Gwinnett County voters will elect a new chairman for the Board of Commissioners Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know:
The job: The chairman is the only full-time member of the County Commission. The chairman presides at commission meetings, proposes the county budget, signs contracts and represents Gwinnett County on regional boards that divvy up tens of millions of dollars for roads and other projects.
The candidates: Will Costa, 42, of Lilburn, helps run his family business, Costa's Pasta; Larry Gause, 49 of Tucker, is a former naval officer; Gerald Duane Kissel, 56, of Snellville, is the county's retired assistant police chief; Charlotte Nash, 58, of Dacula, is the former Gwinnett County administrator.
The election: The winner will serve the remaining two years of the unexpired term of former Chairman Charles Bannister. He resigned in October to avoid a perjury charge in connection with a grand jury investigation of questionable county land deals.
The issues: The grand jury investigation also led to the bribery indictment and resignation of Commissioner Kevin Kenerly. As a result, finding ways to restore public confidence in the commission has been a major issue in the campaign. Balancing the county budget, property taxes and attracting jobs also have been persistent themes.
The polls: Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. To find your polling place, visit www.gwinnettcounty.com.
What happens next: If one candidate gets more than 50 percent of the Tuesday vote, he or she will become the next commission chairman. If not, the top two vote recipients will advance to an April 12 runoff election.
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