Races could shift political alignments in metro counties

2 Gwinnett County commission seats were up for grabs.

Metro Atlanta voters cast ballots Tuesday in local races with several contests testing the traditional political alignments in suburban counties. But the results, including county commission races in two of the metro area’s most competitive counties, trickled in slowly Tuesday night and few winners had emerged as of press time.

Gwinnett

A longtime Republican stronghold, Gwinnett has shown an increasing willingness to vote for Democrats in recent years. Two Gwinnett County commission seats were up for grabs Tuesday, and both races had the potential to make history.

In Commission District 2, which covers a diverse swath of Lilburn, Norcross and Peachtree Corners, Democrat Ben Ku challenged twoterm incumbent Republican Lynette Howard. Ku would become Gwinnett’s first Asian-American commissioner, as well as its first openly gay one.

In Commission District 4, which primarily covers the Lawrenceville and Buford areas, Democrat Marlene Fosque challenged another two-term incumbent, Republican John Heard. Fosque would become Gwinnett’s first black commissioner.

Should they win, either challenger would become the five-member commission’s first Democrat in more than three decades.

With roughly a quarter of the county’s registered voters having their advance in-person ballots counted, the Democratic candidates were leading.

Cobb

Cobb is another historically conservative area that has become more competitive for Democrats — Hillary Clinton won the county in 2016.

Cobb voters in Commission District 3 chose between Republican incumbent JoAnn Birrell, Democrat Caroline Holko and write-in independent Joseph Pond. All three candidates have spoken out on transit and transportation, land development and budget issues.

Commission District 1 voters officially elected Keli Gambrill, who ran unopposed after winning the Republican primary.

Fulton

In Fulton, county commission races were uncontested, but Fulton voters weighed in on a number of ballot measures.

Among them was a measure that would undo a state constitutional amendment that keeps the county’s last unincorporated area — around Fulton Industrial Boulevard — from joining a city.

DeKalb

Three county commissioners and two Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor candidates were on the ballot, but the only opposition was from write-in candidates.

Brookhaven residents were asked to authorize the City Council to borrow $40 million to upgrade the city’s parks. The money will be paid back using property tax revenue, and a millage increase is expected.

Henry

The six-member Henry Board of Commissions, which currently is split evenly between black and white leaders, will be majority minority in the new year. That’s because District 4 Commissioner Blake Prince, who is white, left the post to run unsuccessfully for the state house. Vying for his seat are Democrat Vivian Thomas and Republican Pete Peterson, both of whom are black.

Incumbent District 3 Commissioner Gary Barnum, who is white, was trying to retain his seat in a race against Democrat V. Ranae Crutches, who is black.