Cobb School Board member David Banks not running for re-election 

Cobb Board of Education Post 5 member, David Banks, has announced that he will not seek re-election.

The news came via a recent newsletter and in a letter addressed to Cobb Republican Party Chairwoman Salleigh Grubbs in which he stated that by the end of the year, he will have completed 16 years, equivalent to four full terms, on the Cobb school board. Banks represents an area that includes Pope, Walton, and Wheeler high schools.

Banks cited age and health as factors influencing his decision. Following his reappointment as vice chair of the school board, Banks revealed that he had made a decision regarding his reelection plans and chose to inform Grubbs first. 

Known for controversial remarks, Banks faced criticism in 2022 for derogatory comments about Catholics on his Facebook page. He has also been labeled as a racist by many who find his comments crossing the line when it comes to race in Cobb.

Each year Banks has published in his newsletter an “ethnicity study,” which tracks the number of students in Cobb based on race and makes specific notes about the rising minority population and falling number of white students in the district.

 Two candidates, Republican John Cristadoro and Democrat Laura Judge, had already announced their bids for Banks’ seat before his official announcement.

In his letter to Grubbs, Banks expressed pride in his contributions to the school board without delving into specifics.