The Georgia Senate on Wednesday approved a Republican-sponsored map redistricting the seven posts on the Cobb Board of Education.
By a 32-19 party-line vote, the Senate passed a bill sponsored by Sen. Ed Setzler (R-Acworth) that would moderately change maps the legislature approved in 2022.
But that map was thrown out in December by Eleanor Ross, a federal judge in Atlanta, who said it diluted minority voting strength provisions of the U.S. Voting Rights Act.
She gave lawmakers until Feb. 9 to redraw the lines, and the bill sponsored by Setzler would put some of Post 6 back into the East Cobb area.
That includes some of Wheeler High School attendance zone, which along with the Walton zone had been placed in Post 5 in the 2022 maps.
Four of the seven posts are up for election in 2024, including three of the four seats held by Republicans.
Post 5 in East Cobb, which has been held by Republican David Banks since 2009, will get a new representative since he announced recently he wouldn’t be seeking re-election. Qualifying takes place in March for May primaries.
UPDATED:
On Thursday the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals suspended Ross’ order for the maps to be redrawn immediately, meaning that the legislature doesn’t have to act further, at least for the moment.
A hearing on the merits of the legal case is expected to go before that court in Miami next week.
On Friday, a Georgia House committee approved Setzler’s map in a party-line 10-9 vote.
ORIGINAL REPORT RESUMES:
Setzler defended his bill, SB 338, during a floor debate on Wednesday, although he didn’t mention that as was the case in 2022, he was sponsoring a map that the Democratic-led Cobb legislative delegation objected to.
Sen. Jason Esteves, an Atlanta Democrat who represents some of East Cobb, said the map “doesn’t remedy” the violations of the U.S. Voting Rights Act that were called out in the federal court order.
“This map continues the packing of black and brown voters in Cobb County, limiting their influence,” he said, and in particular South Cobb, where the three posts there are currently held by Democratic members.
He said the refusal by Setzler to consult with the full Cobb delegation led to his map splitting some school attendance zones, including a disruption of some of the Walton and Wheeler feeder patterns.
(While school board posts are drawn by the legislature, school attendance zones are determined administratively by the Cobb County School District.)
In addition to Setzler, Cobb Republicans voting in favor of his map were Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick and John Albers, who represent parts of East Cobb.
Setzler’s bill goes to the House, where Rep. Teri Anulewicz, a Smyrna Democrat who is head of the Cobb legislative delegation, is expected to file her own map.
Related:
- 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
- Former Cupid assistant to run for Cobb Superior Court Clerk
- New Ga. Congressional lines likely to prompt legal challenge
- Legislature passes maps altering East Cobb State Senate lines
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!
