Lucy McBath Archives

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.

Handel announces bid to regain Georgia 6th Congressional District seat

March 25, 2019 1:09 PM by Wendy Parker

Karen Handel said Monday she’s running for the Georgia 6th Congressional District seat she lost last November. Karen Handel, Georgia 6th Congressional District

The Roswell Republican and former Georgia Secretary of State held the seat for a little more than a year following a 2017 special election, then was defeated by Democrat Lucy McBath.

In a brief message on her website, Handel said she’s running because the 6th District—which includes East Cobb—”deserve[s] better than a Pelosi pawn as our representative in Washington. We need someone who works for our best interests, not just for the Pelosi agenda or to gain national celebrity.”

Those were references to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who regained that position when Democrats took the House in the November elections, and to McBath, who’s gained national attention for her gun-control efforts.

McBath, who lives in Marietta, became the first Democrat elected to the seat once held by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in 40 years after she narrowly defeated Handel.

McBath used Handel’s announcement to make a fundraising pitch on her campaign Facebook page, saying “we know we’re in for a tough re-election fight… but when the going gets tough, #TeamLucy hasn’t failed me yet.”

No other candidates have announced to run for the 6th District seat, which includes North Fulton, Sandy Springs, and north and central DeKalb.

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Karen Handel concedes in 6th Congressional District election

November 8, 2018 2:27 PMNovember 8, 2018 9:22 AM by Wendy Parker

This morning U.S. Rep. Karen Handel conceded to Lucy McBath in the 6th Congressional District election. Karen Handel concedes, 6th Congressional District

Here’s part of the statement Handel issued:

After carefully reviewing all of the election results data, it is clear that I came up a bit short on Tuesday. Congratulations to Representative-Elect Lucy McBath and I send her only good thoughts and much prayer for the journey that lies ahead for her.

While Tuesday’s loss is indeed disappointing, there is much for which we can and should be grateful.

We live in a great country. In no other nation in the world could a girl leave home at 17 – finish school on her own and then work her way up – and have the incredible opportunities that I have had.

This country has enabled me to follow my dreams personally and professionally. You gave me the honor of serving as Chairman of the Fulton Commission, as Secretary of State. And, for the last year and a half, you gave me the high honor – the incredible privilege – of serving you as your representative in Congress.

My story underscores just how exceptional this country is. In this great nation, the least among us have opportunities to offer our best. We’re a country that encourages and rewards hard work.

McBath, an East Cobb Democrat, claimed victory on Wednesday. Handel, a Republican from Roswell who touted President Trump’s tax cuts, said in response she wouldn’t make any additional statements then.

The results are still unofficial, but McBath surged ahead of Handel by fewer than 3,000 votes after extremely tight returns all evening on Tuesday. Handel won 55 percent of the vote in East Cobb precincts and barely won her North Fulton home ground. McBath got more than 60 percent of the vote in north and central DeKalb.

The margin was within the realm of a recount, but Handel decided against that. After winning a special election last year in the most expensive race in U.S. House history, Handel will have served 18 months when McBath succeeds her in January.

She will be the first Democrat to hold the seat since Newt Gingrich was first elected in 1978. McBath also is one of 37 Democrats to defeat Republican incumbents this year, with the GOP losing House control as a result.

On Thursday afternoon, McBath issued a statement in response to the mass shootings in southern California that killed 12 people at a nightclub. Her son was shot and killed six years ago in an incident that prompted her to become a gun-control advocate:

The tragedy in California is one of far too many. I grieve with the families affected and for every life lost. I pray that Congress will support me in taking action to prevent these tragedies from affecting the lives of so many. I am deeply thankful for all of the first responders.

As a congresswoman, but more importantly as a mother,I pledge to do every thing I can to make our communities safer. The most important title I am ever going to hold is Jordan’s mom – and that is what drives me to keep going. Knowing firsthand the deep pain of losing a loved one to gun violence is what drove me to stand up. Then, after watching the tragedy of Parkland, I knew I had to do more. That is why I am here today.

