By Elliott Brack
Editor and publisher, GwinnettForum
MAY 18, 2018 | Earlier this month, we presented our recommendations for the May 22 primary. With the election within the next week, we reprint these recommendations for our readers.
Federal candidates
For Congress, 4th District: no recommendations.
For Congress, 7th District:
Republicans: We endorse the challenger, Shane Hazel, a Cumming businessman.
Democrats: Steve Reilly, an attorney in Lawrenceville, gets our endorsement among the six all well-qualified candidates.
For Congress, 10th District:
Republicans: Watkinsville businessman Joe Hunt is our choice to replace the ineffective Jody Hice. Mr. Hunt has a well thought-out approach to government which his fellow Republicans can appreciate.
Democrats: Chalis Montgomery of Bethlehem has the passion to do a good job in Washington, and is our choice for this office.
Statewide candidates
For Lieutenant Governor:
Republicans: Gwinnett’s own David Shafer gets our endorsement for this No. 2 post in Georgia. Now after serving 16 years in the Senate, hopefully next term as presiding officer of the Senate, he has the background to step into the job, and make major changes in insuring the Senate is not only more effective, but fairer to all Senators.
Democrats: No endorsement. Triana Arnold James offers for this position. She has owned an accounting and auditing firm, after 20 years in the U.S. Army in legal support.
For Secretary of State:
Republicans: In a field of four strong candidates, our own Buzz Brockway is our choice for this office. Mr. Brockway has served admirably since 2011 as a state representative, looking out for his district, and we handily endorse him.
Democrats: Former Congressman John Barrow of Athens brings years of insight to this race and is our choice for this important office. He knows government well, having also been for 14 years a Clarke County commissioner. Mr. Barrow we feel will to bring more efficiency to this area of government.
For Insurance Commissioner:
Republicans: The president of the Georgia Underwriters Association, Jim Beck of Carrollton, is our choice as the GOP nominee. He sees this office as “in a mess” and that it is being operated he feels in violation of state law. He says he will work with zest in making this office more responsible to the people.
Democrats: Cindy Zedlin of Atlanta sees this office at a crossroads, and particularly sees citizens not being treated fairly in the office. A long advocate of people being more informed about insurance, she has the skills needed to make this office more responsible to its people.
For Superintendent of Schools:
Republicans: We endorse the current office holder, Richard Woods, of Tifton, for this position.
Democrats: There is one man in this race who shows great understanding of the field. He is Otha E. Thornton Jr. of Richmond Hill. He is retired as an Army lieutenant colonel and is making his first political race. He is a former president of the national Parent Teachers Association. He speaks with a great insight of how public schools should work, and gets our endorsement.
For Public Service Commission, District 3:
Democrats: A person already involved in energy efficiency, John Noel of Atlanta, is our choice of the three candidates in this race. He has previously served one term in the legislature. He wants to bring accountability to the PSC, feeling right now it is only accountable to the entities it regulates. He also criticizes the PSC for not listening to its own staff when making decisions. He should bring both intelligence, insight and energy to this position, and gets our endorsement.
For Public Service Commission, District 5:
Republicans: The recently Nathan Deal appointee, Tricia Pridemore, is our choice in this race. She looks on this position as being crucial in Georgia’s future economic development, as energy is such an important element in determining which firms and how many companies will come to our state.
Democrats: Two people seek this post, and our choice is Dawn Randolph of Stockbridge. She runs to “put the public back on the PSC.” She feels utility bills are too high, and is particularly critical of recent Plant Vogtle decisions of the PSC.
For Labor Commissioner: No endorsements in the primary.
Georgia legislative candidates
FOR STATE SENATE
Senate District 5:
Democrats:This race will be decided in the primary, since there is no Republican candidate for this position. Incumbent Curt Thompson has served many years in this office, but our choice is Sheikh Rahman, a Muslim small businessman from Lawrenceville. He says the district is one of the lowest performing in the county, and wants to see more participation by the people of the district, and wants to serve the area more efficiently.
Senate District 40:
Democrats: A former six year state representative who left to raise children, Sally Harrell of near Tucker brings a good understanding of how politics works, and looks forward to being in the legislature again. She is passionate about improving both education and health care and will be a strong advocate for these issues in the Senate.
Senate District 41:
Democrats: A long-term serving Senator, and current Democratic leader in the Senate, Steve Henson gets our endorsement. He’s done a good job. Keep him in office.
FOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
House District 81:
Democrats: We endorse incumbent attorney Scott Holcomb for this office, a veteran of eight years in the House. His past sterling record shows he has earned another term in this slot. A clear-thinker, he brings experience and careful thinking to this office.
House District 94:
Democrats: Lithonia’s Dean Heard making a political race for the first time, is our pick to be in this post. He will champion small businesses in the office. He is disappointed with what he sees in the incumbent in this office, and promises change to benefit the people.
