By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | There was one surprising vote from last week’s city elections in Gwinnett. One candidate, in Lilburn, went into office without a majority of the vote. He is Brian Burchik, who won a seat on the Lilburn Council with 48.1 percent of the vote. Lilburn, as far as we can tell, is the only city in Gwinnett where candidates can win an election with a plurality of the vote.
By Elliott Brack | Relief!
That’s what Gwinnett Countians should be feeling as the results of the 2015 E-SPLOST voting were announced. A small minority of the voters (only 7.09 percent, a record low) of Gwinnett thought enough of their county and the school system to go out and approve a one cent continuation of sales taxes for school purposes. That’s an awfully low number voting.
By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | Up through World War II and to about 1950, Gwinnett County was a relatively quiet, rural community merely near Atlanta. Then with the beginning of growth of Atlanta, Gwinnett began to see its own growth, though early on it was incidental, not wide open as it became later.
By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | Because the continuation of a penny sales tax for education is the only item on the county-wide ballot on next Tuesday, November 3, there is some concern that a low turnout could see the proposition fail.
We hope not. Please vote for the proposition, and also take someone to the polls with you for them to vote.
By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | People love sales. We all, if we were allowed to choose, would rather buy something at 40 percent off the regular price, than at the regular price.
That’s essentially what the Gwinnett County School Board is offering Gwinnettians in the November 3 referendum on whether to approve the one-cent sales tax to fund school infrastructure, the educational Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (E-SPLOST). If approved, Gwinnett County’s school sales tax level will continue without an increase through 2022.
By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | For years now, the gambling business has had its eye on Georgia. It recognizes Georgia as a state with a growing population, and therefore, one they see as a target. They aim at establishing gambling in Georgia, to enrich, of course, their own coffers, while promoting that it will bring in more state revenue.
By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | The national political campaign comes to Gwinnett Saturday, when two Republican candidates make appearances here. Donald Trump will be at the North Atlanta Trade Center, 1700 Jeurgens Court in Norcross. Doors open at 10 a.m. and the rally is set to begin at noon.
“But the fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses. They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at Fulton, they laughed at the Wright brothers. But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown.”
– American Astronomer and Science Communicator Carl Sagan (1934-96).
Gwinnett Forum publisher Elliott Brack suggests Gwinnett County needs a long-range list of continuing objectives for improving the county. His 2025 list:
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