WINNERS: The Aurora Theatre's Barbara Award winners for the year are long-time benefactors Sandra and Clyde Strickland. From the left are Anthony Rodriguez, Sandra Strickland, Clyde Strickland and Ann-Carol Pence on the red carpet. Read the complete story below. (Photo by: Glenn Martin.)

Issue 12.77 | Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013

TODAY'S FOCUS
:: State of Gwinnett from Charlotte Nash

ELLIOTT BRACK'S PERSPECTIVE
:: New Sugar Hill, Buford centers

FEEDBACK
:: Debunking 3 NRA arguments

UPCOMING
:: Duluth art project, Stricklands

NOTABLE
:: PC mayor responds, Opportunity Zone

ALSO INSIDE

IN THE SPOTLIGHT
:: Howard Brothers

GEORGIA TIDBIT
:: Wade heads to Vanderbilt

LAGNIAPPE
:: Mystery solved!

GWINNETT CALENDAR
:: Lots of events on tap

TODAY'S QUOTE
:: Patterson on his mentor

OUR SPONSORS

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TODAY'S FOCUS
With ups and downs, Nash still sees Gwinnett's success
By HEATHER SAWYER
Special to GwinnettForum.com | permalink

DULUTH, Ga., Jan. 22, 2013 -- Gwinnett Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash asked every resident and business owner in Gwinnett "to be informed, to get involved, and to stay in touch" with county government this year. Her remarks came in the annual State of the County address to community and business leaders on Wednesday at Gwinnett Center, hosted by the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and the Council for Quality Growth.

Nash

She said: "From the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression to wrongdoing by now-former commissioners, Gwinnett has taken hard hits over the last few years." She pointed to a tax digest that declined four years in a row and is now at the 2005 level. Sales tax revenues dropped from $13 million in 2006 to less than $10 million in 2009 but rose last year to $11.6 million.

Nash said SPLOST programs have raised more than two billion dollars for pay-as-you-go capital improvements in Gwinnett since 1985, saving more than a billion in financing costs compared to issuing bonds. She said to keep an eye out for details on the next SPLOST referendum likely to go before voters in November.

"We must aggressively pursue economic development," she said, praising the "well-organized and effective approach of Partnership Gwinnett, a collaborative effort across many segments of the community." She said public funding for economic development this year will be clearly segregated for transparency through a new nonprofit corporation.

The chairman said the county will focus this year on critical issues that include:

• Rebuilding public trust,
  
• Managing in a difficult economy,
  
• Planning for the next SPLOST referendum,
  
• Pursuing economic development,
  
• Protecting water resources, and
  
• Updating the comprehensive 2030 Unified Plan.

The speech contained a quick review of 2012 accomplishments and emphasized a revised ethics ordinance, a strict land-acquisition policy, expanded transparency, funding a senior investigator to focus on potential corruption, and more accessibility through town hall meetings, listening sessions, and technology.

Calling this year's balanced budget the toughest of her long career, she predicted that "Most property owners will see a modest tax increase related to public safety funding, but those who live in a city with its own police department will see a reduced rate" as a result of the recent service-delivery agreement with Gwinnett's 16 cities. The Board will set millage rates next summer after property assessments and appeals are completed in the spring.

Nash said, "Gwinnett's story has been filled with ups and downs and plot twists. The last few chapters were painful, and a few characters have been removed. But overall Gwinnett's story is a tale of success and a testament to those who made it happen." She said 2013 marks a turning point and asked the audience to join her in shaping Gwinnett's next chapter.

• Video of the entire speech is available on demand at www.tvgwinnett.com and it is being aired frequently on the county's government access cable channel.
  
  
• The text of the entire speech is available at www.gwinnettcounty.com.
  

ELLIOTT BRACK
Sugar Hill, Buford are both proud of beautiful new facilities
By ELLIOTT BRACK
Editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com | permalink

JAN. 22, 2013 -- If you are planning to buy any crown molding, or other material that really enhances nice-looking buildings, watch out! We saw an abundance of beautiful material in Sugar Hill and Buford recently, to make us think these two cities may have bought out the high-end quality market on building supplies.

Brack

We're raving about the new Sugar Hill City Hall, and the Buford Community Center, each beautiful in the way they have been finished out. Both cities built these two facilities for the long-range future, with high quality materials, made them both gorgeous, and essentially paid cash for them.

