The 2022 Hijacking of Cobb County Government for the benefit of “one” comes to an end, new elections in District 2 and 4 to clean up the final mess

Since 2022, Cobb County’s government has been hijacked by a few Commissioners, creating an ethical dilemma that has now ended. Last week, a judge rejected former Commissioner Jerica Richardson’s latest appeal to remain in office, bringing this saga to a close. As the door closes on her, another lingering issue for South Cobb citizens is Why is former Commissioner Monique Sheffield, whose term ended on December 31, 2024, still at the commission dais? 

As I deleve into this, I point to the Vulcan Axiom: “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.” For Star Trek fans, this quote should be very familiar. It is a lesson that Cobb County Commissioners, who strayed from their principles of service to the citizens of Cobb in recent years, should take to heart and put into action. It is a lesson Cobb voters will not forget.

Since 2022, some Cobb County Commissioners have prioritized the interests of one—Commissioner Richardson—over the needs of the many: the citizens of Cobb County. The creation of the illegal Cupid Map, pushed through by Chair Lisa Cupid, Richardson, and Sheffield, exemplifies this prioritization of self-interest over the public good. As we witnessed the creation and governance under the Cupid Map, we also witnessed chaos, major headlines, and millions of taxpayer dollars spent on a boondoggle they created, which citizens of Cobb received no benefit.

In Wrath of Khan, Spock’s self-sacrifice was described as a heroic, ethical, and selfless act— qualities that have been sorely lacking in Cobb’s leadership. The Cupid Map was created and championed by Richardson, Cupid, and Sheffield as a response to a legally created map by the Georgia General Assembly – the only body in Georgia that has the legal right to create maps. Their map placed Richardson’s new home outside her district. However, what is often overlooked is that Richardson elected to move during the redrawing of maps, a risky decision given the uncertainty of where the new lines would fall. What is less discussed is that Richardson could have simply returned to her district, avoiding a costly legal battle that ultimately drained millions from Cobb taxpayers. Despite this, Richardson appealed her last legal ruling, which was denied last week. She has now quietly submitted a “going away” letter to the community, but does not take responsibility for her actions or the overall final cost to taxpayers, which is estimated to be in the millions.

Richardson, Cupid, and Sheffield created the Cupid map in response to a legally created map by the Georgia General Assembly, the sole authority for creating maps in Georgia. Having taken an oath to uphold Georgia’s constitution, Commissioners Cupid, Richardson, and Sheffield knowingly violated their pledge by creating the illegal Cupid Map—one that was doomed from the start. Every court hearing since its creation has reinforced this truth. Millions of taxpayer dollars were wasted on consultants, lawyers, and legal battles, only for the map to be struck down.

The final blow came in August 2024 when Cobb Superior Court Judge Kelli Hill declared the map illegal in no uncertain terms, marking the pivotal moment when the flawed map was finally abandoned. Judge Hill also affirmed her previous July 2024 ruling that the “home rule” maps, used since October 2022, were unconstitutional and that the May primary elections held under these maps must be vacated.

In her decision, Judge Hill specifically pointed out that the commissioners—particularly the three Democrats in the majority who voted for the home rule maps—had acted to disenfranchise voters with an improper, unconstitutional map. It’s worth noting that Judge Hill, a Black female, along with the three commissioners involved, ensured that any attempts to challenge the ruling based on ‘race or sex’ were effectively neutralized.

The Cupid Map debacle underscores the dangers of concentrated power in the hands of a few with questionable ethics. Decisions made by this small group, when both legally and ethically questionable, undermine justice, fairness, and public trust. Defying the General Assembly’s authority, these actions revealed a disregard for governance principles meant to serve the public. When a court declares an action illegal, especially with strong language from Judge Hill, it is clear these actions were not just problematic, they were a direct threat to the democratic process in Cobb County.

As Richardson departs, her fellow cohort, Sheffield, remains and has created her own justification for staying beyond her term, which ended December 31, 2024. Even though there is no law that allows her to remain in office, Sheffield continues to call herself Commissioner instead of former Commissioner, attends meetings, sits on the dais, and collects a taxpayer paycheck. When asked why she thinks she should remain in office beyond her December 2024 deadline, Sheffield claims, she told herself she can stay.

