In a wide-ranging state of the county address on Thursday, Gwinnett Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash took aim at the controversial Facebook posts by colleague Tommy Hunter.
Nash didn't mention Hunter by name or specifically reference the Facebook post in which he called civil rights leader and U.S. Rep. John Lewis a "racist pig." But the context was obvious — and her statements drew a round of applause.
“Inclusion does not just happen,” Nash said in front of hundreds of county leaders gathered in a ballroom at the Infinite Energy Center. “It takes intentional effort. Let me be perfectly clear — failure to respect all Gwinnettians and welcome their participation in our community is neither acceptable nor smart.”
Nash went on to tout several efforts the county has undertaken to improve community outreach, but said "there's more to do, as recent events have shown."
“I have made a personal commitment to seek ways to increase my own understanding of varied racial and cultural backgrounds,” Nash said. “I believe that my fellow commissioners will do the same.”
The chairman added that the county is “adopting the tagline, ‘Many Voices, One Gwinnett.’” What, exactly, that meant wasn’t immediately clear.
Nash's speech also covered a variety of other topics, including development throughout the county and Georgia's recent victory in the ongoing water wars litigation. The chairman also took a notable stance on the future of transit in the county.
“We can’t stop improving our road network, but expanded transit options must also be part of any long-term solution,” the chairman said.
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