The Sugar Hill City Hall is three stories, and is built with plenty of space for future expansion. There's reason: it's built to last for 75 years, so, as City Manager Bob Hail says, "Why not build it right?" The Hall consists of 33,000 square feet, and cost $11 million.

But worry not: Sugar Hill was prudent in putting aside money for several years, then adding SPLOST funds to the kitty, and paid cash for the new City Hall without going into debt. That's good use of public funds.

Sugar Hill City Hall

Of classic design, with a big two-story atrium off the front entrance, the foyer has staircases up to the third floor on both sides. More than 150 people can be seated in the Council Chambers. Elected officials have a private area off the Chambers where they can deliberate and meet with constituents. Two overflow rooms downstairs can also host another 150 people. The archives and other offices are also in the basement. And yes, the building has its own post office as the old City Hall did.

The $17 million, 40,000 square foot Buford Community Center has been opened for a while, but we had not visited. We were there for a meeting of the North Gwinnett-Buford Rotary Club.

The two key elements of the building are a Community Room, which can seat 300 people, and the two-story Sylvia Beard Theatre for live performances, with seating for 290 people. The Community Room is on the right of the third floor, while the theatre takes the left side of the building on floors two and three. When we were there last week, a theatre-group was in rehearsal on the stage, (and didn't notice us peeking in.) There's more: an outdoor amphitheatre with space for 1,800, a plaza with interactive fountain, and smaller meeting rooms. It also has space for the Buford Museum, which is open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., and on evenings when theatre events take place.

Buford Community Center

Coming in the second floor you are impressed with the classic design and the soaring two-floor ceiling, all trimmed in dark wood molding and panels. It takes your breath away, and says loud and clear: "We're proud of this place, and plan to use it for many years." It's on Buford Highway across Hill Street from the also-classic Buford City Hall. Across Buford Highway is the relatively new Buford Village center, with many business spaces not filled yet, but which promises to be the center of Buford in the future.

The Buford Community Center is "paid for," Commissioner Philip Beard tells us, "though we borrowed money for it to begin with, not knowing what the economy would do. But now we have escrowed money in the bank to pay for it, but face a penalty if we do. So you can say it's paid for."

There's a lot of pride showing in the new Sugar Hill City Hall and Buford Community Center. You can tell. It's worth a trip from anywhere in Gwinnett to see them.

SPOTLIGHT
Howard Brothers

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today's sponsor is Howard Brothers. This month, Howard Brothers adds a fourth location in Alpharetta to its family of stores in Doraville, Duluth and Oakwood. Howard Brothers is family owned and independently operated by John and Doug Howard. Howard Brothers specializes in outdoor power equipment, parts and service, and also hardware. Howard Brothers is proud to represent major brands such as Exmark, STIHL, Echo, Honda, Walker, SCAG, Ventrac and other major lines on the power equipment side of the business. The hardware business represents major brands such as True Value, Makita, Milwaukee, Carhartt, Georgia Boot, Big Green Egg and Traeger Grills. They are in general a great place to find the "hard to find" hardware items. Visit the web site at www.howardbrothers.com.

• For a list of other underwriters of this forum, click here.

FEEDBACK
Cutting to the chase on three arguments by the NRA

Editor, the Forum:

Those under fire have learned that when you are in trouble on policy positions, like Wayne LaPierre and the NRA, you do what many leaders and people do:

1. Change the subject (guards needed in schools).

2. Blame it on someone else (the media and the entertainment business).

3. Deny it ('When did guns become the villain?" asked Wayne LaPierre theoretically during his news conference.)

Let's start from the top with number one. Many schools have security officers, Virginia Tech and Columbine did and it didn't help. In the 62 mass-murder cases over 30 years, not one was stopped by an armed civilian. We have known for many years that a sheriff's deputy was at Columbine High School in 1999 and fired at one of the two killers while 11 of their 13 victims were still alive. He missed four times.

Do we also include guards at most locations where people congregate; i.e., political meetings, movies, ball games, etc.?

The expense for schools would be about $6 to 7 billion. Who pays? The Republicans have over the last ten years cut $5 billion from schools in Georgia. Where will schools get the money? Perhaps a special tax on bullets and guns could be passed?

