Changing demographics suggest Gwinnett
will elect more Democrats in 2002 election
By Steve Reilly
Chairman
Gwinnett Democratic Party
Special to GwinnettForum.com

(Editor's Note: GwinnettForum asked the chairs of the two local major political parties to give their thoughts on what is happening politically in Gwinnett. Here is one report. As yet, the Republican Party has not responded to our request of over a month ago.---eeb.)

DEC. 4, 2001 -- Gwinnett County's political landscape is changing. A combination of ongoing demographic shifts and recently re-apportioned legislative and congressional districts will create new opportunities in 2002 for Democrats to be elected from our county. It will serve to begin the restoration of two-party government to Gwinnett.

Since the mid 1980's, Gwinnett has been a heavily Republican county. Previously a largely rural area, Gwinnett County had been dominated by the Democratic Party until 1984. The mid 1980's saw a seismic demographic shift in Gwinnett, which resulted in huge population increases.

A second "wave" of the demographic shift in Gwinnett County has come about since approximately 1992-1994. This "second wave" has brought a more diverse citizenry and further transformed much of the county. The result has been a change to the political landscape which added new Democratic voters largely in western Gwinnett County to the previous Democratic voting base of 36-40 per cent.

Reapportionment has served further to usher in the new political picture. New districts have been created which include several legislative areas that should be solidly Democratic seats, and a Democratic congressional district that extends well into Gwinnett County.

The new State Senate District 5 is a heavily Democratic district. This district straddles the I-85 corridor from the DeKalb-Gwinnett line to Lawrenceville. Already, Democratic State Rep. Mary Squires has announced her candidacy for the position.

Three other new state senate districts extend from DeKalb County well into southwest Gwinnett, and include solid Democratic areas. The three new districts are the 40th, 41st and 55th Senate districts. Current DeKalb County Democratic Party Chairman and former State Senator Steve Henson is an announced candidate for the 41st district, which has no incumbent. Senate district 55 is currently held by Democratic State Senator Gloria Butler of DeKalb County, and now includes a significant portion of the southern tip of Gwinnett County.

The state house seats in Gwinnett also look significantly different. Two of the new state house districts, the 66th and 69th, appear solidly Democratic. Both of these districts straddle I-85 encompassing the same territory as the new 5th Senate district. A third multi-member Democratic district (the 61st) reaches into southwest Gwinnett from DeKalb County.

The congressional redistricting will also bring a change to Gwinnett. The new 13th U. S. House district extends south of Atlanta from South Fulton County across Clayton County and parts of Rockdale County and then north into Gwinnett County. The district includes the area of Gwinnett bordering DeKalb County and the I-85 corridor to the edge of Lawrenceville. The 13th district is a heavily Democratic area. Three Democrats have announced for the seat. In addition, Democratic Rep. Cynthia McKinney retains five precincts near and in Peachtree Corners.

The results of the 2002 elections could easily leave Gwinnett with six of 16 Democratic state house representatives and four Democrats of seven state senators, along with two Democrat of four U. S. Congressman representing part of Gwinnett. Under this scenario, Democrats would find ourselves after the next election in majority control of the state Senate delegation from Gwinnett.

Our legislative delegation will become more moderate politically, as opposed to its "hard right" bent of recent years. For Gwinnett County, these changes will mean better, more effective representation in the Democrat-controlled Georgia General Assembly, and an added voice in the U. S. Congress.

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