Resident Enters Cobb Commission District 3 Race

MARIETTA, GA — Retired Cobb County Water System employee James "Jim" Smith has announced he is running for the position of Cobb County Commissioner for District 3 as a Democratic candidate.

“As a 64-year resident of Cobb County I have seen tremendous growth of our beautiful county. I want to see the county to continue to prosper in a way that is beneficial to the residents and the county overall.” said Smith.

The District 3 seat is currently held by JoAnn Birrell, who was elected to a second term in 2015. Smith is a disabled Army veteran, who served on active duty in South Vietnam with the 25th Aviation Battalion and during Operation Desert Storm with the 145th Medical (Helicopter Ambulance) Detachment. He was an active Army reservist for 8 years at Dobbins Airforce Base.

He has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Franklin University and a Supervisory Management Certificate from Kennesaw State College. As an active member of the American Legion for 44 years and current member of North Cobb American Legion Post 304 in Acworth, Smith works on fundraising events that support the veteran population of Cobb County.

After 21 years Smith retired from the Cobb County Water System, where he was employed as a Project Manager in the Engineering Division. From February 2007 until 2010 he worked for Brown and Mitchell, Inc. in Gulfport, Mississippi, as a Senior Design Tech/Project Manager/RPR and performed oversight engineering/inspection/quality control and assurance on water/sewer/storm drainage projects, valued at $350 million, being reconstructed after Hurricane Katrina in Hancock and Harrison Counties. He has volunteered with the Canton Road Neighbors Association for seven years as a Neighborhood Advisor and on the Planning and Zoning Committee.

Smith and his wife, Ann, have been together for 41 years. She is a lifelong resident of Cobb County, retired from WH Smith and is an active member of Noonday Baptist Church. They have two sons, one daughter and 3 grandchildren. Their youngest granddaughter is a Senior at Kell High School. He and his wife have lived in their Cobb County home for 37 years.

Mr. Smith and his daughter both work with Husky Pack Rescue a Cobb County based dog rescue and are the proud parents of several rescue dogs.

“I look forward to serving the county with a fresh perspective if elected.” Smith stated.