Progressive Coalition Releases Gwinnett County Scorecard

Organizations rate candidates on key issues and launch countdown to Georgia Primary

Thursday, May 28, 2020 (ATLANTA, GA) Today, with just under two weeks until the June 9th primary elections, a diverse coalition of local Georgia organizations released scorecards to inform progressive voters in Gwinnett county of candidates' records running for Sheriff and District Attorney. The scorecards note key differences of opinion among the candidates on issues that matter for the lives of residents, including:

Whether to end voluntary cooperation with the Trump Administration's immigration authorities, including the 287(g) program and detainer requests

Use of solitary confinement in the jails, which has been linked to tragic deaths by suicide in Gwinnett County facilities

Decreasing incarceration, particularly at a point in which the COVID-19 crisis has made jails even more dangerous

The scorecards are based on information gathered from candidates' websites, candidate forums, and responses to several questionnaires. The coalition producing and disseminating the scorecards include the Asian American Advocacy Fund, GALEO Impact Fund, Georgia Equality, Georgia NAACP, Black Male Voter Project, Working Families Party, ACLU Georgia, and GLAHR Action Network.

"It is critical that voters understand what's at stake in this year's primary elections. The horrific murder of Ahmaud Arbery and the handling of the investigation by law enforcement and district attorneys shows the total disconnect between what is happening in this state's criminal justice system and the rights of everyday Georgians," said Mondale Robinson, Executive Director of the Black Male Voter Project. "The ongoing investigation underscores how important it is for voters to know the full scope of a candidate's record before casting their ballots."
At a time when grassroots organizations are particularly focused on ensuring that all citizens exercise their right to vote, some groups see the upcoming Sheriff and District Attorney races as opportunities to advance key policy priorities. Jerry Gonzalez, Board Member of the GALEO Impact Fund noted that "287(g) - the program that enables Georgia Corrections Officers to be cross-trained and delegated as immigration authorities - should end in our community because it diminishes public safety for us all. All voters, especially Latinx voters, should know where the candidates stand on this issue and vote."

"If we don't engage with the process," said Asian American Advocacy Fund Director Aisha Yaqoob Mahmood, "We risk getting a district attorney and sheriff, Republican or Democrat, who don't feel beholden to the community and don't share the values of the 44% of Gwinnett's voters who are black, Hispanic or Asian."

The coalition also released a countdown to the June 9th election to ensure voters can keep up with time remaining to return absentee ballots or early vote at the polls if they choose.

"Time is of the essence in this election and the clock is running out for voters to return their absentee ballots. We want our countdown and scorecards to be a resource for voters as they make these critical selections for leadership," said Adelina Nichols, Executive Director of GLAHR Action Network. "The scorecards rating the records of candidates running for Sheriff and District Attorney in Gwinnett County will ensure that voters enter the voting booth and complete their absentee ballots fully informed and ready to make the best decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities."

The scorecards have been mailed to voters and can be found on the participating organizations' social media accounts now through election day.

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