Gwinnett County was founded on December 15, 1818. The government was managed by an Interior Court until the first election for the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners was held January 1, 1873. Initially, five commissioners were elected, each serving a four-year term. The first elected commissioners were R.D. Winn, Burton Cloud, E.J. McDaniel, W.W. Parks, and D.M. Byrd.
Since then, the Board of Commissioners has overseen county government policies, budgets, land use planning, zoning, and more. The Board's structure and hierarchy have changed over time. The timeline below illustrates the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners' history and chairmen, spanning from the current Board members all the way back to the inaugural elected commissioners.
As you journey through the timeline, you will find significant changes to the Board of Commissioners at two points in time. In 1968, the Board changed to its current structure of five elected members consisting of a chairman and four district commissioners with four-year terms that are staggered. The Chairman and Districts 1 and 3 are on one election cycle; Districts 2 and 4 are on another cycle two years later. On the timeline, D1-D4 commissioner titles denote the districts they represent, 1 through 4, respectively. In 1916, the Board of Commissioners was reduced from its original five-member structure to four commissioners, with each member serving a four-year term.
Asterisks (*) after the names of various chairmen and commissioners indicate noteworthy changes during their term (resignations, special elections, etc.).
|
|
1969 – 2024
|
- D1. Kirkland Carden (2021 – Present)
- D2. Ben Ku (2019 – Present)
- D3. Jasper Watkins III (2021 – Present)
- D4. Marlene Fosque (2019 – 2022)
- D4. Matthew Holtkamp (2023 – Present)
2011 – 2020
Charlotte J. Nash, Chairman*
- D1. Shirley Lasseter (2011 – 2012)**
- D1. Jace Brooks (2012 – 2020)
- D2. Lynette Howard (2011 – 2018)
- D2. Ben Ku (2019 – 2022)
- D3. Mike Beaudreau (2005 – 2012)
- D3. Tommy Hunter (2013 – 2020)
- D4. John Heard (2011 – 2018)
- D4. Marlene Fosque (2019 – 2022)
* Nash elected in March 2011 to fill unexpired term of Bannister; took oath of office the same month.
** Lasseter resigned from office in May 2012. Brooks elected to four-year term in November 2012; took oath of office in September 2012 after winning July primary and having no General election opposition.
2005 – 2010
Charles E. Bannister, Chairman*
- D1. Lorraine Green (2005 – 2008)
D1. Shirley Lasseter (2009 – 2012)
- D2. Albert Nasuti (2003 – 2010)
- D3. Mike Beaudreau (2005 – 2012)
- D4. Kevin Kenerly (1995 – 2010)
* Bannister resigned October 2010.
1993 – 2004
F. Wayne Hill, Chairman
- D1. Thomas Hughes (1993 – 2000)
D1. Marcia Neaton (2001 – 2004)*
- D2. Doug Williamson (1991 – 1994)
D2. Patricia Muise (1995 – 2002)**
D2. Albert Nasuti (2002 – 2010)
- D3. Judy Waters (1993 – 2000)
D3. John Dunn (2001 – 2004)
- D4. Renee Unterman (1991 – 1994)
D4. Kevin Kenerly (1995 – 2010)
* Neaton-Griggs's name changed to Neaton in 2003.
** Muise resigned January 2002 when she was appointed to the Recorder's Court bench; replaced by Nasuti, who took office March 2002.
1985 – 1992
Lillian H. Webb, Chairman
- D1. Kenneth M. Suffridge (1985 – 1988)
D1. W.J. Dodd (1989 – 1992)
- D2. C. Scott Ferguson (1983 – 1990)
D2. Doug Williamson (1991 – 1994)
- D3. Michael L. Berg (1985 – 1988)
D3. J. Curtis McGill (1989 – 1992)
- D4. Bartow J. Jenkins (1985 – 1986)
D4. Donald G. Loggins (1987-1990)
D4. Renee Unterman (1991-1994)
1981 – 1984
Charles W. Ashworth, Chairman
- D1. Maron S. Buice (1969 – 1980)
- D2. Edwin S. Howard (1979 – 1983)*
D2. C. Scott Ferguson (1983-1990)
- D3. Jere W. Johnson (1981 – 1984)
- D4. Guy E. Stokes (1975 – 1983)*
D4. John Frank (1983 – 1984) *
* Howard and Stokes served through September 1983 (due to litigation over district changes); Ferguson and Frank took office October 1983; Frank resigned in 1984; Jenkins elected April 1985 to fill Franks's unexpired term.
