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VIDEO: Cupid Tops Thompson in Commission Race

With all precincts reporting, the 35-year-old law and public administration student defeated the three-term incumbent in Tuesday's Democratic runoff.

 

Lisa Cupid will likely be the only new member of the Cobb Board of Commissioners after November's election, as well as its only Democrat.

With all 35 precincts reporting 4,053 votes, the 35-year-old law and public administration student at Georgia State gained 75.6 percent in Tuesday's Democratic runoff for the Southwest Cobb District 4 commission seat. The incumbent, real estate broker Woody Thompson, had the remaining 24.4 percent. 

Since no Republicans qualified for the seat, it appears that Cupid will be the only candidate on the ballot in November, nearly guaranteeing her the victory.

Set to graduate in December, Cupid, of Austell, is the community facilitator for the Austell Community Partnership. She also has a mechanical engineering degree from Georgia Tech.

Her background includes work with metro Atlanta’s 15 Chambers of Commerce, in the Governor’s Office, and as a policy analyst researcher.

Cupid moved to South Cobb 10 years ago when she married her Georgia Tech sweetheart, Craig Cupid. They have two sons, 3-year-old Nehemiah and 1-year-old Noah. 

Thompson, 65, first joined the commission as a Republican in 1997 to 2004, when he was defeated by Democrat Annette Kesting. Switching to the Democratic party, Thompson then beat her in 2008.

In the July 31 primary, Cupid gained 40 percent of the vote to Thompson's 27 percent. They were among a field of six Democrats, so since neither gained 50 percent plus one, they moved on to a runoff as the top two vote-getters.

Check back with Patch for continuing updates on the runoff elections.

What is your reaction to the results? Tell us in the comments.

Related Topics: cobb board of commissioners, cobb county government, and participate 2012

Venetta Smith

10:50 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Congratulations Lisa!! Lo Hicimos!!!

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Lisa Cupid

8:15 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012

My dearest, sweetest twin sister, Thanks!!! Yes we did it!!! Love you and look forward to seeing you soon!

Rich "The Equalizer" Pellegrino

10:57 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Congratulations to Lisa and everyone in South Cobb because now we will have someone who will truly represent all of us!

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Lisa Cupid

8:12 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012

Thanks Rich for your congratulations and support! Who would have thought how far this would come! God is good!!!

Cynthia

11:15 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Congratulations Lisa and all of Cobb County, South West Cobb ha Great New
resourceful, responsible, visionary leadership.

Cynthia McGarity- Paulding County

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Lisa Cupid

8:13 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012

Thank you Cynthia!!! You are one of the tall shoulders I have to stand on! Thanks for all you do and look forward to working with you as you continue to serve families here in Cobb.

Ivory Dorsey, Speaker, Facilitator, and Author

6:03 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Experience, energy, and enthusiasm makes a powerful team. Don't throw away the baby with the bath.

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John A Delves

3:44 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012

so few words but so much deep meaning too. Experience was a positive and viable talent that we have just given up. It will be interesting

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Lisa Cupid

8:15 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012

Well received. Thanks Ms. Dorsey!

Jon

7:24 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012

I have to admit, I only voted for Lisa Cupid in the runoff simply because her phone-spammers called to beg for my vote from a number in Georgia, rather than a number in Texas like Woody Thompson's did.

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Zenobia

9:10 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Funny, Thanks. Time for a change.

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Lisa Cupid

8:11 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012

Jon, thanks for the heads up to stay local!

L A Hays

7:30 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012

New day! Congratulations to Lisa and her team. Let's get to work!

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Tomi Johnson

8:52 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012

That's the way to do it, Lisa. Congrats! Finally someone on the Commission with savvy, brains, AND mommy intuition!

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Zenobia

9:11 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Congrats to Lisa and Cobb County!

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Jamie Cox

9:15 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Congrats, Lisa! I knew you would prevail.

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Lisa Cupid

8:09 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012

Thanks Jamie!!! So good hearing from you. Thanks for encouraging me and being an positive example! Hope to cross paths again!

