By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
MARCH 12, 2024 | A reminder: Today is the 2024 presidential primary date. Be sure to vote!
Gwinnett candidates have made a decision to run for political office and recently paid their qualifying fees. So now we have the list of neighbors you’ll be voting on in the May 21 primary.
Perhaps the biggest story isn’t who qualified, but the fact that the once-dominant Republican Party doesn’t seem as strong with new candidates than might have been expected. Recent strong showing throughout the county for Democratic candidates may have affected this.
For some offices, there are plenty of candidates.
The race for the three seats on the county commission has nine candidates seeking three posts. Seeking the post of chair, now held by Nicole Love-Hendricksen on the Democratic ticket is Donna McLeod, who earlier was a member of the Statehouse from Gwinnett. The Republican candidates for chair include John Subic and Justic Nwaigwe.
Current District 1, Commissioner Democrat Kirkland Carden faces Republican Tim Le for this seat. Neither candidate drew primary opposition.
For District 3, Commissioner Jasper Watkins has opposition from Marqus A. Cote for the Democratic nomination, with the winner facing Republican Bobby Howard in the General Election.
For sheriff, currently held by Democrat Keybo Taylor, there are five Democrats running and three Republicans seeking the sheriff’s office. Besides Taylor, the others seeking the Democratic nomination include Curtis Clemons, Shurron B. Green, Joseph Mark and Brian Whiteside. Previously Whiteside served one term as the solicitor of the State Court of Gwinnett, but was defeated when seeking re-election in 2020. The Republican candidates for sheriff include Baron Reinhold, Mike Baker and Oladipupu Soyomokum.
The clerk of Superior Court, Democrat Triana Person Garner, drew no opposition from either party, and will remain in office.
There will be three candidates…
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