AJC/ACC Voter Guide - Local & Legislative Questionnaire

Donna was born in Jamaica and grew up in Canada. She holds a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Humber College. Donna lives in Lawrenceville, Georgia and is a mother and grandmother. 

LinkedIn

Donna is a consultant with Enviroqual, LLC managing food and drugs and as a Quality Assurance consultant with FedEx-SEMC. She is also the founder of a non-profit organization promoting civic engagement group providing life coaching, CANI-Community Action Network Initiatives, Inc.  She previously worked as a Quality Engineer, Manager, and Sanitation Environmental Manager. 

Donna McLeod previously served as State Representative of House District 105. She was elected in 2018 and served two terms until 2023. In 2022, she ran for US Representative of Georgia's 7th Congressional District, but did not win.

Said, "Our county is multicultural, multifaceted, and multitalented yet people of color have little or no vendor participation in our county. Open the bidding process to all to ensure that our county gets the best people to provide services to our residents. Streamline the process to make it easier and more transparent."

As a state representative, she voted for legislation providing the first Mental Healthy Parity.

- Said, "Our county is multicultural, multifaceted, and multitalented yet people of color have little or no vendor participation in our county. Open the bidding process to all to ensure that our county gets the best people to provide services to our residents. Streamline the process to make it easier and more transparent."
- As a state representative, she voted for legislation providing the first Mental Healthy Parity.

Public Services

Wants to established a "long-term economic development incentive program" that will help small businesses grow.

- Wants to established a "long-term economic development incentive program" that will help small businesses grow.

Economy

Believes that there either needs to be more schools or existing schools need to be expanded in order to accommodate the growing number of students.

Said the County Commission and public-school officials need to collaborate more to "ensure our children are not in trailers because building housing outpaces building new schools to meet the demand."

Holds diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) as a priority, mentioning despite widespread diversity in America, "people of color have little or no vendor participation in our county."

- Believes that there either needs to be more schools or existing schools need to be expanded in order to accommodate the growing number of students.
- Said the County Commission and public-school officials need to collaborate more to "ensure our children are not in trailers because building housing outpaces building new schools to meet the demand."
- Holds diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) as a priority, mentioning despite widespread diversity in America, "people of color have little or no vendor participation in our county."

Education

Plans to provide law enforcement with the necessary resources to train and retain officers.

Supports funding the purchase of NARCAN nasal spray to treat opioid overdoses.

- Plans to provide law enforcement with the necessary resources to train and retain officers.
- Supports funding the purchase of NARCAN nasal spray to treat opioid overdoses.

Public Safety

Wants to urgently lower homeless rates, as she believes the government has a responsibility to ensure affordable housing and said, "If someone can't afford basic shelter, then we are failing in our responsibilities."

Opposes the use of eminent domain to take land from residents.

- Wants to urgently lower homeless rates, as she believes the government has a responsibility to ensure affordable housing and said, "If someone can't afford basic shelter, then we are failing in our responsibilities."
- Opposes the use of eminent domain to take land from residents.

Housing & Urban Development

Wants to establish a transportation plan, including rail, to decrease traffic congestion.

- Wants to establish a transportation plan, including rail, to decrease traffic congestion.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Donna McLeod

Nicole received a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Rhode Island and a master's degree in social work from the University of Georgia. She lives in Lilburn with her husband and son. She serves as the Vice Chair of the National Association of Counties’ Community, Workforce, and Economic Development Committee. She is also member of several other organizations, including the Atlanta Regional Commission, Gwinnett Board of Health, and Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce amongst others. 

Nicole is a Community Outreach Program Director for Gwinnett County and a Community Coach for the Neighborhood Fund with the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. She previously served as an Associate Director with the Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services and as a Crisis Counselor with Baltimore County Public schools. 

Nicole Love Hendrickson is currently the Chairwoman of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners. She was elected in 2020 and has served one term.

Wants to enhance health, safety and sustainability countywide by investing in new water infrastructure, parks and trails system, or mental health programs with local law enforcement. 

Wants to create an "open and accessible Gwinnett County government" through grassroots citizen engagement.

Wants initiatives supporting climate sustainability.

- Wants to enhance health, safety and sustainability countywide by investing in new water infrastructure, parks and trails system, or mental health programs with local law enforcement. 
- Wants to create an "open and accessible Gwinnett County government" through grassroots citizen engagement.
- Wants initiatives supporting climate sustainability.

Candidate website

The candidate's website says, "One of the bright spots of living in Gwinnett is knowing that our streamlined local government is responsive and careful stewards of our tax dollars... Nicole has shown herself to be a fiscally responsible leader for Gwinnett."

Wants to maintain fiscal responsibility and said, "One of the bright spots of living in Gwinnett is knowing that our streamlined local government is responsive and careful stewards of our tax dollars."

- Wants to maintain fiscal responsibility and said, "One of the bright spots of living in Gwinnett is knowing that our streamlined local government is responsive and careful stewards of our tax dollars."

As of March 19, 2024, Nicole Love Hendrickson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports a data-driven strategy for housing affordability, advocating for zoning reforms, development incentives, and preservation of existing affordable homes in the Atlanta region, as demonstrated by her leadership in comprehensive housing studies and regional policy direction.

Said affordable housing is top priority, mentioning as chair of the Atlanta Regional Commission's Housing Action Commitee, following a comprehensive housing study, she led a strategy aimed to address land use and zoning updates, housing affordability, development incentives, and preserving currently affordable housing developments in the Atlanta region.

- Said affordable housing is top priority, mentioning as chair of the Atlanta Regional Commission's Housing Action Commitee, following a comprehensive housing study, she led a strategy aimed to address land use and zoning updates, housing affordability, development incentives, and preserving currently affordable housing developments in the Atlanta region.

The candidate's website says, "Nicole comes to the table with real solutions. Whether it be new investments in our clean water infrastructure, updates and expansions to our parks and trail systems, ... Nicole knows that the Gwinnett Standard is one striving toward a Healthier, Safer, and Sustainable community."

Supports investing in Gwinnett's clean water infrastructure.

- Supports investing in Gwinnett's clean water infrastructure.

Nicole Love Hendrickson

- County Commission Chairs oversee the Board of County Commissioners, which create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay property and sales tax rates, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- The County Commission Chair is specifically responsible for preparing the county budget, which must be passed by the rest of the County Commissioners. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commission Chairs have additional executive duties including coordinating with the office of the Mayor for your county, appointing Commissioners to committees, and representing your county at official functions.
- County Commission Chairs are elected to 4-year terms in county-wide elections.

County Commission Chair

Election results

Candidates (2)