Jackpot

9:17 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Congratulations Lisa. Now we will have some real representation. Woody, you lost my support/vote when you made the comment at the meeting that people in North Cobb had more educated people than in South Cobb, which is why they have more. WRONG! Its when there are people like you who give all the support to other areas and forget those who put you in office. Obviously, you were wrong because Lisa is educated. Oh, by the way, the person writing this congratulatory to Lisa is very educated. Now, South Cobb, we need to rally around Lisa and give her the support she needs. We must attend the meetings, pull up our sleeves and be about the business. When we don't attend the meetings and get involved, we get left out of the decisions that are being made. Lets rally around all of our elected officials and bring South Cobb from the dead. There are great things happening, but if "WE" never come out and get more involved, they will continue to put us in the back and sometimes just wipe us off the map.

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Suzanne Thomason

12:37 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Very well said Jackpot. The community does need to get involved to make a change. She can't do it alone.

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Lisa Cupid

8:07 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012

Jackpot, you hit the nail on the head!!! Thank you for recognizing this and encouraging others to get involved! My goal over the next few months is to work on a strategy that will incorporate how residents can be better involved in addressing issues in our District.

We have a lot of work ahead of us, but as long as we have multiple people shouldering the task we can be much more successful than one person trying to do this alone!

And yes, we have way too many educated, caring, and concerned people to expect anything less than what people out here deserve. The more people I meet the more humbled I am on all the talent and resources we have here. Still, its not just about education. There are also a lot of educated fools in this world. I chose my academic path for many reasons beyond this post but know that many people have found great personal and professional success in the school of hard knocks.

I look forward to working with you and being of service!

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C. Vinson

8:25 am on Friday, August 24, 2012

Jackpot I wholeheartedly agree. Do try to attend meetings when I can, and stay informed about what's going on through my membership in the Mableton Improvement Coalition (MIC). Additionally I try to encourage neighbors to attend the meetings with me, and have often brought them. If we all do some of these things there is no reason why South Cobb cannot rival other parts of the county in quality ans services. - Cheryl

Tony Bennett

10:55 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Stellar victory. Congradulations to Lisa

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Lisa Cupid

7:58 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012

Hi Tony!!! Thanks and look forward to crossing paths again!

Allen Rodi

12:00 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Congrats Lisa! Good things to come...let us know what you need from us

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Atlanta Owner

3:14 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012

I certainly hope that Lisa Cupid does a good job. I'll be the first to admit that Thompson's "old South good old boy" ways finally got on my nerves, but then again, I remember the huge joke that was Annette Kesting and the stuff she brought with her, too. I live in an old established area of West Cobb and the old timer residents were (and still are) leery of what Cupid will bring to the table, so I truly truly do hope she's in this to represent ALL residents of Cobb and not just some. There has just been so much special-interest and corrupt leadership throughout the metro area for so many years, it's hard to trust anyone anymore.

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Lisa Cupid

7:54 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012

Atlanta Owner - I appreciate your concern. It is hard dwelling in the unknown. I appreciate you taking the chance to support me and hope that you will reach out to me so that we talk through some of the issues you and the established residents of West Cobb may have. At least that will help give me a fighting chance of representing persons where you reside.

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C. Vinson

8:32 am on Friday, August 24, 2012

I'll be the first to admit that voting for Kesting was a big mistake. Which is why Woody won his seat back so easily. Her election was also a desperate call for a change from the "I don't have to listen to my constituents", good old boy, unchallenged incumbent attitude residents encountered. I've heard Lisa on a few occasions and believe that she has what it takes to move the County forward. - Cheryl

John A Delves

3:50 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Now that deserves a ditto. You said it and said it so well Kesting was a poor example of what we needed in the commission. She had one type of person on her mind, she wanted to run the School board and never returned the calls and emails.
Can Ms Cupid do better? I hope and pray that she can.