Now the number two argument: Japan is noted for its extremely violent video games, yet the per capita deaths by guns is very small. This also applies to Germany, Canada, Great Britain, and other countries. They also look at the same movies we do and play the same video games.

The third argument is that the gun industry is enjoying a boom as five percent of the world's population in the United States owns 50 percent of all guns. Wayne LaPierre is paid over $1 million a year in salary. This money comes from the gun industry and the four million members of the NRA, keeping all in a constant state of agitation and fear in order to keep the money coming in.

In the name of greed, just deny it.

-- George Wilson, Stone Mountain

• We welcome your letters and thoughts. Our policy: We encourage readers to submit feedback (or letters to the editor). Send your thoughts to the editor at elliott@brack.net. We will edit for length and clarity. Make sure to include your name and the city where you live. Submission of a comment grants permission for us to reprint. Please keep your comments to 300 words or less. However, we will consider longer articles (no more than 500 words) for featuring in Today's Focus as space allows.
  

UPCOMING
Duluth picks three finalists for Gateway Art Project

The Duluth Gateway Art Project Committee (GAPC) and Mayor Nancy Harris have narrowed to three finalists for an original art work to be installed in the center of the newly constructed roundabout located at the intersections of West Lawrenceville Street, McClure Bridge Road and Irvindale Road. Originally, 85 letters of intent were received from around the country, and that list was then shortened to 18 artists.

The Gateway Art Project finalists are:

• Douwe Blumberg, De Mossville, Ky.;
  
• Michael Dillon, Milton, Ga.; and
  
• Koryn Rolstad, Seattle, Wash.

Finalists will be given a honorarium to produce a model of the concept and will be interviewed in February before the final decision is made. This roundabout, in an historic residential setting, is considered a "gateway" into downtown Duluth. The work is expected to become a significant icon and important symbol to welcome people into the heart of Duluth.

Funding for the project comes from Duluth-based AGCO Corporation, a global manufacturer of agricultural equipment and Fortune 500 Company. AGCO distributes in more than 140 countries worldwide and is a publicly traded company with additional locations throughout the world.

2013 Barbara Award to honor Sandra and Clyde Strickland

Aurora Theatre will present the 2013 Barbara Awards Gala Celebration on Monday, February 11, 2013 at 7 p.m. Named in honor of arts philanthropist Barbara Howard, this year the award will honor a couple who helped build Aurora Theatre's new home and for whom its stage is named, Sandra and Clyde Strickland.

After providing the lead gift for Aurora Theatre's Creating the Castle Capital Campaign, they continue their critical support as season sponsor and sustaining patron. Sandra and Clyde Strickland have been a vibrant part of our community for many years, and have become active philanthropists. In the last few years alone, they have given generously to the Gwinnett Medical Center, Hope Clinic, and Rainbow Village. Their other philanthropies include Gwinnett Historical Society; American Cancer Society; Habitat for Humanity, and the Central Gwinnett Cluster Foundation. February 11 will be an opportunity for all to honor their many contributions to this area.

The Barbara Awards also recognize the best shows and individual performances from Aurora's 2011-2012 season as voted on by Aurora patrons. Voters will get to weigh in on musicals like A Chorus Line and Clyde 'n Bonnie: A Folktale or critically acclaimed plays like A Body of Water and Fox on the Fairway when they go to the Aurora Theatre website.

Tickets for the Barbara Awards are $40 per person or $75 per couple and include a $25 per person tax-deductible donation. Heavy hors d'oeuvres by Celebrate the Occasion Catering will be served, along with a cash bar.

The night might be best summarized by Clyde Strickland's philosophy as a philanthropist. He says: "Each person can give something ... it really doesn't matter the size of the gift. It's that you give the gift from the heart to help somebody else."

NOTABLE
Peachtree Corners mayor responds about Roberts property

(Editor's note: A recent item in the Peachtree Corners Patch drew the ire of Peachtree Corners Mayor Mike Mason. Here is the response from the mayor. -eeb)

The article included some misinformation about the property located across from the Forum (on Peachtree Parkway). This article has, unfortunately, perpetuated discussion based on that erroneous information. First, let me assure you that we all share a desire to see quality development across from the Forum and we also share a complete lack of interest in seeing another apartment complex developed there. While we have made, and continue to make, concerted efforts to prevent that from happening, we're dealing with some significant constraints that were handed down to us.