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McBath declares victory in Georgia 6th Congressional District

November 7, 2018 11:05 PMNovember 7, 2018 2:22 PM by Wendy Parker

Democratic challenger Lucy McBath is declaring victory in the Georgia 6th Congressional District race over Republican incumbent Karen Handel.

Here’s the statement issued by McBath’s campaign shortly before 2 p.m. today:

“After a hard fought race, I am honored to announce that the people of Georgia’s Sixth Congressional District have put their trust in my vision for the future of our district and nation.

The voters responded to my commitment to put aside partisan fights for the good of the American people. Six years ago, I went from a Marietta mom to a mother on a mission. After my son was lost to gun violence, I stood up and started demanding more. After Parkland, I was compelled to enter this race for Congress – to provide leadership that would be about the business of putting lives over profit. I vow to make that my top priority.

I look forward to representing the people of Georgia’s Sixth Congressional District, and I pledge to work hard fighting for every single person and family in this district.”

Handel’s campaign had this response around 3 p.m.:

Given the close results of our race, and the fact that the official results at this time are within the 1% threshold where a recount is possible, we believe it is prudent to review and assess all data before making additional actions or statements.

Both candidates exchanged the lead more than once in the hours shortly after the polls closed on Tuesday in a race that late polls showed to be a dead heat.

Shortly after 2 a.m., Handel held an extremely thin lead, by around 50 votes. Both candidates told supporters late last night that a recount seemed likely

But as absentee ballots and other late-reporting votes came in from Fulton County this morning, McBath, an East Cobb resident and nationally known gun-control advocate, took the lead.

Here’s what the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office has of this afternoon:

Handel 156,396 votes (49.55 percent)
McBath 159,268 votes (50.45 percent).

Handel won the East Cobb portion of the 6th District and McBath cruised in DeKalb. In Handel’s home base of North Fulton, she leads McBath by less than 1,000 votes.

If McBath is officially declared the winner, she’ll be part of the new Democratic majority in the U.S. House.

She would also would end a 40-year Republican Congressional hold on the seat that Newt Gingrich first won in 1978.

We’ll keep updating this post.

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East Cobb Election Update: Sweeney loses Cobb school board seat; Chastain re-elected

November 7, 2018 2:58 PMNovember 7, 2018 11:34 AM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Election Update, Charisse Davis — *Charisse Davis will be the only woman on the Cobb Board of Education. (East Cobb News file photo)*

Catching you up on the day after some notable elections results in East Cobb, and starting with one incumbent who was defeated last night.

That’s Republican Scott Sweeney, who was vying for his third term for the Post 6 seat on the Cobb Board of Education that includes the Walton and Wheeler attendance zones.

He was ousted by Charisse Davis, who like many fellow Democratic challengers in local races was running for the first time.

Some additional votes came in from when when we posted early this morning, and Davis received 21,654 votes, or 51.27 percent. Sweeney had 20,580 votes, or 48.734 percent.

As we noted last night/early this morning, Davis’ win closes the GOP majority on the school board to 4-3 come January. She’s a former school teacher and now librarian in Fulton County whose children attend school in the Campbell attendance zone, some of which is in District 6.

Here’s what Davis told her supporters this morning.

As a school district, we have an opportunity to celebrate our successes while facing our issues with the goal of finding solutions. As an educator and mom of two in the district, I am committed to seeing the district become a leader in implementing solutions that can help all of our students achieve. We can, and will, do better to provide access to early learning options, provide transparency to the families in this community, and focus on the students of this district, no matter how they learn.

East Cobb News covered a candidates’ forum between Davis and Sweeney last month during what came to be a competitive election. Both were unopposed in the primaries, but she received more votes than Sweeney, whose sons attend Walton and Dickerson.

On Tuesday, Sweeney won most of the East Cobb precincts, although Davis carried the Terrell Mill precinct handily. He carried a precinct in Vinings, but she enjoyed large margins in all other precincts in the Cumberland-Smyrna area.

We’ve got a table below that breaks it down, and will be adding more reaction.

For now, she breaks the Republican lock on elected officials that represent East Cobb residents. The 6th Congressional District and State House 37th District races are still in too-close-to-call mode.

