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Cobb County Chairwoman Lisa Cupid discusses representation, transportation and fiscal stewardship
Summary
In a Smart Justice Works interview, Cobb County Chairwoman Lisa Cupid reflected on her path from engineer to elected official, her focus on representing historically underserved communities through the "All In" initiative, transportation priorities inspired by trips to the U.K., and maintaining the county’s long-held AAA bond rating.
Cobb County Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said she did not set out to run for elected office but has pursued opportunities that led from engineering into public service, and that her work as chair is guided by a focus on representing underserved communities and maintaining fiscal stability.
Cupid made the remarks during an interview with Cobb County Solicitor General Mackie Metzger on Smart Justice Works. "I did not begin with the end in mind," she said, describing a career path that moved from engineering into law and then into elective office. She said a manager’s feedback and a serendipitous jury-duty encounter helped shift her career toward public service.
The interview placed Cupid’s personal story in the context of policy priorities. Cupid described an "All In" engagement initiative meant to ensure historically underrepresented communities have a seat at the table when the county sets policy, and she said the county will use that process for matters including the budget and property-tax changes. "So I did that around House Bill 581 for property taxes," she said.
Cupid also named transportation as a recurring interest. Referring to recent travel to London and Manchester, she said those cities’ multiple modes of transit — walking infrastructure, bike trails, trams, subways and buses — demonstrated options Cobb County does not currently offer. "Why can't we have this?" she asked, saying multi-modal options could reduce commute times and congestion.
On fiscal management, Cupid credited long-term leadership in the county manager’s office and finance department for Cobb’s multi-decade AAA credit rating. She said preserving the county’s financial stability remains a priority as leaders plan for future years. "We cannot take for granted that secret sauce that we have," she said, referring to practices that have supported a 27-year stretch of the top rating.
Throughout the interview, Cupid framed policy debates as reflecting broader shifts in Cobb County’s demographics and civic values since 2020 and emphasized a need to acknowledge differences across communities rather than treating policy as one-size-fits-all. She also discussed being the county’s first Black woman to serve as chairwoman and the responsibility that accompanies that milestone.
The discussion was conversational and exploratory: no formal actions, motions or board votes were taken during the interview. Cupid described past roles and choices, outlined priorities for engagement and equity, and spoke broadly about transportation, taxation and fiscal stewardship rather than announcing specific policies or new votes.
The interview closed with advice for young people interested in leadership: "Know you are leading today and every day," Cupid said, urging persistence through adversity and confidence in one’s purpose.
