Qualifying Closes For Marietta Elections: See Who's On The Ballot

MARIETTA, GA — The candidates for Marietta City Council, Marietta mayor and Marietta City Schools Board of Education are now locked in for this year's general elections, set for Tuesday, Nov. 2.

Qualifying for the election ended Thursday. Ballots for Cobb County voters will also include a referendum for a new 1 percent Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (Ed-SPLOST) to fund capital improvements for Cobb County and Marietta City school districts.

The existing iteration of Ed-SPLOST expires Dec. 31, 2023. If approved, the ballot initiative would extend Ed-SPLOST for another five years.

Marietta's mayor, Steve "Thunder" Tumlin, is seeking a fourth term as mayor, with current Ward 6 City Council Member Michelle Cooper Kelly running against him.

Incumbent council members Cheryl Richardson, Johnny Walker and Joseph Goldstein are seeking reelection unopposed. Andre Sims, the only qualifying candidate for Ward 6, will inherit Kelly's seat.

Meanwhile in Marietta City Schools, incumbent board members Angela Orange, Kelly Minervini and Irene Berens are running for reelection unopposed. Board members Alan Levine, Randy Weiner and Allison Gruehn are not running for reelection.

Jason Waters, the incumbent candidate for Ward 2 on the school board, will face business adviser P.J. Hardy for the seat.

Take a look at who's on the ballot:

Marietta Mayor

• Michelle Cooper Kelly
• Steve "Thunder" Tumlin (Incumbent)

Marietta City Council

Ward 1

• Cheryl Richardson (Incumbent)

Ward 2

• Grif Chalfant (Incumbent)
• John Silvey

Ward 3

• Johnny Walker (Incumbent)

Ward 4

• Ted Ferreira
• Andy Morris (Incumbent)

Ward 5

• M. Carlyle Kent
• Cristina Stallworth
• Reggie Copeland (Incumbent)

Ward 6

• Andre Sims

Ward 7

• Joseph R. Goldstein (Incumbent)

Marietta City Schools Board of Education

Ward 1

• Alex Castro
• Jeff DeJarnett
• Lisa Lindsay

Ward 2

• P.J. Hardy
• Jason Waters (Incumbent)

Ward 3

• A.B. Almy
• Erica D. Bush

Ward 4

• George Darden
• Jaillene Hunter
• Angie Smith

Ward 5

• Angela Orange (Incumbent)

Ward 6

• Kerry Minervini (Incumbent)

Ward 7

• Irene Holly Berens (Incumbent)

City council members and Board of Education elections are non-partisan races.

To qualify as a candidate, the following requirements must be met, according to Georgia law:

• Has resided in the city not less than one year immediately preceding their election.
• Is a qualified voter in municipal elections for officers of the city.
• Has not been convicted and sentenced for any violation of the criminal laws of Georgia involving moral turpitude, unless such person has received a full pardon or has all rights of citizenship restored.

The mayor, all city council members and all board members have to live in the city or within their election district, respectively, during their terms of office.

The last day for Marietta citizens to register to vote in the upcoming General Election is Monday, Oct. 4. Early voting begins on Tuesday, Oct. 12, and Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 2.

To register to vote, request an absentee ballot or see where to vote early, visit the Georgia Secretary of State's website.