By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
MARCH 1, 2019 | Is the Gwinnett Republican Party vital in this county any more? Have they given up?
Since 1984, no matter where you stand, you have to give the Republican Party good grades for helping its candidates win office. In many instances, the Republicans recruited potential candidates and readied them for service. As a result, the party kept seeing their candidates win races. They were ready to serve. Many of those that the party brought along are still serving in political offices of the county today.
That was a healthy, thinking and effective Republican Party.
Recent losses by the Republicans may be an early sign of a weaker GOP in Gwinnett.
What our county, or any political area, wants from its organized political parties is nothing less than leadership. Since 1984, we have seen Democrats virtually give up on fielding qualified candidates for offices in Gwinnett. Only recently have the Democrats shown vitality.
We need the people interested in either party organization to be alert to what is going on within the county, to encourage study of the topics vital to the area, and not only encourage good candidates, but to take a stand as a party when important issues are before the people.
We say this since we have not heard from the Republican Party concerning perhaps the most important vote that Gwinnett will face in years: the upcoming referendum on whether Gwinnett will move to approve a modern transit system.
We’ve heard from the newly-rejuvenated Gwinnett Democratic Party. They are pro-actively supporting a “Yes” vote on the transit referendum.
We’ve also heard from the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials, as they have backed the referendum.
But the Gwinnett Republican Party has been silent, silent on the subject.
We went to the GOP web site for Gwinnett. We found little concerning taking stands on issues. However, in one of its sections, the GOP says: “We support safe and effective public infrastructure.”
Hmmmmm. Not exactly specific, is it? Maybe that means more foot bridges across creeks, or escalators at two-story buildings. Or even resurfacing public roads.
But it doesn’t mention a subject that is uppermost in the minds of most Gwinnettians: public transportation. In one recent survey, 92 per cent of a wide group in an open ended question was asked what they thought were the major problems in Gwinnett. The answer: transportation. (They didn’t say how to solve, but recognized transportation as a major problem.)
Note that the Republicans in Gwinnett don’t have anything about transportation on their web pages. Even the GOP calendar makes no mention that there is a public referendum on March 19 about transit.
Yet while the Republican Party has not led the way in helping to stir interest in the public transit vote later this month, there is still time to chime in.
Tell Gwinnettians, and in particular Republicans, that you want to see Gwinnett impove by having better means to get around, and that is through approval of the transit vote. Don’t lose ground to the Democrats on this subject. Show that you have an interest in improving Gwinnett’s overall situation. Back the transit proposal. It can inject more vigor into your party politics.
Gwinnett GOP Chairman Michael Duckett: have your party stand up when it counts. Help Gwinnett reach its future better with your party’s backing of the transit proposal. Show that you have a backbone, and are willing to join the fray for an improved Gwinnett. It will make the Gwinnett GOP a stronger party.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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