By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
OCT. 18, 2019 | Come November 5, there are elections in 12 of the 16 Gwinnett cities. A total of 51 candidates (one candidate had to pull out because of sickness) are seeking the offices of mayor or councilmen in these cities.
As part of its public service, GwinnettForum contacted the candidates and asked them to provide a profile of themselves for the voters to study. Those profiles, by municipalities, can be accessed on the right of the front page of the Forum. A big majority of the candidates responded to this invitation.
There’s an interesting development in one of the city elections. That will be in Norcross. There are eight candidates for the offices of mayor and two council seats. Incumbent Craig Newton is being challenged by Councilman Chuck Paul for mayor. In one Council race, three candidates vie: former Councilman David McLeroy, Tyler Christian Hannell and Bruce Gaynor. For the other council post, the candidates are Matt Myers, Alex Hecht and Jeff Hopper.
Also on the ballot in Norcross is a key question before the voters about terms of council members. Presently all offices are for two year terms, with an election for half the Council each year. The proposal asks voters if they want to have four terms for the mayor and council, and elections every other year.
Norcross voters have faced this question at least twice before, but in non-binding referendums. The proposal in 2019 is a binding question, and if approved, could go to the Legislature for enactment into law.
Before, both in 2010 and 2017, Norcross voters soundly rejected the four-year terms. In 2010, the vote was No, 418 votes, and Yes, 298, or a 58 percent rejection of four year terms. In 2017, the totals show 437 opposing four year terms, and only 191 for the measure, or 69.6 percent against four-year terms. Remember, both measures were non-binding before.
Now comes the interesting part. Yard signs have appeared recently around Norcross urging four-year terms. Among the places the signs have appeared is in front of the home of Candidate Jeff Hopper.
To us, that’s unusual. Most of the time, candidates shy away from allowing issues other than their candidacy to become part of the race. Added with the previous rejection by Norcross voters of four-year terms, that makes the advocacy sign for four-year terms in front of Hopper’s home even more unusual. Of course, if a majority of voters approve four-year terms, that could easily elect Mr. Hopper. Some may think: “At least we know where he stands on the question.” But it could also work in reverse.
All we say is that this is an interesting turn on a local issue during an election.
NEW SUBJECT: Germans have just finished on October 6 their annual Oktoberfest in Munich. The activities started in 1810, when the Crown Prince of Bavaria, Ludwig, was to wed Princess Therese of Saxony. Being gracious, they wanted to invite the whole town of Munich to mark their wedding. Among activities was a horse race in front of the city gates, and being German, lots of beer.
The good Bavarians had such a great time that they decided to have a similar party the following year, and on and on, and so we come to the present day with Oktoberfest a mighty Munich tradition, enjoyed by visitors from all over the world. It’s even exported to other countries, with one common ingredient, plenty of beer. So that’s why we were visiting in Munich in 1960 celebrating our first Oktoberfest, because of a wedding years ago.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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