By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
MARCH 10, 2020 | The 2020 primary in Gwinnett opened the floodgates for candidates, as there are 135 people on the Gwinnett ballot seeking to get elected and begin serving January 1, 2021.
However, only 17 political candidates are moving to the General Election without an opponent, including four Superior Court and four State Court candidates, plus the magistrate judge. The clerk of court and the probate court judge also have no primary opposition, and therefore will take office on January 1.
The most candidates are seeking to represent the 7th District in Washington, to replace Republican Rob Woodall. Seven Republicans and six Democrats are running for this seat in Congress. In the Fourth District, four candidates, including Incumbent Hank Johnson, vie for this seat, while for the 10th Congressional race, two people are in contention against Republican Jody Hice.
There are seven candidates seeking the post as chairman of the County Commission, four Democrats and three Republicans. That includes Republicans George Awuku, Marcia Neaton and David Post. Democrats running for chairman include Nicole Love Hendrickson, Andy Morgan, Desmond A. Nembhard, Curt Thompson, and Lee Thompson Jr.
Three current office holders on the County Commission did not qualify to run again, meaning two people will have seniority on the County Commission each having served only two years.
For the other commission seats, three people seek the District One Commission post, while eight candidates run for the District 3 seat.
Three current School Board members have again qualified to run, and all have opposition. Two Democrats seek the Post 1 position held by Incumbent Republican Carol Boyce; one Democrat has qualified to run against Incumbent Republican Mary Kay Murphy; and one Democrat will run for post 5 against Incumbent Democrat Louise Radloff.
There are six political candidates who have no primary nor General Election opponents. They are Senators Sheikh Rahman and Gloria Bennett; House members Scott Holcomb, Karen Bennett, Pedro Marin and Dewey McClain.
Superior Court judges who are unopposed are Karen Byers, Ronnie Batchelor, Tadia Whitner and Warren Davis. State Court judges unopposed are Carla Brown and Emily Brantley, while newcomer Veronica Cope is unopposed for the Doran seat. Chief Magistrate Krista Blue also has no opponent.
Probate Judge Christopher Ballar will get another term unopposed, while Tiana P. Garner, now chief deputy to the Clerk of Court, is running for that position without opposition.
Republican Incumbent District Attorney Danny Porter is running for another term, with opposition from Democrats Patsy Austin-Gatson and Wes Person.
Tax Commissioner Republican Richard Steele has drawn three Democratic opponents, Regina Carden, Maureen McIvor and Tiffany Parker.
Six candidates are seeking to replace Republican Butch Conway as sheriff. The Democrats seeking this seat are Curtis Clemons, Benjamin Haynes, Floyd Scott and Kebo Taylor. Republicans running are Louis Solis and Ken VanNus.
Whew! All this says 2020 is going to be a big campaign season in Gwinnett. The general primary will be on May 19, and there are sure to be runoffs on July 21. All this sets the stage for the General Election on November 3.
If all this draws your interest, and you are not registered, you have until April 20 to register to vote in the General Primary.
- For a list of the people running in Gwinnett, click here.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Follow Us