Embattled Gwinnett County Commissioner Tommy Hunter won’t seek re-election, but Kathryn Schrader, a judge who will go to trial for a second time this spring in a computer hacking case, hopes to keep her seat.
Hunter’s decision to step down after his colleagues upheld an ethics complaint for language he made on his Facebook page means that three Gwinnett commission seats — all currently held by Republicans — will be open this fall. Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash and Commissioner Jace Brooks had already announced their plans not to seek re-election.
Five Democrats and three Republicans are running to be the commission chair, while one Democrat and two Republicans are seeking the District 1 seat, which is currently held by Brooks. The District 3 seat, which Hunter is vacating, has five Democrat and three Republican contenders. The primary will be held May 19.
Republicans have dominated Gwinnett politics for decades, but have recently Democrats made inroads. With the three Republicans on the board of commissioners retiring from public office, the two longest-serving elected officials on the board will be Democrats, and Democrats could have majority control of county government for the first time since the 1980s.
Republican Sheriff Butch Conway also opted not to run for re-election, and four Democrats and two Republicans are seeking to replace him.
Danny Porter, the longtime district attorney, flirted with changing parties but is seeking another term as a Republican. He has two Democratic challengers.
Nearly every seat up for election this year is contested. Even the sitting tax commissioner, Republican Richard Steele, has three Democratic challengers.
Schrader, the judge who has been accused of computer trespass, is scheduled to be retried April 27, following a mistrial. She has four challengers in the nonpartisan race.
Three members of the county school board are running for reelection. The Clerk of Court seat is uncontested, as are several judicial races. A number of state races are contested, and several sitting state representatives are not seeking reelection. For a full list of candidates, see below. Incumbents are marked (i).
Gwinnett Commission Chairman
George Awuku, Republican
Marcia Neaton, Republican
David Post, Republican
Nicole Love Hendrickson, Democrat
Andy Morgan, Democrat
Desmond Nembhard, Democrat
Curt Thompson, Democrat
Lee Thompson, Democrat
Gwinnett Commission District 1
Laurie McClain, Republican
Jacqueline Tseng, Republican
Kirkland Carden, Democrat
Gwinnett Commission District 3
Ben Archer, Republican
Matt DeReimer, Republican
Kim Walker, Republican
Roger Marmol, Democrat
John Moye, Democrat
Justin Walsh, Democrat
Jasper Watkins, Democrat
Derrick Wilson, Democrat
Gwinnett Board of Education District 1
Carole Boyce, Republican (i)
Segun Adeyina, Democrat
Karen Watkins, Democrat
Gwinnett Board of Education District 3
Mary Kay Murphy, Republican (i)Tanisha Banks, Democrat
Gwinnett Board of Education District 5
Tarece Johnson, Democrat
Louise Radloff, Democrat (i)
Sheriff
Lou Solis, Republican
Keith VanNus, Republican
Curtis Clemons, Democrat
Keybo Taylor, Democrat
Floyd Scott, Democrat
Ben Haynes, Democrat
District attorney
Danny Porter, Republican (i)
Patsy Austin-Gatson, Democrat
Wesley “Wes” Person, Democrat
Tax commissioner
Richard Steele, Republican (i)
Regina Carden, Democrat
Maureen McIvor, Democrat
Tiffany Porter, Democrat
Superior Court Judge
Tamela Adkins
Randy Rich (i)
Superior Court Judge
Deborah R. Fluker
Kelly Kautz
Christa Kirk
B.T. Parker
Kathryn “Kathy” Schrader (i)
Senate District 9
P.K. Martin IV, Republican (i)
Nikki Merritt, Democrat
Cheryle Renee Moses, Democrat
Gabe Okoye, Democrat
Senate District 40
Garry Guan, Republican
Sally Harrell, Democrat (i)
Senate District 41
William Park Freeman, Republican
Gil Freeman, Democrat
Mohammed Jahangir Hossain, Democrat
Kim Jackson, Democrat
Beverly R. Jones, Democrat
Sabrina McKenzie, Democrat
Senate District 45
Sammy Baker, Republican
Clint Dixon, Republican
Noemi Puntier, Republican
Ernie Anaya, Democrat
Matielyn Jones, Democrat
Richard Smith, Democrat
Senate District 48
Matt Reeves, Republican
Michelle Au, Democrat
Josh Uddin, Democrat
House District 93
Hubert Owens Jr., Republican
Dar’shun Kendrick, Democrat (i)
Alfred Reynolds, Democrat
House District 95
Erica McCurdy, Republican
Beth Moore, Democrat (i)
House District 97
Bonnie Rich, Republican (i)
Mary Blackmon Campbell, Democrat
House District 98
David Clark, Republican (i)
Taeho Cho, Democrat
House District 99
Jorge Granados, Democrat
Marvin Lim, Democrat
House District 101
Carol Field, Republican
Sam Park, Democrat (i)
House District 102
Soo Hong, Republican
Gregg Kennard, Democrat (i)
House District 103
Timothy Barr, Republican (i)
Derrick McCollum, Republican
Donald Schmidt, Republican
Clifton Marshall, Democrat
House District 104
Chuck Efstration, Republican (i)
Nakita Hemingway, Democrat
Andrea Stephenson, Democrat
House District 105
Eric Dierks, Republican
Donna McLeod, Democrat (i)
House District 106
Brett Harrell, Republican (i)
Emily Leslie, Democrat
Rebecca Mitchell, Democrat
House District 107
Michael McConnell, Republican
Shelly Hutchinson, Democrat (i)
House District 108
Johnny Crist, Republican
Jasmine Clark, Democrat (i)
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