What is your name?

Nicole Love Hendrickson

Tell us more about yourself.

Public service is and has always been my passion. I have dedicated my entire career as a social worker serving people, empowering communities and giving a voice to those who have been historically underrepresented in the decision-making arena. As leaders, it is our responsibility to ensure that all citizens thrive. In order to do that, our decisions need to reflect the needs of all of our citizens. As the county's' founding director of the community outreach program, I have experienced first-hand the role citizens can play in promoting good governance. I have a vision for our future and the demonstrated leadership to move us forward.

What office are you running for?

Chair of the Gwinnett Board of Commissioners

What is your party affiliation?

Democrat

Attach a photo of yourself

Attach your resume or CV.

Where did you go to school?

I earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Rhode Island and later went on to complete her Master’s Degree in Social Work with an emphasis on Community Planning from the University of Georgia.

Provide the link to your campaign website.

www.love4gwinnett.com

What is your job/occupation?

Chair of the Gwinnett Board of Commissioners

What city/neighborhood do you live in?

Lilburn

Is this your first time running for office?

No

What experiences have best prepared you to hold elected office?

In 2015, I was appointed by Chairman Charlotte Nash of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners as the founding Director of the Community Outreach Program that I established from the ground up. In this role, I commissioned Gwinnett County Governments’ first ever comprehensive platform that allowed diverse citizens to interact with local government launching programs such as the Gwinnett 101 Citizens Academy, Dinner & Dialogue and the Gwinnett Youth Commission — all of which were nationally recognized as best in class for citizen engagement.

What would be your top priority upon winning office?

Affordable housing is a top priority. As chair of the Atlanta Regional Commission's inaugural Local Leaders Housing Action Committee, I led regional conversations on the landscape of housing affordability across the 11-county region. After the culmination of the county’s first comprehensive housing study, I led the strategic direction for the county to address land use and zoning updates, reducing development barriers around affordability, incentivizing smart growth and development, and preserving our naturally occurring affordable housing. I know a responsible data-driven approach can bring real results.

What actions would you take to enhance government transparency and trust in government?

Gwinnett County is the most diverse county in the state of Georgia, that includes a large foreign-born and limited-English proficient community. My expertise centers on grassroots citizen engagement, cultivating public private partnerships, program development, community leadership development and multicultural outreach. When I came into office, I brought that expertise and experience to my role as chair. Together, we can build an open and accessible Gwinnett County government.

Do you believe Georgia elections are secure and what additional security measures can be taken?

I believe that as a county government, it is critical that we have the investment and support of our state and federal officials to ensure both critical access and security of our elections. While the role of securing polling sites is one charged to our local sheriff, I have led the focus of our Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners to ensure proper resources are allocated toward the effective administration of elections. For our May primaries, we embody this commitment with election day voting access as well as 10 early vote sites, six of which will host secure drop-boxes for absentee ballots. These sites will also offer weekend voting.

What is government's responsibility to ensure affordable housing?

Inclusionary zoning policies are a key tool in promoting equity, diversity, and sustainability in urban development, and we do have a responsibility to ensure affordable housing. I was instrumental in leading efforts to overhaul Gwinnett's unified development ordinance (UDO) to remove burdensome regulations that allow for diversified housing types to be permitted in Gwinnett. The new UDO, coupled with our 2045 Unified Plan charts a course that prevents urban sprawl, protects our green spaces and promotes sustainable development which now allows for the creation of missing middle housing.

Do you believe public access to public records is sufficient in your jurisdiction and, if not, what steps do you support to remedy that?

Our county communications department is a diligent team that prioritizes community access and a positive working relationship with our local press. I do believe we do a good job with public access to our local records.