Republican Cobb school member David Chastain won a second term Tuesday, defeating Democrat Cynthia Parr to keep the Post 4 seat that includes the Kell and Sprayberry districts.

Chastain received 20,592 votes, or 53.61 percent, while Parr got 17,820 votes, or 46.39 percent.

We’ll have more later in the week on reaction from other races, including commissioner JoAnn Birrell’s close re-election, legislative results and where the Georgia governor’s race stands.

	Sweeney	Davis
Chattahoochee	784	2,132
Dickerson	1,169	737
Dobbins	278	1,119
Dodgen	665	317
Eastside 1	553	306
Eastside 2	994	633
Fullers Park	109	91
Mt. Bethel 1	1,772	925
Mt. Bethel 3	1,350	773
Mt. Bethel 4	1,322	737
Roswell 2	519	311
Sewell Mill 3	240	98
Smyrna 1A	446	1,493
Smyrna 2A	468	1,315
Sope Creek 1	995	561
Sope Creek 2	1,621	1,267
Sope Creek 3	1,169	613
Terrell Mill	874	1,964
Timber Ridge	1,102	573
Vinings 1	612	1,047
Vinings 2	1,262	2,131
Vinings 3	926	1,526
Vinings 4	1,350	896
Total Votes	20,580	21,654
Percentage	48.734	51.27

East Cobb Elections Preview: Georgia 6th Congressional District

October 31, 2018 6:38 PMOctober 24, 2018 2:33 PM by Wendy Parker

Georgia 6th Congressional District, Karen Handel, Lucy McBath

A year after the most expensive U.S. House race in American history was waged in the Georgia 6th Congressional District, the seat could be closely contested again.

U.S. Rep. Karen Handel (left), a Roswell Republican, fended off Democrat Jon Ossoff in a special election despite being outspent in a race that raised more than $30 million.

This year, she’s being opposed by first-time candidate Lucy McBath (right), a nationally known gun-control advocate.

The 6th Congressional District, which includes most of East Cobb, North Fulton and north and central DeKalb, has been in Republican hands since former House Speaker Newt Gingrich first won in 1978.

6th District maps

Cobb | Full district

But Handel, a former Georgia Secretary of State, won only after Ossoff, a political novice, barely avoided a runoff following a “jungle primary” in which she finished second. In the runoff, she got some of her strongest margins in East Cobb and was actively supported by commissioners Bob Ott and JoAnn Birrell.

Handel was unopposed in the Republican primary in May. McBath earned the Democratic nomination in a runoff.

A poll released Tuesday shows Handel with a four-point lead, which is within the margin of error.

The National Republican Campaign Committee has purchased $1.4 million in Atlanta TV air time for pro-Handel commercials that began this week.

Candidate websites

Karen Handel | Lucy McBath

President Donald Trump won the 6th District with just 51 percent of the vote in 2016. Since succeeding former Rep. Tom Price, Handel has touted her vote for Trump’s tax cuts, but she opposes his steel and aluminum tariffs. (The 6th District includes the U.S. headquarters of Mercedes-Benz.)

McBath is a former Delta Air Lines flight attendant who lives in East Cobb. Her son, a Marietta High School graduate, was shot and killed in 2012 in Florida by an angry motorist for playing loud car music at a gas station.

Since then, she’s been an outspoken advocate for gun-control and other traditional liberal positions.

She wants to preserve the Affordable Health Care Act (referred to as “Obamacare”) with some changes, as well as expand Medicaid in Georgia. McBath has been critical of what she calls the “Trump-Handel Tax Scam” and supports citizenship for the “Dreamers,” the children of undocumented immigrants who have grown up in the United States.

Handel has advocated “repealing and replacing” Obamacare with a market-based alternative, as well as building a wall along the southern border of the U.S. to prevent illegal immigration.

Related coverage

East Cobb Election Guide

McBath has been endorsed by EMILY’s list, a political action committee that supports pro-choice Democrats. Handel has the endorsement of the Susan B. Anthony List, which supports pro-life candidates.

