Election Day is November 4 | Early Voting – October 14th – 31st. | Location: BridgePointe Church, 285 Victory Drive
Election Day is November 4 | Early Voting – October 14th – 31st. | Location: BridgePointe Church, 285 Victory Drive
Cheryl Richardson currently serves as the elected City Council representative for Ward 1 in Marietta, Georgia — a position she has held since 2018. Her path to public service spans a 22-year military career, a legal career rooted in advocacy and integrity, and over a decade of civic leadership within the City of Marietta.
For Cheryl, Marietta is not just where she lives — it is the community she chose after military retirement, the place she continues to serve with commitment, and the city she believes in deeply.
Cheryl is the youngest of three children and spent much of her early life traveling the world as part of a military family. She was born in Germany and lived in locations ranging from Alaska to New Jersey, where her family eventually settled after her father’s retirement.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Rochester, completing her senior year at San Jose State University, where she participated in the ROTC program. Upon graduation, she was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in Military Intelligence.
Over two decades of military service, Cheryl rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Her assignments included deployments with the 24th Infantry Division during Operation Desert Storm and with the 3rd U.S. Army during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. These experiences shaped a leadership style grounded in discipline, responsibility, and long-term thinking.
Cheryl’s service in local government began in 2008, when she was appointed to the Board of Cobb Housing, Inc., a nonprofit focused on affordable housing. She later served on the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission before becoming the first African American female judge in Marietta’s Municipal Court. She continued her service as a hearing officer in the city’s Tax Intercept Court before stepping down to run for office.
Each of these roles gave Cheryl a deeper understanding of Marietta’s people, policies, and potential — and prepared her to serve as a thoughtful, results-oriented City Councilmember.
While still in uniform, Cheryl earned her Juris Doctor from American University’s Washington College of Law. After retiring from the military in 2004, she made Georgia her permanent home, founding Richardson Legal Services, PC in 2006.
Cheryl moved to Marietta in 2007 and immediately immersed herself in the civic life of the community. She became active in local neighborhood groups, worked to connect residents through community-led events, and began a trajectory of public appointments that would ultimately lead to her election to City Council.
As the elected representative for Ward 1, Cheryl brings calm competence, pragmatic leadership, and a clear vision for Marietta’s continued success. Her votes reflect deliberate judgment and deep understanding, balancing the needs of residents, businesses, and the city’s long-term future.
Her leadership on Council has focused on:
Strengthening public safety with fully staffed and well-equipped first responders
Maintaining fiscal responsibility without increasing the millage rate
Supporting infrastructure and city services
Protecting neighborhood character through thoughtful development
Ensuring that city employees are paid fairly and supported sustainably
Cheryl’s service reflects not just professional experience, but a lifelong commitment to service — shaped by military duty, legal insight, and a personal investment in the city she calls home.
When I first ran for City Council, I brought a different kind of experience to the table — one shaped by military service, legal training, and hands-on involvement in this community.
I’ve served on boards, commissions, and in courtrooms. I understand how city budgets work, how policy decisions are made, and how to get things done. I do not make promises I cannot keep. Instead, I focus on what is legal, what is responsible, and what will move Marietta forward.
I ran because I care deeply about this city — and I continue to serve because I believe in doing the work.
Cheryl’s leadership is grounded in long-term relationships, institutional knowledge, and an unwavering commitment to Marietta’s continued success. Her priorities reflect the issues she hears about most from residents and businesses:
Supporting First Responders
Advocating for full staffing, modern equipment, and mental health resources.
Investing in City Employees
Supporting fair pay and strengthening the city’s pension fund.
Planning Sensible Development
Promoting growth that fits within existing zoning and respects neighborhood character.
Protecting Public Resources
Supporting balanced budgets and responsible spending — without raising the millage rate in over 20 years.
Backing Local Businesses
Championing policies that help small businesses and community hubs thrive.
Cheryl Richardson is not running on potential. She is running on a record — and a vision.
Her tenure on City Council has brought consistency, progress, and real outcomes for residents and businesses alike. She has supported budgets that preserve quality of life without raising millage rates. She has helped guide balanced development that respects Marietta’s character. And she continues to prioritize public safety, city services, and practical, forward-thinking leadership.
Her commitment is simple: to keep Marietta strong, stable, and exceptional — not through promises, but through action.
Donate to the campaign to Re-elect Cheryl Richardson to Marietta City Council, Ward 1. All fields are required.
