East Cobb civic group produces leadership

The East Cobb Civic Association, long a voice in zoning and development issues in that part of the county, can now be considered a political incubator as well.

Come January, former association leaders will hold three of the five seats on the Cobb County Commission. Chief among the civic association’s mission: preserving the quality of life in the county’s most affluent area.

On Dec. 30, Bob Ott, a former association president, replaces Joe L. Thompson as the east Cobb representative. He joins Commissioner Tim Lee and Chairman Sam Olens as the third person with ties to the association. All three are Republicans.

That mix doesn’t disturb fellow commission members, who don’t perceive their colleagues from east Cobb as being overly focused on issues in that part of the county.

“I truly believe it won’t be a factor,” said Helen Goreham, a Republican commissioner who represents northwest Cobb. “As a commissioner you keep an open mind and represent all components of the county.”

Olens, a former association president, said the association has branched out beyond zoning concerns to other quality-of-life issues. “Clearly, the leadership has created the base to which to run for office,” said Olens.

The association has been credited with launching the political careeer of Olens, who won re-election last month and has been mentioned as a possible candidate for governor.

“The ECCA is bigger, older and more active in more issues. It attracts people who are more interested in community affairs,” said Lee, the commission’s northeast Cobb representative. Lee, a former community activist and former head of the Northeast Cobb Homeowners Group, was on the civic association’s board for two years.

The nonprofit association does not endorse political candidates, though it did back the recent $40 million parks bond issue that passed by a wide margin.

David Hong, a founder and former association president, said candidates appear at a forum prior to the primary election and pursue east Cobb voters as a bloc.

“We individually decide to support them,” Hong said.

With a membership of 13,000 living in 85 subdivisions, the association tracks, advises and takes positions on issues relevant to east Cobb, including zoning and development, public safety and education. The region includes the county’s corporate hub, access to three interstate highways and several of Cobb’s top performing schools.

The association works collaboratively with builders, developers and the county, but has stood fast on occasion, Hong said.

In 2005, the association challenged plans by Wal-Mart to expand its Johnson Ferry Road store by more than 50,000 square feet. Two years later, the company reduced the size of the addition.

Bob Kern, president and partner of Atlanta-based Cornerstone Development Partners, said it helps to have the association’s support when proposing a project.

Cornerstone Development recently received permission to build a CVS drug store on Johnson Ferry Road at Lower Roswell Road. Kern said Cornerstone consulted with the civic association, which gave the project a nod of approval at zoning hearings.

“They can be very demanding, and their requests are mostly genuine,” Kern said. “We break our backs to grant them everything they need.”