Thompson Questions Whether Married Mothers Have Time to be Commissioners

Early voting has ended for the Aug. 21 run-off election. Both forerunner Lisa Cupid and incumbent Woody Thompson are facing off in the District 4 Commissioner race, which originally had six candidates.

Cupid earned 40 percent of the vote, while Thompson trailed with 26 percent. However, a candidate must receive 50 percent plus 1 vote to be declared the winner of a Georgia election. The winner is likely to be the next district commissioner since there were no Republican challengers to qualify for the election.

In recent Marietta Daily Journal article, entitled "Thompson touts experience on job," Thompson pointed out that Cupid is 35 and he is 65.

The paper stated, "Thompson also questioned whether Cupid, a married mother of two young children, would have time to dedicate to the job."

Cupid, who graduated with an engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology and will graduate with graduate degrees in law and public administration from Georgia State University in December, has two sons and is married to her college sweetheart, Craig Cupid.

Cupid responded to Thompson's claim of experience as a commissioner, saying "Having a lot of years on the commission board does not equate to having a lot of results or being effective. I think that people want to see more results.”

She called Thompson's comments that a mother of two young children may not have time to dedicate to the job of commissioner "a slap in the face."

And she was quoted in the article saying, "While I was in school, I worked, I had children, I was very involved in my community and was more visible than he was. So what was Woody’s excuse?”

On Friday, Cupid's campaign sent out an e-blast encouraging South Cobb residents to go vote and adding remarks about Thompson's mother comments.

The email read,

"I was disappointed with my opponent's remarks about parents not being able to handle the responsibilities of being a parent and a commissioner. 

There are thousands of great parents serving admirably as elected officials.  I am proud to be a mother, wife, law school student and candidate for Cobb County Commissioner. As a matter of fact, my family is my motivation for running for office--our children deserve better in South Cobb."

 

Do you think a married mother would lack the time to dedicate to the position of county commissioner? Is this an archaic way of thinking? What are your thoughts? Tell us in the comments below.