Chair Nash And Gwinnett

Gwinnett County made headlines on Tuesday as Gwinnett’s current County Chair, Charlotte Nash, revealed that she would not be seeking reelection in the 2020 cycle. This is a major announcement given Gwinnett’s increasing importance within Georgia--we are currently the second largest county in the state and one of the fastest growing in the nation. The Chair of the County Commission will end up representing nearly one million people, which is more than most congressional districts and larger than 4 states populations.

Chair Nash served our county with respect and poise throughout her tenure. Though we occasionally found ourselves in disagreement, especially over the placement of the transit referendum in March, I know that she always wanted to see Gwinnett be its best. Prior to her election in 2011, Gwinnett had been reeling from political scandals, including one that saw her predecessor resign in the middle of a grand jury investigation. Once elected, she brought stability back to the office and dignity returned to the county. Even though her politics fell on the opposite side of the aisle from mine, she helped Gwinnett recover and heal. I want to thank Chair Nash for her nearly decade long stint as County Chair and for her decades of prior public service to our county.

That said, Gwinnett has changed since she was elected back in 2011. We have become more and more diverse, with languages, ethnicities, and races from all around the world. In fact, the fifth senate district, which I represented from 2005 to 2019, became one of the most diverse in the nation. It’s no secret that our county has changed politically, too.

Gwinnett has been trending Democratic the last few elections, and many expect 2020 to be no different. Within the last four years, Gwinnett went from 56 - 42 Republican to 56 - 42 in Democratic performance. We are a more progressive county than ever. I believe that our next County Commission Chair should reflect that, which is why I decided to announce my campaign for the position in February of this year.

Gwinnettians have an incredible opportunity in 2020 to bring major progressive change to our county. The consequences of this race are difficult to overstate--it’s our future on the line. It’s a future with expanded public transportation system to link historically disenfranchised communities to our larger economy. It’s a future with a non-discrimination ordinance so that members of the LGBTQ+ community do not have to worry about hiding who they love to get a county job. It’s a future where we don’t decriminalize simple possession of marijuana so our police can focus on human trafficking and other serious crimes. It’s a future where we have an Election Day holiday in the county to encourage voting, and where we completely defund 287g so that we live up to our purpose of being a welcoming and diverse county that is a bridge to all our futures. With my 16 years of experience in the General Assembly, I will build a bridge to that future as Gwinnett’s next County Chair. A future that includes all of us and lifts up every Gwinnettian.