Sen. Dixon Drops 2 Bills That Would Change Gwinnett Government Until Next Session

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA — State Sen. Clint Dixon, R-Gwinnett, will drop two bills during the state Legislature’s special session that would have drastically changed the structure of the Gwinnett County school board and board of commissioners, reported the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.

Senate Bill 6 EX would have increased the number of seats on the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners from four districts to nine district seats, reported the Gwinnett Daily Post. SB 5 EX would have changed school board elections to nonpartisan races.

According to the Associated Press, Dixon said the school board changes are needed because his constituents have concerns over the board’s earlier decision to fire longtime Superintendent Alvin Wilbanks before his scheduled retirement and because they’re worried school board members may impose curriculum changes including the teaching of critical race theory.

Democrats have argued that the bill was a move from white Republicans to take back control they lost, reported the AP. They’ve also questioned whether the proposed districts would violate the federal Voting Rights Act by removing a Black-majority district.