West Cobb resident Steven Lang’s aspiration to represent his community in the Georgia House of Representatives took an embarrassing detour due to a fundamental oversight — he does not reside in the district he sought to represent. Lang’s miscalculation has led to questions about his readiness and attention to detail, critical traits for any aspiring legislator.
Lang’s attempt to enter the political arena began when he ventured to the Capitol with the intention of filing his candidacy for District 36, armed with the necessary $400 filing fee. However, his candidacy was called into question almost immediately when Rep. Ginny Ehrhart, the incumbent from west Cobb and a member of the Republican party, pointed out via a Facebook post that Lang was, in fact, not a resident within the newly delineated boundaries of District 36. This revelation was not only a blow to Lang’s campaign but also highlighted a significant lapse in his understanding of the electoral landscape, a critical element for any candidate.
“I was looking forward to the possibility of representing my friends and neighbors as a state representative in District 36 … Unfortunately, it looks like the state legislature passed a redistricting bill less than three months before qualifying to run for office …,” Lang lamented. His statement emphasized the disarray caused by last-minute legislative changes, but it also inadvertently shone a light on his own inadequacies in preparing for his campaign. Lang’s reliance on outdated information from the My Voter Page, which draws data from the Georgia Voter Registration System (GARVIS), led to his misguided filing.
The Cobb Elections Office’s failure to update GARVIS with the new maps approved by the Georgia General Assembly in December further complicated matters, threatening Lang’s eligibility to run. Despite this systemic issue, the responsibility to ensure eligibility ultimately falls on the candidate. Lang’s inability to verify his district alignment amidst changing legislative maps speaks to a concerning lack of diligence.
Mike Hasslinger, a spokesperson for Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, expressed frustration over the confusion, noting that the Cobb Elections Office should have updated the maps well before the qualifying period began. “It just hasn’t been done. I can’t tell you why,” Hasslinger said, pointing to the massive confusion this has caused among voters and candidates alike. According to Hasslinger, the delay might be due to the anticipation of further changes following a decision on Cobb County’s “home rule” map, yet this does not absolve the local elections office from its duty to provide timely updates.
In this chaos, Lang asked the Georgia Democratic Party to refund his $400 qualifying fee, a request that remained unfulfilled as of his last statement. This financial hiccup adds another layer to Lang’s troubled attempt to navigate his political debut.
As for the broader implications, Jennifer Hall from the Cobb Elections Office outlined the sequence of events that led to the mishap. Despite receiving instructions from the Secretary of State’s Office in December, comprehensive updates to the voter system were delayed pending finalization of all redistricting maps, including those mired in legal disputes. This bureaucratic tangle has left candidates and voters in a state of uncertainty, a situation Hall described as regrettable.
Rep. Ehrhart, facing no opposition due to these errors, critiqued Lang and fellow Democrat James Ryner, who also filed under the outdated map, for not taking personal responsibility to verify their district information. “Those who are running for elected office have a higher standard. This did not happen under a rock, this is public knowledge,” Ehrhart stated, pointing to the necessity for candidates to proactively ensure their compliance with electoral laws.
Lang, now aware of his disqualification risk, expressed a desire to run in his correct district, District 19, in future elections, acknowledging the steep learning curve he encountered. “I did everything I could to put everything to the letter in terms of applying for qualification and to represent the Democratic Party,” Lang stated, hoping for another chance to engage in public service under correct procedural adherence.
This episode serves as a cautionary tale for all aspiring politicians: meticulous attention to legal and procedural details is indispensable. For Steven Lang, this was a hard-learned lesson in the importance of thorough preparation and personal responsibility in the political arena.
