Politics & Government

USPS: Cosby Collecting Petition Signatures at Post Office Is "Illegal"

A spokesperson with the United States Postal Service said several customers at the Canton post office have complained to staff "of harassment" by Carolyn Cosby.

The woman who wants to run as an independent candidate for Cherokee commission chair has been told she was violating regulations by asking residents outside the Canton post office to sign her petition to get her name on the ballot. 

The postmaster at the United States Postal Service's Canton location on Riverstone Boulevard had to ask Carolyn Cosby of Ball Ground, the former chair of the Canton Tea Party Patriots, to leave their premises Tuesday afternoon. 

USPS spokesperson Michael Miles said Cosby was asked to leave "because she was in violation of postal regulations," which makes it "illegal" to collect signatures for a petition on postal grounds. 

"I am aware of several customers who complained to post office staff, as well as several who called into the communications office, complaining of harassment by the candidate," he added. 

The agency cites 39 CFR, Part 232.1, titled Conduct on Postal Property, which outlines what can and can't be done on post office grounds. 

Section (h)(1) reads:

"Soliciting alms and contributions, campaigning for election to any public office, collecting private debts, soliciting and vending for commercial purposes (including, but not limited to, the vending of newspapers and other publications), displaying or distributing commercial advertising, collecting signatures on petitions, polls, or surveys (except as otherwise authorized by Postal Service regulations), are prohibited." 

Cosby, who said she was outside the post office's entrance for two days before she was asked to leave, challenges the postal service's interpretation of the law.

"It's not illegal for people to be there and exercise their first amendment right," she said. "That's what we were doing."

She added she was "not sure" how the postal service arrived at its assertion. 

"There are a lot of fine lines here that have to be looked at," she stated.

It's not the first time Cosby has had issues with the postal service, which was her husband David's employer until he retired. 

In 2012, a group led by Cosby — Citizens Review and Recommendations Committee to Assist County Government — taped fliers on mailboxes in the Hickory Flat area during the primary election season, which is in violation of postal service regulations. 

The group was critical of county government spending and actively campaigned to unseat former District 2 commissioner Jim Hubbard.

In reality, Cosby added, the postal service asking her to leave is about "stopping our petition drive." She noted her petition is now approaching 1,000 signatures, and is expected to be reach to 1,500 by the end of the week. 

"They know we are all over the county and they are trying to stop this petition drive because (incumbent Commission Chair Buzz) Ahrens doesn't want to be challenged in November," she said, adding people are receptive to her petition. 

Ahrens defeated challenger Jackie Archer in the May 20 Republican primary. 

Cosby has to garner 5,982 signatures to turn into Cherokee County Elections Supervisor Janet Munda by noon July 8 to gain placement on the ballot. 

Cosby added she will be discussing with her attorney what options she has with regards to the USPS asking her to leave its property. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here