1977 – 1980
Wayne H. Mason, Chairman
- D1. Maron S. Buice (1969 – 1984)
- D2. Ray W. Gunnin (1969 – 1978)
- D3. K.C. Bowen, Jr. (1977 – 1980)
- D4. Guy E. Stokes (1975 – 1983)
1973 – 1976
William. Atkinson III, Chairman
- D1. Maron S. Buice (1969 – 1984)
- D2.Ray W. Gunnin (1969 – 1978)
- D3.Wayne H. Mason (1973 – 1976)
- D4.Julian W. Archer, Sr. (1969 – 1974)
D4. Guy E. Stokes (1975 – 1983)
1969 – 1972
W.R. Pruitt, Chairman
- D1. Maron S. Buice (1969 – 1984)
- D2. Ray W. Gunnin (1969 – 1978)
- D3. Carvis P. Williams (1969 – 1972)
- D4. Julian W. Archer, Sr. (1969 – 1974)
|
| In 1968, the Board changes a second time. Gwinnett County now elects five members, consisting of a chairman and four district commissioners with four-year, staggered terms (Chairman, Districts 1 and 3 in one election cycle, Districts 2 and 4 in another two years later). |
1968
|
1916 – 1968
|
1965 – 1968
- W. Ray Morgan
- W.R. Pruitt
- O.F. Thompson
1957 – 1964
- Dr. W.A. Elinburg, Jr.
- Gordon Frachiseur (1957 – 1958)*
- Minor W. Corley (1958 – 1964)
- Uhland F. Freeman
* Frachiseur died March 14, 1958 - Corley elected to fill unexpired term.
1949 – 1956
- O.D. Cain
- Paul Dover (1933 – 1944, 1949 – 1956)
- Weldon B. Archer
1945 – 1948
- W.R. Hurst (1929 – 1948)
- A.J. Corley
- T.L. Harris (1921 – 1948)
1933 – 1944
- W.R. Hurst
- Paul Dover
- T.L. Harris
1929 – 1932
- W.R. Hurst
- S. J. Busha (1925 – 1932)
- T.L. Harris
1925 – 1928
- Paul Sims
- S. J. Busha
- T.L. Harris
1921 – 1924
- J.K. Jackson
- J.D. Miller
- T.L. Harris
1917 – 1920
- V. H. Allen
- L.J. Phillips
- J.H. Britt (1916 – 1920)
1916
- C. A. McDaniel
- L.P. Patillo
- J.H. Britt
|
| In 1916, the size of the Board of Commissioners is reduced to three members. Each commissioner serves a four-year term. |
1916
|
1873 – 1913
|
1913
- W.J. Tribble
- R.E. Hill
- C.A. McDaniel
- J.A. Deaton
- J.H. Britt
1910
- H.D. Miller
- M.S. Cornett
- T.A. Pate
- S.J. Busha
- J.L. Brand (1909 – 1910)
1909
- A.T. Green
- W.T. Knight
- W.M. Jordan
- J.H. McGee
- J.L. Brand
1905 - 1908
- O.O. Simpson
- A.E. Ewing
- W.P. Cosby
- D.M. Clower (1901 – 1908)
- J.P. Byrd
1901 – 1904
- T.C. Burton
- A.A. Martin
- J.H. Hutchins
- D.M. Clower
- J.A. Ambrose
1897 – 1900
- S.L. Hinton (1889 – 1892, 1897 – 1900)
- J.T. Lampkin (1877 – 1880, 1893 – 1900)
- J.S. Dobbins (1893 – 1900)
- M.A. Born
- J.T. Jourdan
1893 – 1896
- J.D. Spence (1881 – 1896)
- J.T. Lampkin
- J.S. Dobbins
- J.C. Carroll
- W.T. Perry
1889 – 1892
- J.D. Spence
- J.W. Mitchell
- A.J. Vaughan
- J.F. Espy
- S.L. Hinton
1885 – 1888
- J.D. Spence
- J.R. Hopkins
- J.E. Cloud
- Nathan Bennett
- Andrew Garner
1881 – 1884
- J.D. Spence
- J.H. Hopkins
- J.E. Cloud
- Nathan Bennett
- Jefferson Britt
1877 – 1880
- W.E. Jones
- B.A. Blakey
- J.H.C. Maguire
- W.I. Woodward
- J.T. Lampkin
1873 – 1876
- R.D. Winn
- Burton Cloud
- E.J. McDaniel
- W.W. Parks
- D.M. Byrd
|
| The inaugural Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners is elected. |
1873
|
|
|
