Is Cobb EMC Election in the Bag?

Dwight Brown and his board of directors at Cobb EMC lost the “non-partisan” election on Sept. 17 2,561 to 1,113. The next election will be different.

On Piedmont Road, the cars stretched out a half mile in both directions so Cobb EMC members could vote for the first time in three years. I held a sign supporting the removal of Dwight and his team and got all smiles and thumbs-up from the drivers and passengers. I noticed that bumper stickers on the cars reflected all parts of the political spectrum. A couple Cobb EMC guys came by, took a look, and sent two young ladies with signs to take positions by the road. By then, it was too little too late.

If nothing else Dwight and his team are flexible. I bet they also noticed the bumper stickers that represented the political diversity of Cobb County. If they couldn’t rig the next election by giving themselves the advantage of unlimited mailing, they will find other ways. (And here's how he profited from his position as the CEO.)

Making elections partisan that shouldn’t be has been the historic way in Cobb to pick the winner before a vote is cast. Public education is the most non-partisan issue in Cobb County or any place in Georgia. Many school boards in Georgia are non-partisan. Why does Cobb have partisan elections? Simple, to control who oversees the expenditure of a very large amount of money. 

If Dwight and his gang can frame the next election (there are three more coming) in partisan terms, he has a good chance to continue the corruption. With unlimited Cobb EMC funds (YOUR MONEY), he can go on FOX TV and say he is a conservative free market capitalist attacked on all sides by socialists and liberals.

His opponents won’t have the money to counter his lies. A recent poll of Cobb EMC members says that only six percent even know who Dwight Brown is. Having an “R” by your name in an election or giving people the impression that you are an “R” in a non-partisan election works in Cobb County every time.

Remember when the Rev. Dr. John Crooks said at a forum that his opponent for school board in East Cobb, Dr. Beth Farokhi, was the most qualified person running? Crooks was an “R” and Farokhi was a “D.” The less qualified person won then and Dwight Brown knows how to make that magic happen again.

Have a doubt? In the in House District 43 to replace Bobby Franklin, out of 30,076 registered voters, only 2,248 voted. They were all strong “Rs” or extremely strong “Rs.” It didn’t make sense for anyone else to compete. The election was decided before a vote was cast.