During the campaign, Handel has raised questions of McBath’s East Cobb residency pertaining to her claiming homestead exemptions.

McBath noted that Handel, a former Georgia Secretary of State and candidate for the U.S. Senate and Georgia Governor, is only now running for re-election for the first time and that the incumbent “will do or say anything” to remain in power.

McBath made those remarks Tuesday in a debate with Handel that was conducted by the Atlanta Press Club. The video below is about a half an hour, and includes a heated exchange about gun-control, background checks for arms purchases and the National Rifle Association.

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 runoff election Tuesday to decide GOP governor, 6th Congress Democratic nominees

July 22, 2018 11:30 AM by Wendy Parker

Voters will pick nominees in several key statewide and Congressional races in the Georgia runoff election on Tuesday.

At the top of the ticket, Republican voters will select a gubernatorial nominee in what’s become a tumultuous runoff battle, as well as GOP nominees for lieutenant governor and secretary of state.

Democratic voters in the 6th Congressional District, which includes East Cobb, also will choose a nominee for the November general election.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Cobb Elections website has sample ballots, precinct addresses and information on how you can find your polling station.

In the GOP governor’s race, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle was enjoying a lead in most polls and received an endorsement last week from outgoing Gov. Nathan Deal. But then President Donald Trump endorsed Cagle’s opponent, Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp.

Primary results certified; precinct breakdowns

Polls now have Kemp in the lead, although one of them indicates that nearly a quarter of likely voters remains undecided.

Trump’s endorsement of Kemp has generated national media attention.

Cobb is considered a battleground county, and Cagle and Kemp have campaigned here frequently. Two East Cobb lawmakers have come down on either side of the runoff. Cagle has the support of State Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, while State. Rep. Sharon Cooper is backing Kemp.

The winner faces Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams, the former Georgia House Minority Leader, in November.

In the lieutenant governor Republican runoff, state senator David Shafer is facing Geoff Duncan, a former member of the state house.

In the 6th Congressional District Democratic runoff, gun-control advocate Lucy McBath, an East Cobb resident, is facing technology entrepreneur Kevin Abel of Sandy Springs.

The winner will face Republican U.S. Rep. Karen Handel in November.

One of the two seats on the Cobb Board of Commissioners that’s contested this year will be decided Tuesday. Incumbent Bob Weatherford is facing Keli Gambrill in the GOP runoff for District 1 in North Cobb.

Incumbent commissioner JoAnn Birrell of District 3 in Northeast Cobb won the Republican primary and is being challenged in November by Democrat Caroline Holko.

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!

Congressional Black Caucus endorses Georgia 6th Congressional candidate Lucy McBath

July 9, 2018 1:45 PM by Wendy Parker

Georgia 6th Congressional candidate Lucy McBath has been endorsed by the Congressional Black Caucus Political Action Committee before her July 24 Democratic runoff against Kevin Abel.

McBath, an East Cobb resident, also has been endorsed by Emily’s list, which supports Democratic female Congressional candidates.

Here’s the endorsement message that McBath’s campaign is sending out today: Georgia 6th Congressional District candidate Lucy McBath

Congressman Gregory Meeks (NY-5), Chairman of the CBCPAC stated, “Lucy McBath’s story is an inspiration that resonates throughout this country. After tragically losing her son to gun violence in 2012, Lucy stood up and worked hard to protect other children from suffering the same fate, understanding firsthand how important it is that we enact sensible gun safety legislation.”

“Furthermore, as a two-time breast cancer survivor, Lucy understands the importance of having quality and affordable healthcare.” Meeks continued, “Lucy is a fighter, and now more than ever we need more fighters like her in Washington.”

“The Congressional Black Caucus PAC is on the frontlines of the battle to protect the values we hold dear as Americans,” said Lucy McBath. “As the daughter of a former regional NAACP branch president, I understand the stakes could not be higher right now as many in Washington seek to turn back the clock and limit the rights that we have fought so hard for as Americans. I look forward to working with the CBCPAC and other representatives in Washington to fight for a more inclusive and prosperous future for all Americans.”

Abel, a Sandy Springs technology entrepreneur, has been endorsed by a number of Atlanta-area business and public officials and religious leaders.

