North Fulton Today

Gwinnett County Board of Educations elections may be altered from partisan to nonpartisan due to a bill advanced by the Georgia State Senate.

Georgia Republican Sen. Clint Dixon, the main sponsor of the bill, began lobbying for these changes after longtime Gwinnett County Superintendent Alvin Wilbanks was fired last year, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.

"The bottom line is partisanship should have no place on our school board and in our schools" Dixon told Fox 5 Atlanta.

This has generated backlash from Democrats, who argue that the new policy should apply to all counties in Georgia, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.

"Folks, if we're going to go after one county, let's make this for all counties" Democrat state Sen. Nikki Merritt told Fox 5 Atlanta.

This issue has been the top legislative priority for Dixon for some time, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. Democrats argue that Dixon and other Republicans are only pushing for the bill because Democrats recently gained majority control of the school board. They say the issue should be decided by a public vote.

"Let the people — the local people — the people of Gwinnett County make their own decision" Democrat Georgia Sen. Sally Harrell told Fox 5 Atlanta.

Should Gov. Kemp sign the bill soon, the ruling would take effect in time for this year's school board election cycle, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. Otherwise, if he signs the bill after the race begins in March, elections will remain partisan until 2024.

Democrats also said that the process for advancing the bill was ironically partisan, with Democrats not being consulted before the bill was presented, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. In addition to the governor's signature, the bill also needs approval from the Georgia House of Representatives.