After Cupid Map declared illegal, Cobb Commission District 2 Seat Declared Vacant, Richardson Vows to Fight

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday to officially declare Commissioner Jerica Richardson’s District 2 seat vacant. This decision follows Chairwoman Lisa Cupid and the board’s recent concession that the Cupid Home Rule Map, devised to keep Richardson in office, was illegal.

In 2022, the state Legislature passed a district map that drew Richardson, a Democrat, out of her district. In response, Cupid, working with the County Attorney, concocted an ill-advised plan to counter the Legislature’s redistricting by invoking home rule powers and creating a district map of her own—what became known as the Cupid Home Rule Map. This map faced heavy criticism from all sides, and lawmakers who had drawn the original map rejected the county’s attempt to override their authority. As a result, Cobb County taxpayers faced a prolonged legal battle over the interpretation of the Georgia Constitution, which lasted more than two years and cost millions in legal fees.

In July 2024, Cobb Superior Court Judge Kelli Hill declared the Cupid Home Rule Map unconstitutional, ending the commission’s legal fight. With early voting for the upcoming elections approaching, Cupid opted not to challenge the ruling any further—conveniently just before the November 5 election for Cobb County Chair.

On Tuesday, the commission voted to move forward under the district map passed by the Legislature, signaling the end of the redistricting dispute. With Cupid absent from the meeting, Commissioners Keli Gambrill, JoAnn Birrell, and Monique Sheffield voted to give Richardson formal notice that her seat was vacant, while Richardson recused herself from the vote.

Despite the board’s decision, Richardson vowed to appeal the ruling to the Cobb County Superior Court. She told media outlets that she would continue serving as a “de facto commissioner” while pursuing legal action, leaving many District 2 residents confused about what that entails.

Previously, Richardson had indicated she would step down if the court ruled the map illegal. However, on Tuesday, she shifted her stance, stating: “I’ve always contested two things: that if my term were cut short, even by a single day, it would be an injustice beyond myself. And secondly, that the checks and balances within our government are sacred, ensuring no agency grows too powerful. … To set a precedent where any elected official can be removed at any time is dangerous, and we’re witnessing that process unfold.”

Cobb County attorneys, along with the communications office, which is currently scrubbing any reference to the Home Rule map from county records, had previously advised the commission and Cobb citizens that their Home Rule map could replace the state’s legal one. Now, they argue that Richardson must vacate her seat because she no longer resides in the newly redrawn district. They cited Cobb County Code, which mandates commissioners “must continue to reside in that district during their term of office, or the office shall become vacant.”

For citizens watching this latest Cupid fiasco unfold, many are questioning how the county attorney and Chairwoman Lisa Cupid—who claims to be an attorney but has never practiced law—devised this illegal map and presented it to citizens as legal, as they willingly deceived the very people who entrusted them with governing Cobb County.

Birrell, who voted in favor of declaring the seat vacant, stated, “It was never the intent to remove her from office. However, once the state legislative map was approved, that creates a vacancy in the seat.” She added, “I have to follow the law and uphold the Constitution.”