He also has been critical of McBath for accepting what he calls “outside dark money” in campaign spending, in particular financial support from an organization called End Citizens United.

6th Congressional District Democratic runoff pits gun-control advocate against entrepreneur

May 24, 2018 2:51 PM by Wendy Parker

In two months, the 6th Congressional District Democratic runoff will summon East Cobb voters to go back to the polls.

If Tuesday’s primary vote is any indication, gun-control advocate Lucy McBath should have an advantage on her home turf.

McBath got 36 percent of the vote across the district, which includes North Fulton and North and Central DeKalb.

She will be going up against businessman Kevin Abel, who got 30 percent of the vote. The winner of the July 24 runoff will face current U.S. Rep. Karen Handel, a Roswell Republican, in the November general election.

Neither McBath nor Abel have run for public office before.

The total vote tallies were close following the four-candidate primary, which included former CBS46 news anchor Bobby Kaple (26 percent of the vote) and Lassiter High School graduate Steven Knight Griffin (7 percent).

Here’s a link to the full results.

Kevin Abel, 6th Congressional District Democratic runoff — *Kevin Abel*

In the 49 precincts that are in the East Cobb area, McBath won all but 10 of them. She received 4,220 votes in East Cobb, or 39 percent of the vote. Abel got 3,014 votes, or 28 percent.

Abel also won some of the more crucial precincts in the heart of the community, including near Eastside Elementary School and Dickerson Middle School, two Mt. Bethel polling stations, Timber Ridge and Hightower Trail Middle School.

McBath, a former airline flight attendant, got 37 percent of the vote in North Fulton, to 28 percent for Abel, who lives in Alpharetta and is the founder of Abel Solutions, a technology consulting company.

In DeKalb, the margins were virtually a toss-up, with McBath getting 33 percent and Abel 32 percent.

Candidates’ websites: Abel | McBath

6th Congressional District East Cobb primary map — *Lucy Bath won the East Cobb precincts in purple, and Kevin Abel in green. (Georgia Secretary of State Office map)*

Before her candidacy, McBath earned national attention for her gun-control advocacy after her son was shot and killed by a motorist at a Florida gas station. She had filed to run for Georgia House District 37, which includes some of the Northeast Cobb area, and switched after the Parkland, Fla., school shootings in February.

Abel, who emigrated from South Africa as a teenager, has run on reforming immigration and healthcare policy, as well as Social Security and climate change issues. He’s been especially critical of President Donald Trump over his decision to end DACA, which would allow the children of undocumented immigrants a route to legal U.S. citizenship.

The 6th Congressional District Democratic runoff will come just about a year after last year’s special election, in which Handel held off Democrat Jon Ossoff in a high-profile race that earned national attention and was rated the most expensive U.S. House race ever.

Republicans have held the seat since 1978, when Newt Gingrich was first elected to Congress, and East Cobb turned out strongly in favor of Handel in the runoff.

Last year’s close vote has encouraged Democrats to try again, even after Ossoff declined to run.

In East Cobb, where all state and local office holders are Republicans, Democrats have been especially energized.

There are Democrats running for every one of those offices up for election this year, including Cobb Commission District 3, State Senate District 32, all five State House seats in East Cobb and two Cobb Board of Education seats.

All of those Democrats are also women, with four of the legislative candidates being from minority groups.

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East Cobb Elections Qualifying: Birrell, state legislators have primary foes

March 9, 2018 10:35 PMMarch 9, 2018 4:18 PM by Wendy Parker

Qualifying for 2018 state, federal and local races is ending on Friday, and in East Cobb a number of incumbents will have party opposition in the May 22 primary.

The most-watched race figures to be the District 3 seat on the Cobb Board of Commissioners. Republican incumbent JoAnn Birrell has qualified, and is being opposed in the primary by Tom Cheek, who recently moved into the Northeast Cobb district.

Cheek, a software account manager, is campaigning on a platform favoring low taxes and reduced spending to solve the Cobb government budget deficit, and opposes high-density development. He stepped into the public spotlight after filing ethics complaints against former Cobb commission chairman Tim Lee for his handling of the Atlanta Braves stadium deal.

