A proliferation of candidates for the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners might signal Metro Atlanta’s second-largest county is in for a contentious election year.
Republican incumbents Mike Beaudreau and Shirley Lasseter — both up for re-election — haven’t said whether they’ll run again. But candidates from their own party already are lining up to oppose them.
And while no Republican has announced plans to oppose incumbent Chairwoman Charlotte Nash, also up for re-election, the county Democratic Party plans to compete against her and for the other commission seats.
Interviews with candidates and Gwinnett residents suggest concerns about the direction of the county — brought on in part by a spate of controversies ranging from dubious land deals to the fate of Briscoe Field — continue to fuel unhappiness with the Board of Commissioners.
“I don’t think [voter] trust is getting better,” said Gwinnett resident Steve Ramey of the Founding Fathers Tea Party Patriots. “I’m hoping there is a kindling fire starting under the people because they’re more aware of what’s happening.”
If the incumbents lose or decide not to seek re-election, it would mark a complete turnover on the five-member Board of Commissioners in just two years. Three commissioners — including Nash, Lynette Howard and John Heard — have been in office a year or less.
That makes Beaudreau, elected in 2004, and Lasseter, elected in 2008, the longest-serving commissioners. That’s not necessarily a political asset in a county rocked by controversies that cost the jobs of two of their colleagues.
Former Commissioner Kevin Kenerly did not seek re-election in 2010 and resigned shortly before his term ended after a grand jury indicted him on a bribery charge. Jurors accused Kenerly of accepting or agreeing to accept $1 million to arrange for the commission to buy land. Kenerly has denied the allegations, and the charge is still pending.
Jurors also considered a perjury charge against then-commission Chairman Charles Bannister. They decided not to indict the chairman when he resigned in 2010.
Beaudreau and Lasseter were not implicated in the grand jury’s investigation of land deals. But they’ve drawn criticism from some Gwinnett residents on other issues, including a new garbage collection system launched in 2010 and — most recently — the debate over whether to allow commercial flights at Briscoe Field. Both have refused to rule out commercial flights as Gwinnett considers leasing the airport to a private company.
Gwinnett officials acknowledge the spate of controversies, along with growing skepticism of government generally, has fueled distrust among many voters. They have responded with listening tours and new land-buying and ethics rules. But many residents remain skeptical.
Not surprisingly, County Commission candidates are billing themselves as agents of change.
Two Republicans — Suwanee City Councilman Jace Brooks and Duluth accountant Laurie McClain — have said they will run for Lasseter’s District 1 commission seat. Two more — Dacula businessman Mike Korom and former Snellville Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer — say they’ll seek Beaudreau’s District 3 seat.
“One thing I want to focus on is helping restore transparency and trust,” Brooks said, a comment echoed by other candidates.
“(People are) not really ready to forgive government as a whole for some of the things that have taken place,” McClain said. “It’s probably getting a little better, but there’s still a long ways to go.”
More Republican contenders may come forward, especially if Beaudreau or Lasseter announce they will not seek re-election.
Lasseter could not be reached for comment this week but recently said it’s good for voters to have choices. Beaudreau said he expects to make a decision soon. He and his wife have an infant daughter, and he said he needs to make a decision that’s best for his family as well as Gwinnett residents.
Nash said this week she plans to seek re-election, but will make a formal announcement later.
The GOP has long dominated Gwinnett politics, and all current commissioners are Republicans. But Democrats plan to field commission candidates this year, according to county Democratic Party Chairman Steve Deak.
Deak said newly redrawn commission districts still favor Republicans. He said Democrats have a better shot at a countywide office like commission chairman, though he acknowledged Nash has “a lot of support across the board.”
Given Gwinnett’s growing minority population, Deak believes Democrats can pick up commission seats in the near future. He’s not ruling out this year.
“If we get the right candidates this time, we might take a seat or a couple seats early,” he said.
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