NEWS BRIEFS: Six races pending in June 18 primary runoff

There are six remaining political races to be determined in the June 18, 2024 primary runoff. Meanwhile early voting has begun, and will continue through June 14 at several locations in Gwinnett. 

There is only one county-wide race to be determined, that of a Superior Court judgeship, therefore all Gwinnettians are eligible to vote on the runoff date of June 14. The five other runoff races are district races for either the House, Senate or School Board.

There is only one Republican primary runoff. 

For State Senate in District 7, Fred Clayton faces Gregory Howard.  In the voting, Howard led in the first vote with 35 percent of the balloting (2,017 votes) while Clayton had 30 percent (1,761 votes).

Democrats have two races to decide. 

For State Senate in District 55,  Randal Mangham and Iris Knight-Hamilton are in the runoff. Mangham led in the first voting, with 31 percent of the vote, while Hamilton was second with 23 percent of the vote.

For House District 96, Arlene Beckles faces Sonia Lopez for that nomination. Beckles led in the first vote, with 39 percent of the vote (506 votes), while Lopez polled 31 percent (394 votes.) With no Republican opponent in the General Election, whoever wins this race will get a seat in the House.

There are three non-partisan races still to be decided.  

The only judicial race not yet determined is for a Superior Court position to succeed Karen Beyers. Regina Matthews faces Tuwanda Rush Williams for that position. In the May 21 primary, Matthews got 45 percent (31,257) of the votes, while Williams won 30 percent with 21,620 votes. 

Two seats on the Gwinnett  Board of Education will be elected to office  in the non-partisan voting on June 18.

For Board of Education, District 1, Rachel Stone faces Karen Mulzac Watkins. For the May 21 voting, Watkins got 42 percent (7,771) of the first vote, compared with Stone’s 31 percent (5,684 votes).

For the Board of Education, District 3, Steve Gasper and Shana V. White are opponents. Gasper scored 36 percent of the first primary (5,556 votes), while White had 3,283 votes, or 21 percent. 

Lawrenceville stage presents Irving Berlin journey

Embark on a musical journey Sunday, June 16, at 2:30 p.m., celebrating Broadway composer Irving Berlin and the birth of American popular song! Join Atlanta’s top musical theater artists for an unforgettable performance of Berlin’s timeless classics, from “Blue Skies” to “God Bless America.” 

Discover the remarkable story of this Russian immigrant turned legendary songwriter who penned over 1,250 songs, including 25 chart-toppers, and crafted 17 Broadway musical scores. This show is part of the Molly Blank Concert Series at The Breman, presented by The Flying Carpet Theatre Company, but will be showcased in Gwinnett at the Lawrenceville Arts Center main stage. For tickets, click here.

NOTABLE

Fosque in new slot for Gwinnett Women’s Chamber

Fosque

Former Gwinnett County Commissioner Marlene Fosque is the new director of economic development for the Gwinnett Women’s Chamber of Commerce. This strategic move signifies the Chamber’s commitment to fostering an environment where women entrepreneurs and business leaders can thrive and contribute significantly to the economic prosperity of Gwinnett County.

In her new role at the Gwinnett Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Fosque will lead efforts to drive economic development with a focus on enhancing opportunities for women entrepreneurs. Her responsibilities will include developing strategic partnerships, advocating for policies that support women in business, and launching innovative programs designed to accelerate business growth and development within the county.

Audrey Bell-Kearney, president of the Gwinnett Women’s Chamber of Commerce, says: “We are confident that her leadership will propel the Chamber to new heights and significantly boost our efforts to support women-led businesses in Gwinnett County.”

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