This property was zoned for apartments as part of a legal settlement between Roberts Properties and Gwinnett County. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia issued a consent order on Oct. 22, 2001 mandating that the property be rezoned RM-13, specifically for apartments.

The County Commission had denied Roberts' request for rezoning; but after the court ruling, the County not only had to rezone the property for apartments, but had to pay Mr. Roberts $390,000 to cover his legal fees.

As a result of this ruling, the City (of Peachtree Corners) has no legal basis to change that zoning decision or in any way deny the owner their property rights. As much as we might want to, the City Council cannot overturn a court decision.

However, the City can try to mitigate some of the impacts of this development.

For example, the original property was one large parcel zoned for approximately 297 apartments. At this time, the property is planned for development as three parcels, two of which are now designated as commercial. Those commercial developments will reduce the overall number of apartments that may be built on the remaining parcel, which is still zoned for apartments. We have held, and will continue to hold, many meetings with the proposed purchaser in an effort to persuade them to develop a project more acceptable to our community. We are also seeking parties who might be interested in partnering with the proposed purchaser to change the nature of the development. These efforts will continue until there is no time left to us.

The article in the Patch states that the apartment plans will have to be reviewed by the Planning Commission and will ultimately need the City Council's approval to proceed. This is just not true. If the plans meet the building and zoning code requirements, the city will be obligated to issue a development permit. We don't have the ability to reject a permit application if all the codes have been met. You can be assured that we will do everything that we can, legally, concerning this property. But also understand that we are just as disappointed that there are limitations to what we can legally do.

State-approved Gwinnett Place area as opportunity zone

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), in partnership with Gwinnett County, Gwinnett Place CID and Gwinnett Chamber Economic Development, has approved an Opportunity Zone in the Gwinnett Place area. The incentive, which is available for new or existing businesses that create two or more new net jobs to Georgia, offers the State's maximum job tax credit-$3,500 per job-and additional credits to be used against the business's income tax liability and state payroll withholding.

Gwinnett County Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash says: "We congratulate Gwinnett Place on this achievement and look forward to the positive economic impact the zone will have on our community. The implementation of this Opportunity Zone will strongly benefit local businesses and will continue to put Gwinnett at a competitive advantage in its recruitment efforts."

Designed to foster job growth and revitalization, Opportunity Zones assist areas with a strong economic base, but in need of redevelopment, by providing tax incentives to generate the creation of new jobs. Opportunity Zones allow businesses located within its boundaries to enjoy the waiver, abatement or exemption of certain state taxes, while promoting additional investment into the community.

To become eligible for the tax credit incentives offered through the Gwinnett Place Opportunity Zone program, a business is first required to submit a formal application and receive eligibility approval from the DCA, while also creating and maintaining two or more net new jobs for the State of Georgia. Since the OZ designation is retroactive to the beginning of 2012, companies that added jobs in the OZ in 2012 are also eligible to receive the tax credits.

RECOMMENDED
Lincoln
By Carl Sandburg

"The massive six volume masterpiece biography was a Christmas gift. It's a daunting, 3,500 page treatise on the life of Lincoln, from the Prairie Years to his time as president. Yet now after I have finished the first volume (up to 1850), I can report why this is such a distinguished treasure to read: the lyricism of the writing of Sandburg propels you to the next chapter. It's more than a story of Lincoln, though in itself that part is wonderful. But it is also a social history of the time, giving you not a glimpse, but an understanding of what each element of that period means. Sandburg writes beautifully, though long, to make sure the reader understands. You see why this work is held in high esteem by scholars everywhere. The task now is to finish the other five books, but the effort is more looked forward to, than daunting, with one book under my belt."--eeb

• An invitation: What Web sites, books or restaurants have you enjoyed? Send us your best recent visit to a restaurant or most recent book you have read along with a short paragraph as to why you liked it, plus what book you plan to read next. --eeb

GEORGIA ENCYCLOPEDIA
John Donald Wade leaves Athens for Vanderbilt University
(Part 2 of 3)

In 1926 John Donald Wade left the University of Georgia. The next year he became assistant editor of the Dictionary of American Biography (for which he wrote 116 sketches) and devoted himself to researching a second book. The subject of this new biography was John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, to which Wade's family had been devoted for generations. As biography, John Wesley (1930) is exemplary, though its literary style and occasional use of irony engendered confusion and even contempt in some Methodist circles.

