Elliott Brack’s Perspective
BRACK: Should the United States consider mandatory voting?
By Elliott Brack | At first blush, the Australian way of voting in local, state and national elections seems unusual to most Americans. In Australia, voting is mandatory, and in general, about 90 percent of its people vote. Those who do not vote are issued a fine for not voting, which varies from state to state.
BRACK: Two from Gwinnett among the 19 indicted in Fulton
By Elliott Brack | Two people with Gwinnett ties are among those listed in the sweeping indictments and racketeering charges released by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and its grand jury this week. The grand jury called it a “criminal enterprise” under the racketeering provision that former President Trump tried to engender to turn the election in his favor.
BRACK: New Fact Book, everyday items and Twain’s favorite work
By Elliott Brack | GwinnettForum has released for sale the second edition of its small book, 366 Facts about Gwinnett County, Ga. It is an updated version of the book released in 2018 for the Gwinnett Bicentennial. It is also “Improved.”
You may remember that former County Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash asked GwinnettForum to produce a list of distinctive facts about this fast-growing county, to celebrate its Bicentennial in 2018. She wanted to put one fact a day about the county on the county website.
Gwinnett Forum | Jan. 7, 2025
“Nothing makes us feel more connected than when we are engaged in a healthy balance of thoughtful speaking and hardcore listening.”
– Belgian-American psychotherapist and relationship expert Ester Perel (1958- ) via John Titus, Peachtree Corners.
Continuing objectives
Gwinnett Forum publisher Elliott Brack suggests Gwinnett County needs a long-range list of continuing objectives for improving the county. His 2025 list:
- Move statewide non-partisan judicial and school board elections to the date of the General Election.
- More creative efforts to support the arts in Gwinnett.
- Advancement and expansion of city historical societies.
- Require establishments that serve alcoholic beverages to halt sales of such products at 1 a.m., and close by 2 a.m.
- Require the Georgia Legislature to meet only once every two years.
- Eliminate single-use plastic packaging and straws in Gwinnett and require instead the use of paper products.
- Gwinnett planners to encourage condos and townhouses instead of apartments.
Interested in Gwinnett history?
Now re-printed in its third edition, Gwinnett: A Little Above Atlanta, the award-winning history of Gwinnett County, is once again available for purchase. It sold out of its first two printings. The book won the 2010 Award of Excellence in Documenting Georgia History from the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board. The book is available at Old Town Antiques at 93 Main Street in Lilburn.
- The history of Gwinnett is also available as an e-book from Amazon or Barnes and Noble for $9.95.
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