State Representatives Terry Cummings, Mekyah McQueen, Lisa Campbell, and Gabriel Sanchez have called on Governor Brian Kemp to remove John Cristadoro from his position as Vice Chair of the Cobb County Board of Education. The legislators cite Cristadoro’s admitted misuse of $250,000 in client funds through his private company, Alliance Activation LLC.
“By his own admission, Mr. Cristadoro engaged in civil fraud involving a quarter of a million dollars of client money,” said Rep. Cummings. “That is not a private lapse — it is a profound breach of fiduciary trust that disqualifies him from overseeing public funds. The governor has a clear duty under Georgia law to protect public confidence in our institutions.”
According to court documents from Sagicor Life Insurance Company v. Alliance Activation LLC, Cristadoro agreed to a consent judgment acknowledging improper diversion of client funds for business and personal expenses. He is required to repay $225,000 plus interest.
Rep. Cummings noted that although the misconduct occurred within Cristadoro’s private business, it impacts his ability to fulfill fiduciary responsibilities as an elected official. She referenced Georgia law and the Georgia School Boards Association’s Code of Ethics as establishing integrity and accountability standards for board members.
“Fiduciary duty doesn’t switch off when the meeting ends,” Rep. Cummings added. “If a person cannot be trusted with client money in business, they cannot be trusted with taxpayer money in government.”
The lawmakers are asking Governor Kemp to act under O.C.G.A § 45-10-4 by conducting an ethics hearing and removing Cristadoro from office. They also urge state oversight authorities to take several steps: refer the matter to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) for review; initiate an independent forensic audit of Cobb County School District finances based on concerns raised by watchdog group Watching the Funds–Cobb; and conduct an ethics inquiry through the State Board of Education regarding whether Cristadoro’s actions constitute conduct unbecoming a board member.
“This is not about politics; it’s about trust,” concluded Rep. Cummings. “The people of Cobb County have a right to expect transparency and accountability from those entrusted with their children’s education and their tax dollars. Public service demands not just competence, but also character.”
Burns, a Republican who replaced Ray Holland, was elected in 2005 as representative for Georgia’s 159th House District.