Unfortunately, Sheffield still does not understand the basic principle: you cannot make up your own rules or laws or decide when you will or will not follow them. Sheffield is now clinging to language in HB 1256, which says that members of the board will serve until their respective successors are elected and qualified. The irony here is striking, not because of this language, but because this is the same bill that redrew district lines that impacted Richardson, which Sheffield and her cohorts rejected. Yes, Sheffield was one of the commissioners who chose to ignore the bill. They also ignored the legal and financial ramifications to the county when they created the illegal Cupid Map. She now reaches for language from that bill to assert her continued status as a commissioner. Picking and choosing which parts of the law to follow is hypocritical and borders on criminal thinking, regardless of your stance. You cannot selectively adhere to the law when it benefits you and conveniently disregard the parts that harm the very people you were elected to serve.

Under the ill-fated Cupid Map, there have been many harmful decisions made by the trio. One that stands out most was their unprecedented vote to allow condominiums to be built in the crash zone of Dobbins Air Force Base. The outrage was palpable. The backlash was swift and widespread, spanning the Chamber of Commerce, the business community, Lockheed Marietta, Dobbins itself, and many other concerned parties. Eventually, the trio recognized their mistake and offered acres of county-owned property to the developer as a potential alternative, but by that point, the damage had already been done.

The Cupid Map effectively shut out citizens wanting to run as candidates during the 2024 elections. It was a lawsuit from one of these individuals, Alicia Adams, who resides inside the District 2 boundaries drawn by lawmakers, who brought on a lawsuit. Adams filed in 2024 to run for commission, however, she was quickly disqualified because she did not live within the District 2 boundaries drawn by the Cupid Map. At least two other individuals who sought to qualify as Democrats were also impacted for the same reason, further highlighting the issues with the districting process under the Cupid Map. It was Adam’s lawsuit that ultimately brought the Cupid Map to its knees and Judge Hill’s ruling that the elections be thrown out that started us on the current elections path we are in for 2025. The Commissioners who championed the illegal Cupid Map finally said “UNCLE”

As 2025 ushered in its chilly nights, another glaring issue emerged—the Commission’s failure to place a warming center in South Cobb, where the need is most critical. Instead, they opted to locate the facility in North Cobb, insensitively suggesting that the unhoused catch a bus to get there. During one of the coldest weekends, headlines were filled with reports of frigid temperatures and the unfortunate reality that buses would be out of service for several days due to the record cold. What happened to the idea of bus rides to get warm? Was this lack of foresight really unexpected? It is difficult to believe they did not anticipate this.

While most metro Atlanta counties provide multiple warming centers, Cobb County only has one—and it is located miles away from the area that needs it most. The District Commissioner has been asleep at the wheel. The time and resources spent defending a lawless Cupid Map could have been directed toward something genuinely meaningful, like establishing a warming center in South Cobb. But for that to happen, you would have to care about South Cobb, something we have not seen much of from the current leadership.

New elections in District 2 and 4 to Clean Up the Rest of the Mess

As we come to the close of the Cupid Map saga, it has shown us that when power is concentrated in a select few for personal or political gain, it fosters inequality, erodes public trust, and alienates the very citizens the government is supposed to serve.

Good governance, which Cobb citizens demand, should prioritize the needs of the many over the wants of the few, especially when those decisions directly impact the community. Cobb County’s situation is a glaring example of how self-interest undermined public trust and fairness in Cobb. This self-made drama serves as a stark reminder of the importance of accountability in public office.

As we move forward, Cobb County citizens have the opportunity to restore balance and fairness by ensuring their government serves the collective interests of the people, not just a select few. A Special Election will be held on Tuesday, February 11, to elect a new Commissioner for District 2 and for District 4. Even though the time for the election has been truncated, many activists across South Cobb are encouraging citizens to go out and vote for change. There are qualified new candidates running in both races and we encourage you to review their records and make your informed decision on who can bring to the commission those qualities that we desire such as transparency, accountability, good temperament, ability to work with other commission members, ability to protect tax payers, ability to make decisions that are in the best interest of Cobb Citizens.

By voting for candidates that can bring positive changes, citizens can restore integrity and fairness to Cobb County’s governance and ensure that future decisions reflect the needs of the many—not just the one.