Cobb County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Lisa Cupid released the following statement concerning redistricting currently being considered in the state legislature.

With respect to redistricting, this process is now underway and occurs every 10 years when a new census is taken. As the population changes, the representation of the population is rebalanced so that there is roughly the same population in each area of representation. Cobb County is growing, and thus lines of representation are shifting for the U.S. House of Representatives, our School Board, and our Board of Commissioners. Redistricting is a state process, not a local process.

State leaders do not have to consult leaders that represent locally on the Board of Commissioners, School Board, or House of Representatives. Nonetheless, we have had the courtesy provided of the head of the local delegation, Representative Erick Allen, to consult with each district commissioner about the new map. In taking input into consideration, Representative Allen presented a map that slightly altered the maps in place from the last census, and that balanced the populations across all 4 commission districts.

There was concern from one commissioner that one district would fall under 50% republican with Allen’s new map. Thus he worked with her to try to present a map she desired, but unfortunately, the population could not be balanced with that new map.

Just yesterday Representative Carson drew a new map significantly shifting districts two and three as we know them today. His map drew Commissioner Richardson out of her district seat and placed her in the same district as Commissioner Birrell. Although Richardson recently moved further north in her district, Carson’s proposed map would have cut Richardson out of the map even if she resided at her former address. District Commissioners must live in the district that they represent.

Rep. Carson's iteration of the map occurred without communication to the full Board of Commissioners. It is unclear to me if he consulted with the local state delegation regarding his proposed map. Our local newspaper provided that Carson’s map was redrawn to retain the current 3:2 balance of Democrats and Republicans on the Board of Commissioners. While this is an allowable political goal, I am unsure it best represents our citizens on local matters which should not be partisan.

No pothole is seeking an R or D for resolution.  His map certainly undermines the respectfulness of the elected leadership of this county when it fully draws someone out of an area that they have been elected to represent. It also furthers political polarization when districts must be drawn that are either Republican or Democrat and not a combination of both which can result in balanced thought within the leaders that represent them.

Chairwoman Cupid is isolating at home after testing positive for COVID-19.