House District 97: There are eight candidates to replace Rep. Brooks Coleman for this position, and all we have talked to are well qualified to serve.
Republicans: We choose to go with Scott LeCraw of Suwanee for this position. A real estate broker for years in Gwinnett, he knows the county well, and can easily reflect the views of his constituents in the House. He promises to maintain the right climate to get the job done with particular attention to education and small businesses.
Democrats: Two people seek this position. We endorse Aisha Yaqoob, though the youngest candidate in the race, she is someone who knows her way around the Capitol as a lobbyist for advancing Asian-American concerns. A Muslim, born in this country and a University of Georgia graduate, she will bring intelligence and a different background to the Legislature.
House District 99: no endorsement.
House District 102:
Republicans: A longtime Gwinnett Planning and Zoning Board member, Paula Hastings of Lawrenceville, will show a new approach in the Legislature. She has as a tag line: “I’m just a mother and want to make a difference.” Her experience in local government will serve her well in the Georgia House.
Democrats: no endorsement.
House District 105:
Republicans: no endorsement.
House District 107:
Democrats: A native of New Orleans, Shelly Hutchinson now lives in Snellville, and operates social empowerment center. Feeling underrepresented by the current office holder, she got in the race, and hopes to move the issue on Medicaid expansion in Georgia. She looks to work with the current county commission and school board in moving their agenda forward in the legislature.
Local Gwinnett County races
County Commission, District 2:
Democrats: Two minority candidates are running for this post. Our choice is Ben Ku of near Lucky Shoals Park, a native American, and a Georgia Tech graduate. He owns a consulting and software company. He feels the southern part has been neglected and that the current board does not reflect the diversity of Gwinnett.
County Commission, District 4: A retiree from Aetna, Marlene Fosque of Lawrenceville, is our choice for this nomination. She now consults with two non-profits. After living here since 2002, she feels that she is well prepared to make this race now, having previously worked locally in the Obama campaign.
Board of Education, District 2:
Republicans: Our choice in this race is Steve Knudsen of Sugar Hill, an officer of a firm that plans family retreats. Recognizing that Gwinnett educates one in 10 Georgia students, he feels as Gwinnett goes, so will Georgia in education. He appreciates the Gwinnett school system, deliberately deciding to remain in Gwinnett so that his four children could be educated here. He has good insights, and should serve us well.
Democrats: Once Donald May, retired as a risk finance vice president of the Trust Company, he found he was going to Kroger just to see people. That led him to a new job in retirement as an auditor at the Southern Company today. Now living in Suwanee, he is our choice, with his extensive background, for this position. He feels Gwinnett has a good school system, but could stand some tweaking, particularly on graduation rates. He wants to start with a more intensive reading program when entering the system.
Board of Education, District 4:
Republicans: A Lilburn resident, Chuck Studebaker, wins our endorsement in this race. He always wanted to serve, remembering that both his grandfather and mother had served in Ohio as elected officials when he was growing up. Employed as a management consultant in the auto industry, he recognizes the challenges the Gwinnett board has in the coming years. He also recognizes that teachers do not make enough money, and hopes to improve on that.
Democrats: Our choice is Everton “EJ” Blair Jr., a native of Atlanta, who is a graduate of Shiloh High, Harvard and holds a master’s from Stanford in policy organization and leadership. A former math teacher in Atlanta, he is now an educational consultant for a national program. Blair is 25, and wants to represent the voices of students on the board., though not overlooking any demographic. He also wants to see that all teachers have the management pieces to do a good job.
Non-partisan judicial candidates
For Judge, Court of Appeals: no endorsement.
For Superior Court (Davis seat): There are five attorneys seeking this position. Our choice is Tracey Mason, a mediator from Grayson who comes from a family long associated with leadership of the county. (Her father was a state representative.) She especially sees the job as looking after the interest of children in custody cases, while recognizing this is only one part of the job. This comes from her work in family law and in mediation. She has the experience and background to be a fine judge, and we endorse her candidacy.
For Superior Court (Turner seat): Our choice for this judgeship is Wayne Person, a Loganville resident whose specialty is criminal law. He will bring a different background as a minority to the Gwinnett bench. He has an extensive background that speaks well to his candidacy. He suggests the addition of a Behavior Court, to help people convicted of smaller crimes to become more productive citizens.
For State Court: (Iannazzone seat): Two well-qualified people seek this seat. Our choice is Ronda Colvin Leary of Snellville, who practices both criminal and civil law, and is a former prosecutor. She has been active in many areas of the county, and has a perspective that will serve her well on the bench. She feels judges should be aware of what is going on in the community and be more adept in addressing sentencing of criminals.
From those nominated in the primary, we will select those to endorse in the General Election in the fall.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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