MARIETTA — The first Board of Commissioners meeting of 2023 was derailed Tuesday as the board’s two Republicans refused to vote on county business amid Cobb’s ongoing redistricting controversy, and were asked to leave the dais by Democratic Chairwoman Lisa Cupid.
Republican Commissioners JoAnn Birrell and Keli Gambrill said they would not cast votes while the county remains at odds with the state government, and embroiled in a constitutional dispute, over its effort to redistrict itself via its home rule powers.
The two Republicans were ultimately asked to leave the dais by Cupid, who cited county rules requiring commissioners vote on every item unless they are faced with a conflict of interest. The duo would spend the remainder of the meeting seated in back of the room while the board’s three Democrats carried on with voting.
“On December 30, I took an oath for the fourth time to uphold the Constitution of the United States, the state of Georgia and Cobb County. This is unconstitutional. The amended map is unconstitutional, and against state law,” Birrell told the MDJ. “…The board, as constituted, is not constitutional.”
Tuesday’s was the first meeting since two conflicting county commission district maps took effect on Jan. 1. The first, passed by Republicans in the General Assembly last year and signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp, sparked controversy as it drew Democratic Commissioner Jerica Richardson out of her seat midway through her four-year term.
The second is a map the Democratic commissioners adopted in October in an untested assertion of its home rule powers, which the county says allows it to amend state laws including redistricting. That map would keep Richardson safely within the boundaries of District 2, which she currently represents.
The county’s map has been subject to a legal challenge from east Cobb activist Larry Savage, but Superior Court Judge Ann Harris has yet to issue a ruling.
The trouble started at the top of Tuesday morning when Birrell asked Deputy County Attorney Debbie Blair which maps were in effect for the meeting. Blair responded that the county’s map remains in effect until the courts say otherwise.
“I’m just not comfortable with the makeup of the board, not knowing, with this still pending. This is a state issue that we don’t control,” Birrell protested, but she was told by Cupid the issue was not on the agenda and not up for discussion.
Then as the board moved to its first agenda item, Birrell and Gambrill voted to abstain.
Blair referred back to the board’s rules stipulating commissioners must cast a vote. The two Republicans didn’t budge, prompting Cupid to call for an extended recess. And when they returned, they continued to sit silently behind the dais.
“Commissioners,” Cupid said amid the standoff, “I’m asking for you to please vote on agenda item No. 3.”
But vote they did not, and after another recess, the meeting was carried on without them.
“If we’re going to have commissioners not abide by our rules of procedure, I would ask that we adjourn for those commissioners to remove themselves from the dais,” said Cupid.
At the meeting’s close, Cupid added, “I would like to see our full board represented here at our next meeting. But when we come together at our next meeting, we will be abiding by our rules and procedure.
“…I cannot allow for this board to be a circus, for people to share differences of opinion that are completely outside of our rules and procedure. I hope that the public understands that, and I hope that our commissioners understand that,” Cupid added.
The county’s position remains that even if its home rule map is ultimately overturned, any votes taken by Richardson in the meantime will not be compromised.
“With regards to the legal matters and whatnot, I certainly don’t have a comment on any of those things, but the law is the law. The (county’s) map is the law ... and until our court overturns it it is still law,” Richardson told the MDJ.
But Birrell and Gambrill gave no indication they would back down, and the Board of Commissioners has two additional voting meetings scheduled this month.
Gambrill told the MDJ, “This whole (home rule) resolution that they’re stating we are legal on and we have followed along is not because it contains false and misleading information. So until somebody makes a ruling on that, you’re going to continue to have this discord.”
She added that it’s time for the state — and particularly Attorney General Chris Carr’s office — to step in.
“They really need to take action,” Gambrill said, “and as soon as they take the action, this will be resolved.”
(12) comments
Commissioners Birrell and Gambrill need to do their jobs, and the courts will do theirs.
Cupid has control now. Lol
Cupid was following legal advice from county lawyers. Don’t blame Cupid, the two commissioners were just trying to put on a show.
Forget the show....They were trying to do their job!!
They purposefully were not doing their jobs as a stunt like Richard mentioned. Not sure if you had a typo
Let's get this straight, mdj. Are you reporting that Jerica Richarson, who is NOT supposed to be seated on the dais now since she was CONSTITUTIONALLY & LEGALLY drawn out of her district, was SITTING THERE VOTING? While at the same time, as Cupid allowed that, she banned the two republicans for trying to vote present?!!! Wait just a minute. The whole meeting needs to be scrubbed. They're operating illegally & why am I not surprised. democrats. Time for some lawsuits by the people.
[thumbup]
Can anyone show just where in the Georgia Constitution that a county government has the authority to draw their own district boundaries? Ms. Richardson moved out of her district, knowing the Georgia Legislature was going to draw new boundaries. In the past, the state legislature considered request from counties as to how to draw a district but were under no obligation to do so. Personally, I believe Ms. Richardson should be allowed to remain on the board until the next time her seat comes up for reelection, then she can make up her mind about running for it from her new residence, which is in another district.
So, Lisa Cupid doesn’t want the board to be a circus? Sorry, Chairwoman, but when you worthless Democrats mimic the national evil, wicked, Godless, Satanic, Democrats, the board IS a circus and you are the ringmaster. When Democrats are in charge of anything, disgusting, outlaw behavior follows. No one should be surprised. I’m sure not.
This is a whitewashed version of what actually happened. The East Cobb News has a better, more detailed report. No matter what the situation with the commissioner who moved out of her district, Cupid has no right to disenfranchise MORE THAN HALF the county by banishing their reps from the dais. She cannot hold that power!
As much as we complained about previous govt officials, this one takes the cake. Only with democrats are such controversies & power grabs a regular thing.
They didn't vote, in violation of Board rules. They disenfranchised their own constituents
Its very unfortunate time today for Cobb County, as a 60 year resident of this county, I have never been so embarrassed at such Despicable behavior of the 3 Democrats which is led by the "Demonic Cupid" at the helm. I can look back at our county history and say we have actually had some Very effective democrat commissioners who were sincerely had Cobb's best interest first.
What we have today in Cobb County is just a local "circus" of thir same party in D.C which has turned our economy into chaos and the laughingstock of the rest of the world.
Our Cobb County Needs a New Chairman who has the executive experience to lead with integrity, diplomacy, consensus building communication skills and most of all accountability.
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