT sales and account manager, would be running as a Democrat in District 2.

A declaration is not a formal filing for a campaign, but Redmon formed a campaign committee in August.

On Richardson’s cabinet, he serves as an East Cobb community liaison, and is a regular presence at Cobb Board of Commission meetings during public comment periods.

“I love being engaged and I was wanting to do more,” Redmon told East Cobb News.

A resident of East Cobb since 2005, Redmon said he initially got involved in community issues with the anti-cityhood group East Cobb Alliance, whose leader, Mindy Seger, introduced him to Richardson.

Thus far Redmon, who is married with a daughter, is the only individual who has expressed at least semi-formal interest in running in District 2.

Richardson, a first-term Democrat, has filed to run for the 6th Congressional District after legislative reapportionment in 2022 drew her out of her commission district.

Redmon said his priorities include “just really communicating with residents in a clear way about what’s happening.

“Complex issues are being presented to the public,” and he said it’s not always clearly understood what the potential impact of a pr0posed service or spending issue may be.

Some of those issues include stormwater management, which has become a growing concern in East Cobb since severe flooding in Sept. 2021.

The county is preparing a possible funding solution that would impose an impact fee, based on amount of impervious surface on a property, that Redmon said would likely affect larger commercial customers more than average homeowners.

“It’s a simple message, but there’s been a lot of pushback,” Redmon said.

Redmon said that it’s important to place “a focus on the future.”

Cobb’s population is growing older, and he said “the future is coming at us pretty quickly.

“We need to make decisions that respect people who have been here many years but we also have to attract people who are moving in and raising families.

The District 2 boundaries would include most of Smyrna and Marietta and areas north along the Interstate 75 corridor.

The map drawn by the legislature in 2022 placed most of East Cobb in District 3, represented by Republican JoAnn Birrell.

That electoral map is currently being contested in Cobb Superior Court after the commission’s Democratic majority voted to invoke home rule. Another hearing is scheduled for Nov. 20.

Richardson and her party colleagues are seeking to employ maps that would place the East Cobb area in Districts 2 and 3, similar to what they had been before reapportionment.

As that dispute began, Richardson launched a civic and political education non-profit, For Which It Stance, at which Redmon also serves as a community captain.

He also participated in a recent cybersecurity awareness event held by Richardson and other Cobb County officials.

The District 2 seat is one of three that will be on the 2024 ballot, and all of them are currently held by Democrats. Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid has announced she’s seeking re-election. District 4 incumbent Monique Sheffield of South Cobb will be completing her first term.

Redmon said until there’s a court ruling on what the District 2 boudaries may be, he’s going to continue “getting out to events and talking to people.

“There is a real desire for a hyperlocal focus on the job. That’s what I’m finding people are caring about.”

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