The County Board of Commissioners is the legislative branch of your county government. That means they pass laws, much like your state legislature or city council; howver, they do so at the county level. Legislation passed by the Board of Commissioners usually focuses on issues that are more local, such as housing, zoning, infrastructure, public transit, taxes, but this isn't always the case.

Impacts roads, public transit, housing, and taxes.

Georgia

2020 Primary Election, Runoff

When you think of law enforcement, you likely think of your city’s police force before the sheriff. However, Georgia’s Constitution mandates that each county has a sheriff, and Georgia law designates the sheriff as the chief law enforcement officer of the county. In most counties with city police departments, the sheriff voluntarily hands over general law enforcement activities to city police. Even then, they cannot be forced to do so.

The County Sheriff has three main responsibilities.

1. First is law enforcement, usually done in partnership with the city police. This is meant to be centered around protecting people and property. This involves patrolling jurisdictions, responding to calls, enforcing laws, and making arrests.

2. Second is courtroom security. The sheriff and their deputies provide physical protection in courthouses and act as bailiffs to the Superior Court. The duties of bailiffs include escorting jury members to and from the courtrooms, attending to their needs, guarding them from outside influences, and serving all court summons (subpoenas). In 2005, the Fulton County Sheriff faced harsh scrutiny after an incident in which a sitting judge was killed in a Fulton county courtroom. 

3. Third is jail management. The Sheriff’s department is the official county jailer and is responsible for the health, safety, and wellbeing of its inmates, which may be the lesser-known duty for this office. In the time of COVID-19, sheriffs across the state are under increased scrutiny as concerns about inmate safety have been raised. The office is also responsible for preparing inmates for returning to society by employing transitional programs and potentially helping them overcome addictions. In 2019, the Fulton County Sheriff’s office became the first jail-based agency to receive a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for this purpose.

Runs county jails & keeps the public safe

Fulton

The Superior Court is the highest trial level court in the judiciary system of Georgia, which means it is just one step below the Supreme Court of Georgia. Comprised of two sides, it handles both civil and criminal cases.

Highest trial court in Fulton, ruling on cases such as murder, assault, divorce, and adoption

The county School Board consists of seven members, each of whom represent different districts within the county. These individuals are responsible for setting policy and managing the budget for the county school district.

Responsible for setting policy and managing the budget for the school district

Your representative plays a crucial role in advocating for policies around transportation, women's rights, gun control, taxes, economic development, and the environment.

Your representative in the lower chamber of the state legislature

The legislative branch in Georgia is called the General Assembly. Your state senator, who represents you in the upper house of the General Assembly, plays a crucial role in advocating for policies around transportation, gun safety, taxes, economic development, and the environment – among other issue areas.Here's a quick overview of the General Assembly:

- The General Assembly follows the model of US Congress: a lower chamber called the House of Representatives and the upper chamber called the senate. For the lower chamber, Georgia is divided into 180 different state house districts, each of which has an elected representative that serves for 2 year terms

- Differs from Congress, elected officials just serve in this position part-time: no big pay-checks, smaller staffs. So they pass legislation more efficiently, don’t debate policy for years like in Congress. There are also some policy areas that states have more authority, for example, education, which isn’t mentioned at all in our US Constitution.

- Georgia’s State house and senate have been under Republican majority for almost 20 years

Plays a crucial role in helping pass policy in the state legislature

The county sheriff has four main responsibilities: running the county jails, providing courtroom security, law enforcement, and community outreach. These duties allow the sheriff to make a significant impact on our communities and the criminal justice system.

Gwinnett

The County Board of Commissioners is the legislative branch of your county government. That means they pass laws, much like your state legislature or city council; however, they do so at the county level. Legislation passed by the Board of Commissioners usually focuses on issues that are more local, such as housing, zoning, infrastructure, public transit, taxes, but this isn't always the case.

Your county representative that passes local legislation

2020 Georgia candidates

County Commissioner, Super district 6

2 candidates

Fulton County Sheriff

2 candidates

Judge of Superior Court, Seat 2

2 candidates

Fulton School Board

2 candidates

State House of Reps

2 candidates

State House of Reps

2 candidates

State Senate

2 candidates

State House of Reps

2 candidates

Gwinnett County Sheriff

2 candidates

Board of Commissioners Chair

2 candidates