Tom Cheek, Cobb commission candidate — *Tom Cheek*

Birrell has served as District 3 representative since 2011, when she succeeded Lee, and has been highly visible in the community. She has been active with Keep Cobb Beautiful, the Northeast Cobb Business Association and Superior Pets for Patriotic Pets. She also was a strong advocate for the creation of Mabry Park, which recently began construction.

The Democrats to qualify are retiree James Smith and Caroline Holko, a stay-at-home mother.

Congress

First-term U.S. Rep. Karen Handel is the only Republican to qualify for the Georgia 6th District seat that includes East Cobb.

Handel, elected last June to succeed Tom Price in a special election, will await the winner of a four-way Democratic primary in May. She won’t be facing Jon Ossoff, whom she beat last summer in the most expensive Congressional election in history. He has opted not to run for a seat that also includes north Fulton and north and central DeKalb.

The Democratic candidates include Bobby Kaple, a former news anchor at CBS 46, technology consultant Kevin Abel, management consultant Steven Knight Griffin and gun-control advocate Lucy McBath, a former Delta flight attendant who lives in East Cobb.

Her son, Jordan Davis, was shot and killed in 2012 at a gas station in Jacksonville, Fla., by another motorist in an altercation over loud music. The killer received life in prison. McBath had intended to run for the Georgia legislature but changed her filing to Congress after the deadly Feb. 14 school shootings in Parkland, Fla.

Georgia legislature

There will be a rematch of last year’s special election in State Senate District 32. Incumbent Republican Kay Kirkpatrick, a retired orthopedic surgeon, will be opposed by her 2017 opponent, Democratic attorney Christine Triebsch, in November. The district covers most of East Cobb and part of north Fulton.

In State House District 37, incumbent Sam Teasley is the only Republican to qualify. The Democratic primary will include computer consultant Bill Bolden, social worker Mary Frances Williams and sales manager Ragin Edwards.

Longtime Republican State Rep. Sharon Cooper of District 43 has a Republican opponent in Kevin W. James, who owns a media production company in East Cobb. The lone Democrat to qualify is Luisa Wakeman, a flight attendant.

Don Parsons, incumbent in State House District 44, also has opposition from retiree Homer Crothers in the GOP primary. Chinita Allen, a teacher at Chalker Elementary School, has qualified as a Democrat.

In State House District 45, Republican incumbent Matt Dollar will not have a primary challenger. His Democratic opponent in November will be Essence Johnson, a human resources and operations manager.

Another East Cobb legislative seat also will pit a Republican incumbent against a Democratic foe in November. District 46 State Rep. John Carson has qualified and will face Karín Sandiford, a technology consultant and entrepreneur.

Cobb school board

Two of the three East Cobb members on the Cobb Board of Education are up for re-election this year. In Post 6, two-term Republican incumbent Scott Sweeney, who represents the Walton, Wheeler and part of the Campbell high school attendance zones, has qualified and has no primary opposition. His general election opponent in November will be Democrat Charisse Davis of Smyrna, a public librarian and former school teacher.

Charisse Davis, Cobb Board of Education candidate — *Charisse Davis*

Republican David Chastain of Post 4 in Northeast Cobb has qualified to run for a second term and has not drawn any party opposition in an area that includes the Kell and Sprayberry attendance zones.

His Democratic opponent in November will be Cynthia Parr.

Judgeships

Several Cobb judicial posts will also be decided this year in non-partisan elections.

Three Cobb Superior Court posts are up for election this year, and incumbents Ann Harris, Robert Leonard and Robert Flournoy are the only qualifiers.

For Cobb State Court Judge Div. 2, Post 4 incumbent Bridgette Campell is the only candidate to qualify. The same goes for incumbent Post 3 judge Henry Thompson and Jason Fincher in Post 1. The only candidate qualifying for State Court Judge Post 5 is incumbent David Darden.

Republican incumbent Cobb Solicitor General Barry Morgan is the lone qualifier for that office, which prosecutes cases in State Court.

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