AJC/ACC Voter Guide - Local & Legislative Questionnaire

Keybo is from Gwinnett County and graduated from Central Gwinnett High School. He holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Mercer University and a master's degree in public administration from Columbus State University.

Keybo is the Gwinnett County Sheriff. Previously, he served as a general post-instructor and crisis intervention trainer.

Keybo Taylor is the current Sheriff of Gwinnett County. He was elected in 2020 and is currently serving his first term. He is the first African American to hold this position in Gwinnett County history. 

Candidate website

Said, "We made history in 2020. And I made you a promise: to adopt a forward-thinking leadership model for law enforcement that embraces our changing demographics, that's responsive, and safer for all."

Said he plans to follow a "forward-thinking leadership model for law enforcement that embraces our changing demographics, that's responsive, and safer for all."

Plans to bolster community outreach as Sheriff, acknowledging ongoing work, aiming to rebuild trust in justice through deeper ties with faith groups, business leaders, and neighborhoods to foster community unity.

Plans to continue supporting community outreach as Sheriff, aiming to rebuild trust in justice through deeper ties with faith groups, business leaders, and neighborhoods to foster unity within the community.

- Said he plans to follow a "forward-thinking leadership model for law enforcement that embraces our changing demographics, that's responsive, and safer for all."
- Plans to continue supporting community outreach as Sheriff, aiming to rebuild trust in justice through deeper ties with faith groups, business leaders, and neighborhoods to foster unity within the community.

Public Safety

Supports enhancing mental health resources in Gwinnett County, including in-jail care and training deputies for crisis de-escalation, and advocates for better mental health care throughout the justice system as Sheriff.

Supports enhancing mental health resources in Gwinnett County, including in-jail care to ensure deputies can successfully de-escalate situations involving a mental-health crisis.  

Plans to reduce harm and ensure safety in jails by addressing excessive force, prioritizing de-escalation training, and equipping deputies to protect the community effectively.

Wants to prioritize safety of all individuals and mitigate the use of excessive force in jail facilities through de-escalation training. 

- Supports enhancing mental health resources in Gwinnett County, including in-jail care to ensure deputies can successfully de-escalate situations involving a mental-health crisis.  
- Wants to prioritize safety of all individuals and mitigate the use of excessive force in jail facilities through de-escalation training. 

Jail Management

Plans to increase funding for Gwinnett County's criminal justice system, enhance jail conditions, provide inmate healthcare, and offer rehabilitation programs to reduce recidivism and prepare inmates for societal reintegration.

Plans to increase funding for Gwinnett County's criminal justice system, aimed to ensure inmate well-being through accessible healthcare, rehabilitation, educational trade programs, and career-development opportunities

As deputy sheriff, he helped develop the TRACE program, which is aimed at addressing human trafficking and child exploitation.

The candidate's website says, "organized crime, and combat gang violence and human trafficking... It is imperative that we break the cycle within our justice system... To achieve this, we will prioritize the strengthening of our gang and human trafficking units, and focus on eradicating these predators and providing a secure environment for our children to thrive in."

Plans to target gang organized crime, gang violence, and human trafficking by enhancing the county gang and human trafficking units. 

Opposes using local jails for immigration violations; ended 287(g) program and immigration detentions in Gwinnett County; supports reallocating resources to address serious crimes, including launching the TRACE program targeting human trafficking and child exploitation.

Abolished the 287(g) program, which allowed ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) enforcement and removal operations to work with local law enforcement to detain undocumented immigrants. 

- Plans to increase funding for Gwinnett County's criminal justice system, aimed to ensure inmate well-being through accessible healthcare, rehabilitation, educational trade programs, and career-development opportunities
- As deputy sheriff, he helped develop the TRACE program, which is aimed at addressing human trafficking and child exploitation.
- Plans to target gang organized crime, gang violence, and human trafficking by enhancing the county gang and human trafficking units. 
- Abolished the 287(g) program, which allowed ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) enforcement and removal operations to work with local law enforcement to detain undocumented immigrants. 

Criminal Justice

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Keybo Taylor

Mike is from Syracuse, New York. He is a father and grandfather.

LinkedIn

Mike is a Deputy Sheriff for Gwinnett County. He has worked at the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office for the past 17 years, serving in the Training Division and Court Security Operations, and as a Basic Jailer, Field Training Officer, and SWAT Operator. He is a former United States Marine and achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. 

Mike Baker's campaign for Gwinnett County Sheriff is his first entry into politics.

The candidate's website says, "Public safety must be a priority for the citizens of Gwinnett County... Mike Baker will work for better relationships with the District Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement agencies... to ensure the active pursuit of the criminal element to ensure public safety."

Plans to hold public safety as a priority and develop stronger relations with the District Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement agencies in the Gwinnett County area.

Plans restore leadership by "refocusing on the mission of the Sheriff’s Office."

Wants to increase deputy retention by implementing more effective employment training, counseling, and recognition.

Plans to optimize the existing budget of the Sheriff's Office.

- Plans to hold public safety as a priority and develop stronger relations with the District Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement agencies in the Gwinnett County area.
- Plans restore leadership by "refocusing on the mission of the Sheriff’s Office."
- Wants to increase deputy retention by implementing more effective employment training, counseling, and recognition.
- Plans to optimize the existing budget of the Sheriff's Office.

Veterans Intervention Program (VIP)

The candidate's website says, "Mike Baker will work to restore programs such as the Jail Dog Program and the Veteran’s Program and he will maximize the annual operating budget to optimize the existing and potential capabilities of the Sheriff’s Office."

Plans to revitalize and develop programs, including the Jail Dog Program, which rescues dogs from county shelters and offers them for adoption, and the Veteran’s Program, which tries to assist veterans through intervention and treatment plans for drug, alcohol, or mental health problems. 

- Plans to revitalize and develop programs, including the Jail Dog Program, which rescues dogs from county shelters and offers them for adoption, and the Veteran’s Program, which tries to assist veterans through intervention and treatment plans for drug, alcohol, or mental health problems. 

Said, "The increase in crime in our community is undeniable. We see it every day in the news, on our streets and in our neighborhoods and schools.  As your candidate for Gwinnett Sheriff, I promise to address this issue head-on."

- Said, "The increase in crime in our community is undeniable. We see it every day in the news, on our streets and in our neighborhoods and schools.  As your candidate for Gwinnett Sheriff, I promise to address this issue head-on."

Mike Baker

The County Sheriff is an elected official who acts as the chief law enforcement officer in their county. They are tasked with operating the county jails, keeping courtrooms secure during trials, and keeping the public safe through proper law enforcement. Each Sheriff's Office in Georgia may look a little different in how they hire and run their teams, but all County Sheriffs have the same duties. These duties include the following:

- Operating the county jail
- Providing court security
- Serving civil papers
- Executing arrest warrants
- Providing primary law enforcement within unincorporated areas of the county
- Working with city law enforcement officers to keep municipalities safe

The County Sheriff and their office are unique to other law enforcement agencies in that it has to answer to the people it serves. Historically, a turnover in the Sheriff’s office will likely result in noticeable change within the office, so voting for this office is a very effective way to vote approval or disapproval for how county law enforcement is conducted.

Gwinnett County Sheriff

Election results

Candidates (2)

Compare candidates

Public Safety

Jail Management

Criminal Justice