Former Marietta Councilman Copeland adds name to list of those planning to run in Cobb Commission 2 race

Former Marietta Councilman Reggie Copeland is the latest to throw his hat in the ring to succeed Democrat Jerica Richardson on the Cobb County Board of Commissioners.

In an announcement released on Thursday, Copeland wrote, “after much thought, prayer, consideration, and consultation I have officially decided to be a candidate for District 2 Commissioner in Cobb County. I don’t see myself literally as just running against another candidate, but I am running for ‘All’ people in Cobb County. The reason I am running is to improve the quality of life for ‘ALL’ individuals through a process called legislation via best practices, policies, and procedures.”

Other candidates who have announced their plans to run for the seat include Democrat Jaha Howard, who served one term on the Cobb school board before unsuccessfully running for state school superintendent, and Democrat Kevin Redmon, who serves as the east Cobb liaison on Richardson’s community cabinet.

Redmon’s candidacy hinges on Cobb County’s appeal of a Cobb Superior Court decision, as that will determine if he still lives in District 2. Cobb Superior Court Judge Ann Harris ruled last month that the Cobb County Board of Commissioners’ attempt to draw its own districts was unconstitutional.

In a flabbergasted legal gambit, the commission’s Democratic majority, under Chair Lisa Cupid, had invoked Georgia’s constitutional home rule powers to substitute a commission district map of their own over the map passed by the Republican-controlled state legislature that was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp. The map passed by the legislature drew Richardson out of her district.

Judge Harris ruled the commission’s action, and map, was unconstitutional. Not to be deterred, a stubborn Cupid has ignored the other members on the commission and singularly decided to appeal the decision. Many in the community say Cupid continues to unconscionably throw taxpayer dollars at a losing battle. The citizens of Cobb are the ultimately losers under yet another fool’s gambit, which continues to grow under Cupid’s tenure in office.

Under the commission drawn map, Redmon is within District 2 and Richardson can continue to serve out the rest of her term. However, if the Georgia Supreme Court affirms the Superior Court ruling, Richardson will be forced to vacate her seat; the map will revert to the one signed by Kemp in 2022 – HB1154, and Redmon will then become disqualified for District 2. 

Those seeking office in this race and others in Cobb will be able to qualify from Monday, March 4 through Friday, March 8 for the May primaries.