In 1928 Wade was recruited by Vanderbilt University to direct its newly formed graduate program in American literature. Here he soon fell in with a group of scholars and writers who were enthusiastically engaged in writing and talking about the South and its future in an increasingly modern world. After the Dayton, Tenn., Scopes "monkey" trial in 1925 provoked the widespread ridicule of traditional southern values, these "Twelve Southerners," as they called themselves, responded with a defiant symposium that extolled the southern agrarian life and the virtues it embodied, while decrying the rapid spread of industrialism and urbanization. It was Wade who titled the book I'll Take My Stand, and his contribution, "The Life and Death of Cousin Lucius," is often called the most entertaining and readable piece in the collection.

Predictably taking the form of a biographical sketch, the essay is based on the life of Jacob Walter Frederick, Wade's maternal uncle and a man who embodied the "southern way of life" as defined by many of the book's other contributors. Frederick (fictionalized as "Cousin Lucius") is described as hard working, self-reliant, learned, and tradition bound. As he grows older and times change, Cousin Lucius sees the new generation of young people leaving for the city and recognizes that they desire and expect "without effort, things that have immemorially come as the result of effort only." Wade vividly but dispassionately dramatizes Frederick's life, avoiding the temptation to comment on its lessons until the final two sentences of the essay: "And all who wish to think that he lived insignificantly and that the sum of what he was is negligible, are welcome to think so. And may God have mercy on their souls."

(To be continued)

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© 2013, Gwinnett Forum.com. Gwinnett Forum is an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett County, Ga. USA.

GWINNETTOBITS.com

Visit this site to see details of the upcoming funerals of Gwinnett Countians from local funeral homes. On the site, sign up at top right and we'll send you GwinnettObits each day.

Click on the names below to see details of their funerals.

• Visit GwinnettObits.com

TODAY'S QUOTE
The late Eugene Patterson, on what Ralph McGill taught him

"McGill had this pursuit of the stony truth just built into him, no matter where the chips had to fall. And so he taught me to tell the truth, to quit beating around the bush, to quit hiding my convictions, in the hope of pleasing my readers, but instead to lead."

-- The late newspaperman Eugene Patterson (1923-2013) talking about his mentor, Ralph McGill.

GREAT GIFT
Looking for that perfect, unique gift?

Consider a book about Gwinnett history.

Previously out of print, Elliott Brack's 850-page history, "Gwinnett: A Little Above Atlanta," is now available again. Since its original publication, the book was declared the winner of the 2010 Award of Excellence for documenting Georgia history by the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board. It is also the winner of the Gwinnett Historical Society's Whitworth-Flanigan Award for 2011 for preserving the history of Gwinnett County.

The book includes 143 demographic and historic tables, with more than 4,000 names in the index, and 10,000 names in the appendix.Two versions of the book are available. The hardback edition is priced at $75, while a softback edition is $40. Books are available at:

• Atlanta History Center, Atlanta
• Books for Less, Buford
  
• Gwinnett Historical Society, Lawrenceville
  
• Vargas and Harbin Gallery, Norcross

You can also order books through the Internet. To do that, go to www.elliottbrack.com to place your order. For mail orders, there is a $5 shipping and handling fee. Purchases are also subject to the 6 percent Georgia sales tax.

Or call me (Elliott Brack) at 770 840 1003 and tell me how to dedicate a book to a friend (or to you) as he adds his signature!

SEARCH GWINNETT FORUM

GWINNETT CALENDAR

"Flesh eating bacteria" is the subject of the Health To You general meeting at the Snellville Senior Center, on Wednesday, January 23, at 2 p.m. Presenting the program will be Dr. Karuna Kusan, chairperson of the Infection Control Committee at Eastside Medical Center.

(NEW) Ribbon Cutting at Briscoe Park: 10 a.m., Jan. 25, in Snellville. This will mark the completion of Phase II A of recent renovations at the park. Engineering for this project was by HDR Engineering, with Reeves Construction doing the project.

