The Chair of the Floyd County Democratic Party, Vincent Mendes, has formally requested that county commissioners remove Board of Elections member David Guldenschuh, citing concerns over his actions during the November 7 election certification process.
In a letter addressed to Commissioners Allison Watters, Rhonda Wallace, Mike Burnes, David Thornton, and Scotty Hancock, Vincent Mendes argued that Guldenschuh attempted to withhold certification of the county’s election results despite, Mendes said, having observed no irregularities during the vote-counting process.
According to Mendes, Guldenschuh’s decision came despite his oath of office and statutory requirements under Georgia law that make certification a mandatory duty for elections officials. Mendes referenced relevant state statutes and court decisions, including Curling v. Raffensperger, which he said reaffirm the lack of discretion officials have in certifying elections.
Mendes wrote that Guldenschuh, who is an attorney, “could not have had any question” about his legal responsibilities. He also referenced a reported comment Guldenschuh made following the incident — “I’m not going to tell you, but you’ll find out” — which Mendes said suggested a broader strategy or motive.
While noting that he did not believe race was a motivating factor, Mendes wrote that the incident raised concerns among some residents because two African American candidates won in the municipal election while two white candidates lost. He argued the controversy risked undermining trust in local elections and the work of county election staff.
Mendes urged commissioners to appoint a new board member “who will take his or her job seriously and put the good of our county above any personal agenda,” saying the integrity of future elections depended on public confidence in the certification process.