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Lisa Cupid

7:57 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012

Please continue to hope and pray! Know that with your help we can move in a positive direction with some assurance. Again its not just about me. I'd be crazy to think I can do this on my own. Look forward to being of service.

mmmurphy

9:36 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Kudos to Lisa for sounding the trumpet of change. Like Damon, who was the drummer boy for Napoleon. At Waterloo, he was asked to beat a retreat, Damon
replied, " I can't beat a return but I can beat a charge that will wake up the dead."
Lisa WILL get the job done.
Enough of the experience dribble. Remember it was the experienced, so called professionals that built the Titanic, it was amateurs that built the Ark. Ok! We have
experience in Washington and what is it doing for us?
A wise old politician once said, when your time is up and the people come after you,
you run and get out in the front, strut proudly and make it look like a parade.
And as for the previous commish, Ms. K, who left so much to be desired, that is exactly why we have elections. Like a good game of bid whisk, you make them rise
and fly.
Better days ahead for all of District 4 folks, trust me.

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Lisa Cupid

7:49 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012

Thanks Mr. Murphy. You always have a good word! Thanks for all that you do to serve and look forward to working together!

Monica DeLancy

2:29 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012

Lisa Cupid ran a steady race, she had a plan, great marketing strategy and above all support from her family and friends. Lisa has also mentioned that she will continue to need support from the community to make sure district 4 needs are met. Well done!!!!

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Lisa Cupid

7:45 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012

Monica - Thanks again for all of your help for the runoff! I can't even take the credit for this win. It came down to each individual who helped volunteer, get the word out, and get people to the polls. In much appreciation.

Stan Kaady

6:57 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012

Lisa. Congratulations!

Primary Run-off elections are an interesting thing. Here we had two situations where two Repubs were vying for Commission Chair with no Dem's in the wings. South Cobb had two Dems vying for the Commission seat with no Republicans running for that seat. Whoever wins in the Primary Run-Off is now the new Chair and Commissioner, respectively. So, one shows up at the polls, has to vote as they did in the Primaries. In my case, I took the Democratic ballot in the Primary so I could vote for my County Commissioner. In the run-off, I had to choose the same party ballot. By doing so, as a South Cobb resident, I was not permitted to vote or have a say who in the Commission Chair race.

I don't know why the run-off elections can not be set up where if a voter, depending on their location in the county, can vote for candiates from another Party, if the run-off is the final factor in who wins that race. Yes, I know, it's the law. But, IMV, on the County level, it's not so much about voting along party lines as it is voting for the best person for the job. Not eloquently put, but I hope you get my point.

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Kiri Walton

7:24 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012

Stan, I feel the exact same way. I am not from Georgia, but I think this primary system is severely flawed! I, like any South Cobb resident, had to choose if I wanted to help decide who'd be the next person to serve my part of the county or choose to decide who'd be the next person to essentially run the entire county. It just sorta disenfranchises people of their vote either way.

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Lisa Cupid

7:41 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012

Stan Kaady - I do get your point! I can't tell you how many complaints I received about this. I too share the frustration. I like you did not have the opportunity to vote for several key roles that affect our area's leadership. My only thought is that at one point partisan primaries worked in a majority party's favor. Today the voters suffer when there is no opposition from the other side. I appreciate you coming out to vote during the runoff. Each vote, including yours, made the difference!

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C. Vinson

8:36 am on Friday, August 24, 2012

Stan I'm 100% with you on this one. It threw me off when I realized that we are governed by the Chairman, but couldn't vote for the candidate unless we voted Republican. And this 50+1 stuff causes problems as well. Run-offs cost everyone a lot of money not just the candidates.

Geneva Vanderhorst

8:31 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012

Lisa, Congrats on your well deserved win! although I do not live in the district, I am extremely pleased at the outcome of this race. I am excited about the future of South Cobb, especially for our young people.

Geneva Vanderhorst
STING, Inc.

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C. Vinson

8:20 am on Friday, August 24, 2012

I am excited about seeing Southwest Cobb represented by Lisa. Woody served well, but Lisa brings a fresh set of eyes and energy that is so desperately needed now in this part of the County. I believe she will work with the other Commissioners, but also work hard for her constituents. - Cheryl

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