(NEW) Business Owner's Day at Capitol: 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Jan. 31, Floyd Room on the 20th floor of the West Twin Towers Building. State Rep. Dar'shun Kendrick of Lithonia will host this second annual event., along with Reps. Karen Bennett, Brett Harrell and Ron Ramsey. To learn more about the event or to RSVP, visit this site.

Bob, a new play, by American playwright Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, continues through February 10 at the Aurora Theatre in Lawrenceville. Armed with nothing but an unfailing optimism, Bob is the epic, fast-paced comedy of one man's desire for greatness. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Call 678-226-6222 or visit online for details.

Civil War Lecture Series at the Lovett School, 4075 Paces Ferry Road in Atlanta, continues a series of four lectures, on Thursday, January 31, at 6 p.m. The next speaker will be Dr. George W. McDaniel, executive director of Drayton Hall, a National Trust historic site, in Charleston, S.C. His topic will be "The Civil War, Vietnam and the Shaping of Values." Reservations are requested via (404) 262-3032, ext. 1717.

Water Conservation Workshop: 7 p.m. Feb. 7. at Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville. Attendees will receive indoor and outdoor water efficiency kits and a do-it-yourself home water guide. For more information about the workshop, send an email or call (678) 376-6722.

(NEW) Kick-Off Meeting for 2013 of Peachtree Corners Business Association: 7:30 a.m., Feb. 11, Peachtree Corners Marriott. Get details by email.

MORE EEB PERSPECTIVE

FOCUS ARCHIVES

1/29: South: Gwinnett's judges 1/25: Calmes: Ballet semifinals 1/22: Sawyer: State of Gwinnett 1/18: Belfoure: Winton Machine 1/15: Ashley: Disabling phone GPS 1/11: Olson: Black artists featured 1/8: Malone: Gun control 1/4/13: Nelems: Unintended 12/28: Hester: New in tech 12/21: Wiggins: Recycle trees 12/18: Two canal cruises to take 12/14: C. Brack: Give a little 12/11: Goodman: Suwanee's art 12/7: Duke: Director of Encouragement 12/4: Dorough: Food co-op 11/30: McHenry: CID redevelopment 11/27: Sutt: Gwinnett arts' questions 11/20: Urrutia: Grad wins award 11/16: Collins: Las Vegas 11/13: Barksdale: Storm prep 11/9: Houston: Kettle Creek 11/6: Stilo: Christmas Canteen 11/2: Crews: View Point Health 10/30: Willis: Amendment One 10/26: Brown: Doc's research 10/19: Hudgens Prize jurors picked 10/15: Urrutia: $2 million gift to GGC 10/12: Young: Lilburn city hall 10/9: Long: Charter schools 10/5: Jones: PGA golf to return 10/2: DeWilde: Suwanee's red code 9/28: Stilo: Pinter's Betrayal 9/21: Love: Model for Nigeria 9/21: Walsh: Childhood obesity 9/18: Ashley promoted 9/14: Wiener: CID's initiative 9/11: Olson: $50K Hudgens contest 9/7: Stilo: Acting classes for all 8/31: Havenga: Great Days of Service 8/24: Griswold: Casino for OFS site 8/21: Brooks: Taking the Megabus 8/17: Summerour: Newspaper family 8/14: Sharp: Newport visit 8/10: Thomas: On schizophrenia 8/7: Carraway: Amendment wording 8/3: Willis: Ready for school parents? COMMENTARY INDEX

CONTINUING OBJECTIVES FOR GWINNETT

Gwinnett Forum publisher Elliott Brack suggests that Gwinnett County needs a long-range list of continuing objectives for improving the county. Read more.

• Development of a two-party system for local offices
• Transparent operations to restore faith in Gwinnett's County Commission
• Moving statewide non-partisan judge election runoffs to the General Election
• Light rail for Gwinnett from Doraville MARTA station to Gwinnett Arena
• Extension of Gwinnett Place CID area to include Arena and Discovery Mills Mall
• Banning of tobacco in all Gwinnett parks
• Making Briscoe Field a commercial airport for jet-age travel
• Approval of Educational SPLOST in 2013
• More diverse candidates for political offices and appointment to local boards
• Physical move of former St. Gerard's Catholic Church in Buffalo, N.Y., to Norcross
• Creative efforts to support the arts in Gwinnett
• Advancement and expansion of city and Gwinnett historical societies
• Stronger regulation of late-night establishments with alcoholic licenses
  

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