2026 Georgia Primary Election

Democrat

Nonpartisan

Republican

2026 Georgia Primary Runoff

Williams to run for Post 2 Commissioner

Rockdale County Stepping Up Initiative - Executive Team

Linkedin

Doreen Williams is originally from the Fresno, California area. She earned a bachelor's degree in French from Brigham Young University, a master's degree in education from Walden University, and a doctorate in curriculum studies from Georgia Southern University. She and her husband, John, have five adult children.

Doreen is retired. She previously worked as an educator in Gwinnett County Public Schools.

Justice Center - Dr. Doreen Williams 

Doreen is currently a county commissioner in Rockdale County. She was first elected in 2014 and is serving her third term. She previously ran for state representative in District 92 in 2012 and lost.

Rockdale County Commissioner Doreen Williams announces bid for re-election

Aims to invest growing revenue from data centers and other industries strategically towards housing and raising the median income.

Aims to reduce the tax burden on residents through responsible economic development.

Consistently voted to keep or lower the millage rate and aims to reduce property taxes with collaborative solutions.

Committed to working with the Conyers Rockdale Economic Development Council (CREDC) to attract and keep businesses that benefit Rockdale and help spread the tax burden.

- Aims to invest growing revenue from data centers and other industries strategically towards housing and raising the median income.
- Aims to reduce the tax burden on residents through responsible economic development.
- Consistently voted to keep or lower the millage rate and aims to reduce property taxes with collaborative solutions.
- Committed to working with the Conyers Rockdale Economic Development Council (CREDC) to attract and keep businesses that benefit Rockdale and help spread the tax burden.

Economy

LinkedIn

Expanded access to the arts and advocated for senior citizen programs like the Memory Café and Arts Through the Ages.

- Expanded access to the arts and advocated for senior citizen programs like the Memory Café and Arts Through the Ages.

Public Services

Supports solutions like grant funding and stronger wraparound services to reduce homelessness and increase housing stability.

Aims to increase diverse housing like middle and transitional housing for seniors.

- Supports solutions like grant funding and stronger wraparound services to reduce homelessness and increase housing stability.
- Aims to increase diverse housing like middle and transitional housing for seniors.

Housing & Urban Development

Spearheaded the Stepping Up Initiative, which aims to reduce the number of non-violent people in jail with mental health or substance abuse disorders and connect them with treatment and supportive services.

- Spearheaded the Stepping Up Initiative, which aims to reduce the number of non-violent people in jail with mental health or substance abuse disorders and connect them with treatment and supportive services.

Public Safety

Aims to maintain and improve water, sewer, power, and road infrastructure.

- Aims to maintain and improve water, sewer, power, and road infrastructure.

Transportation & Infrastructure

As of March 11, 2026, Doreen Williams’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Twitter

Doreen Williams

Jennifer Pike

Walter Ley

Melisa Mims has a bachelor 27s degree in mass communication from Savannah State University and a master 27s degree in organizational leadership from the University of the Rockies. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. 

Melisa T. Mims has a bachelor's degree in mass communication/psychology from Savannah State University and a master's degree in psychology/organizational development from the University of the Colorado Rockies.

Melisa is a public relations professional. She has previously worked for the Georgia Department of Human Services, where she managed multimillion-dollar budgets, led cross-functional teams, and launched statewide campaigns. 

Melisa currently works as the communications and marketing director for the City of Atlanta and the director of Showtime Pros, Inc. She previously worked as the public relations director and community relations manager for Rockdale County, a marketing specialist for the Georgia Department of Driver Services, an executive associate for The Event Professionals, Inc, and a branch manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Melisa previously ran for Rockdale County Commissioner, Post 2, in 2024 but did not win.

Melisa Mims announces bid for Rockdale County Commissioner, pledges people-focused leadership 

Melisa's campaign for the Post 2 commissioner of the Rockdale County Commission is her first run for public office.

Supports attracting businesses that provide quality jobs while preserving green space and community character, with a focus on tech, healthcare, small business expansion, and family-friendly retail.

Supports redeveloping underused corridors instead of expanding sprawl and encourages mixed-use projects and incentives for revitalizing aging shopping centers.

- Supports attracting businesses that provide quality jobs while preserving green space and community character, with a focus on tech, healthcare, small business expansion, and family-friendly retail.
- Supports redeveloping underused corridors instead of expanding sprawl and encourages mixed-use projects and incentives for revitalizing aging shopping centers.

Wants developers to meet with nearby residents before major zoning decisions to ensure neighborhoods have a voice early in the process.

Plans to create a formal advisory group where students can identify community needs, participate in local government, and lead service projects.

- Wants developers to meet with nearby residents before major zoning decisions to ensure neighborhoods have a voice early in the process.
- Plans to create a formal advisory group where students can identify community needs, participate in local government, and lead service projects.

As of March 11, 2026, Melisa T. Mims’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports competitive salaries, modern equipment, and ongoing training for law enforcement, fire, and EMS to ensure they have the resources to protect and serve effectively.

- Supports competitive salaries, modern equipment, and ongoing training for law enforcement, fire, and EMS to ensure they have the resources to protect and serve effectively.

Supports tying new development approvals to infrastructure capacity, requiring a clear plan for road improvements, water/sewer capacity, and school impact mitigation before projects move forward.

- Supports tying new development approvals to infrastructure capacity, requiring a clear plan for road improvements, water/sewer capacity, and school impact mitigation before projects move forward.

Instagram

Melisa T. Mims

Rafael Perez

Michelle Bernard earned her bachelor's degree in management from Shorter University and her master's degree in business administration from Saint Leo University. 

Michelle has worked at the Georgia Institute of Technology. 

Michelle's campaign for Rockdale County, Georgia, Commission is her first run for public office. 

Advocates for the creation of opportunities in Rockdale County without raising taxes.

- Advocates for the creation of opportunities in Rockdale County without raising taxes.

Supports greater investment in community life, such as "cultural facilities, recreational options and community spaces."

- Supports greater investment in community life, such as "cultural facilities, recreational options and community spaces."

Calls for "Safe, Affordable, and Diverse Housing Options."

- Calls for "Safe, Affordable, and Diverse Housing Options."

Supports expanding neighborhood watch and community policing initiatives.

- Supports expanding neighborhood watch and community policing initiatives.

Prioritizes repairing outdated and broken infrastructure and building for the future.

- Prioritizes repairing outdated and broken infrastructure and building for the future.

Supports "responsible growth" that protects the environmental health of the community,

- Supports "responsible growth" that protects the environmental health of the community,

Facebook

Michelle Bernard

As of March 11, 2026, Michelle Bernard’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Emileigh Crouch

- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay in property and sales taxes, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of county residents.
- County Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms in staggered years. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district.

Creates new laws and passes the budget for your county

Rockdale County Commissioner, Democratic Primary

Election results

Runoff election

Candidates (3)