Two Democratic candidates say they will appeal the Cobb Board of Elections and Registration decision to disqualify them from challenging incumbent Republican Sheriff Neil Warren.
The five-member board on Thursday voted unanimously to disqualify Craig Owens and Gregory Gilstrap from the race. Both men have 10 days to appeal the decision in Cobb County Superior Court.
Their candidacies were challenged by fellow Democratic contender Jimmy Herndon, who also challenged Warren's qualification on the basis that the longtime sheriff didn't notarize his original qualifying documents.
Herndon dropped that challenge after seeing the original qualifying documents had been properly notarized, said Cobb Elections Director Janine Eveler.
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Eveler said Gilstrap’s candidacy was disqualified because the person he named as his chief deputy did not meet the qualifications for sheriff. Candidates for sheriff are required to name a chief deputy who also meets the requirements to become sheriff, as well as proving that person is a registered voter.
Owens’ candidacy was disqualified because he did not provide an affidavit with the elections superintendent by the end of the third day after the qualifying period to prove that he graduated from high school.
Herndon, a former sergeant with the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, said the board’s decision was “the right thing to do.”
“If you can’t even follow the rules to run for the office, then I think that we reasonably need to look at that,” he said.
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Owens, a major with the Cobb County Police Department, said he was disappointed with the board’s decision. When he qualified in early March with the Cobb County Democratic Party to run for sheriff, he said he was told he submitted everything he needed to formally enter the race.
Owens, who has both bachelor and master’s degrees, said he plans to appeal the board’s decision.
“I’m confident that I will have a successful appeals process,” he said.
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Owens said Herndon has also filed complaints with the Cobb police department as well as the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, which investigates and prosecutes violations of the Civil Service Reform Act, among others.
“He is doing this because he know he can’t win and he knows he can’t beat me in a fair, honest campaign,” Owens added.
Herndon said he understands that his petitions have led some to criticize his motives because “some people have their favorite candidates.” However, he said it concerns him that his contenders, who are vying to become the county’s top lawman, are unable to follow the rules of qualifying.
Gilstrap, who ran against Warren in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016, said he didn’t agree with the board’s decision and he also plans to appeal the board’s decision.
“We will continue to press on towards the race after we go over this hurdle,” he said.
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