FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 7, 2025
Cobb GOP Chair Alters South Carolina Tax Status Amid Residency Controversy
Cobb County, GA – April 7, 2025 — GOP Accountability has confirmed that Mary Clarice Hathaway, Chair of the Cobb County Republican Party, contacted the Pickens County, South Carolina Tax Assessor’s Office last week to remove a legal residence tax exemption from her South Carolina home.
The timing—just days after public documents raised questions about Hathaway’s dual residency—suggests this move was a direct response to mounting scrutiny over her eligibility to serve as Chair under Georgia law and party rules, which require county party officers to be legal residents of the county they represent.
The removal of the South Carolina tax exemption demonstrates that Mary Clarice Hathaway previously claimed legal residency outside Georgia. This action does not retroactively establish her eligibility at the time of her election as Chair of the Cobb County Republican Party on March 22, 2025. Under Georgia law and party rules, individuals must be legal residents of the county they represent. At the time of her election, Hathaway’s South Carolina residency status would have rendered her ineligible—raising serious concerns about the validity of the election and the integrity of the process.
“The Republican party in Cobb County, the State of Georgia, and the nation are perfectly clear. If the information regarding the removal of the property exemption is true, I think it would be appropriate for Mary to do the right thing.” said a spokesperson for GOP Accountability.
The public deserves answers. The integrity of party elections depends on adherence to both the letter and spirit of the law.
For more information and updates, visit www.gopaccountability.com.
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For press inquiries please submit questions to:
GOP Accountability
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2025
Delegates File Formal Appeal with 11th District GOP Chairman Challenging Legitimacy of Cobb GOP Convention Election
Cobb County, GA — On March 27, a formal appeal was submitted to David Oles, Chairman of the 11th Congressional District Republican Party, to contest the eligibility of Mary Clarice Hathaway, who was elected Chair of the Cobb County Republican Party on March 22, 2025, and to challenge the validity of her entire slate’s election.
The appeal stated that Ms. Hathaway formally removed her homestead property tax exemption for her Cobb County residence in December 2022. Starting in 2023, she claimed a “legal resident” property tax exemption for her family’s home in Pickens County, South Carolina. According to Georgia law and Republican Party rules, this action changed her legal residence from Cobb County to Pickens County, South Carolina.
Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 21-2-217(a)(4)) clearly states that if a person demonstrates an intent to make another state his or her residence, then he or she shall be considered to have lost such person's residence in Georgia.
Because she declared a legal residency in Pickens County, SC, Mary Clarice Hathaway was not a lawful elector, as defined by O.C.G.A § 21-2-2(7), in Cobb County, GA. Therefore, she was not eligible for election to an office in the Republican Party of Cobb County. Furthermore, she is not lawfully eligible for election as a delegate to the District and State Conventions and should be removed from the lists.
A person who claims a legal residence in another state cannot also claim legal residency in Georgia. This is not a mere technicality — it is a matter of legal standing and eligibility. We firmly believe the integrity of our internal elections depends on adhering to both party rules and Georgia law.
At the time the appeal was filed, 42 delegate signatures had been obtained within the required five-day window. The appeal also requested an extension in order to obtain the required additional 16 delegate signatures, so as to conform with the 20% of registered delegates rule.
A one-day extension was requested so as to obtain essential evidence for the appeal. Gathering that evidence was delayed because Cobb County computer servers were shut down for over two days. About half of the five days allowed by party rules for an appeal was effectively unavailable to the appellants.
On April 1, 2025, the appeal sent to the 11th District Chairman was denied and sent to the Georgia Republican Party. Per the rules the appeal must be heard within 10 days.
The appeal relies upon Cobb County Republican Party Standing Convention Rule 13(d) that requires a single vote for a candidate for chairman which vote includes that candidate’s entire slate of executive officers. Therefore, based upon the ineligibility of Mary Clarice Hathaway, the 2025 election of officers should be declared void and a new election held.
In addition to the appeal, a letter was sent to the County Committee requesting an emergency committee meeting be called by the Chairman, calling for the removal of the newly elected Chair along with the entire slate. The requested removal is based on the lack of legal residency in Georgia by Ms. Hathaway. In addition the removal of the Hathaway Slate is requested based on the convention party rules that required a single vote for the entire slate rather than voting on each officer individually.
The supporting documents can be found at this link: https://www.gopaccountability.com/supporting.
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For press inquiries please submit questions to:
GOP Accountability
[email protected]