Gwinnettians weigh in on MARTA, illegal immigration
Commission, school board, legislative candidates will also be chosen

By D. AILEEN DODD
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/15/08

Voters heading to the polls today will pick their favorite candidates in Gwinnett County commission, school board and legislative races.

And while party leaders have their ear, voters also will be asked to weigh in on some nagging issues, too — namely mass transit and illegal immigration. In one ballot question sure to be closely watched around the region, voters will weigh in on a non-binding referendum on whether they want MARTA to come to the county.
• Blog: Will MARTA vote carry today?|Georgia Voter Guide|Roundup | Roundup | Report a problem
2008 LOCAL ELECTIONS

* Cobb voters to decide majority of school board seats, two commissioner seats
* Gwinnett voters to weigh in on mass transit, illegal immigration
* Dunwoody decides today on cityhood
* Ga. high court refuses to halt Clayton school board election
* Next DeKalb CEO faces big challenges

• Georgia Voter Guide: See the candidates
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Voter turnout is not expected to be as large as in a general election. But polling places are gearing up for a respectable showing.

Besides the heated Gwinnett County Commission chairman race, residents in two of the county's four commission districts will choose between Republican candidates.

In the three-way race for Lorraine Green's District 1 seat, the contenders are former Suwanee City Council member Carol Hassell, 63; former Duluth Mayor Shirley Lasseter, 60; and Diamond Warehouse owner Bruce LeVell, 44, all Republicans.

Hassell, vice president of administration for the Georgia Wildlife Federation, helped to organize the Gwinnett Open Land Trust and is concerned about illegal immigrants and declining neighborhoods. She favors tougher code enforcement to preserve communities and limiting the number of people crowding into rental properties.

Lasseter, director of public safety education for the Georgia Department of Insurance and Fire Safety, says she wants to put her 14 years of experience as a mayor to work for Gwinnett County and is also concerned about illegal immigration and revitalization.

LeVell, who was appointed to both the MARTA and Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District (CID) boards, is worried about the local economy. His campaign focuses on mass transit alternatives and improving aging communities.

In the District 3 race, Doug Stacks, 46, director of planning and economic development for the city of Lilburn, is challenging incumbent Mike Beaudreau.

Stacks, a Republican, points to the development slowdown in Gwinnett as a sign of a struggling economy that needs help. Without well-planned growth, Stacks said, the tax burden will be heavily borne by residents.

Beaudreau, 33, a national accounts manager for Ricoh Corp., has emphasized his experience and record of preserving green space to win him favor with voters.

In the school board race, two career educators are competing to represent District 5. The candidates, Democrats Ravindra Kumar, a college professor, and Ralph J. Villani, a retired teacher turned lawyer, have never been elected to public office but say they have the experience that counts in a school board election --- experience in the classroom.

The winner of the primary will face incumbent Louise Radloff in the November general election. Radloff is in her 36th year on the Gwinnett County Board of Education and has a middle school named after her.

Voters considering commission and school board races today also will be captive audiences for opinion polls.

Republican and Democratic party leaders will ask their voters questions about a wide range of issues â€â€