Meet Kirkland Carden
A proven leader who places the needs of others before his own.
Gwinnett County Commissioner Kirkland Carden was first elected to the District 1 seat of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners in 2020. District 1 includes the cities of Duluth, Berkeley Lake, Norcross, Peachtree Corners and portions of Lawrenceville and Suwanee. Since age 22, he has been active in local government and by age 29, Carden was elected to the Duluth City Council, becoming the first millennial and the first African-American council member in the city.
Life and Career
An Ohio native, Commissioner Carden’s family relocated to Duluth, Georgia in 2004. Carden and his four siblings are proud products of Gwinnett County Public Schools. He graduated from Duluth High School and later earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Georgia State University. During his time in college, Carden became the Vice President of the University’s Young Democrats chapter. In Carden’s junior year, he served as a legislative aide to Georgia Senate Minority Leader Steve Henson (D - Tucker). After completing his undergraduate studies, Carden began working as an Urban Planning Technician at the Jacobs Engineering Group.
While employed at the Georgia Department of Transportation for the last 5 years, Commissioner Carden assisted local governments in developing transportation plans and environmental protection. Carden’s experience with transportation planning, budget oversight, and compliance with local land use makes him a valuable member of the Board of Commissioners. Today he’s a partner and multi-family development professional at the Residential Group, where he helps communities solve their affordable housing problems.
“Last May I became a dad, and as a new father my commitment to our community has taken on a new perspective. I care deeply about my son’s future and the future of all our families. My love for Gwinnett motivates me to tackle the tough challenges facing our community.”
History of Service
Commissioner Carden is no stranger to public service. As a volunteer, he previously served on Duluth’s Zoning Board of Appeals, Citizens Budget Advisory Committee, Fall Festival, and Rainbow Village Millennials Advisory Panel. And yet he still found time to take part in Gwinnett 101, the County’s signature outreach program giving residents a behind-the-scenes look at Gwinnett County Government.
Commissioner Carden has a proven track record of working with state, local, and federal leaders to deliver results for his constituents, and has been recognized by the Georgia Municipal Association by being included in their 2019 inaugural cohort of the 20 Under 40 Focus Group.
Commissioner Carden is committed to ensuring that Gwinnett County government is transparent, accessible, and welcoming to every resident. He wants Gwinnett to be a place where everyone can attain the American Dream and reach their full potential. Carden has led progressive fights to stop partisan gerrymandering, end 287g, promote ethics in government, decriminalize marijuana, and remove Gwinnett’s only confederate monument. In support of transparency and government ethics, in 2021 he worked with a bipartisan group of state legislators to pass legislation that brought an end to a loophole that allowed tax commissioners to use their public office for personal enrichment and financial gain.
Commissioner Carden currently serves on the Gwinnett Visitors and Convention Bureau and the Audit Committee, providing oversight of the financial reporting process, audit process, the system of internal controls and compliance with laws and regulations. As a member of the main governing authority for Gwinnett County, he helps oversee a $2.07 billion annual budget that provides key county services and institutions.
Commissioner Carden and Adrienne White live in Duluth with their young son, Bleu Spencer Carden.
Motivated to Serve
“I have worked tirelessly to implement public policy that will make the American Dream more affordable and accessible to all Gwinnett residents. I’m incredibly proud of my record of accomplishments and championing of progressive solutions to Gwinnett’s serious challenges. However, as far as we have come, there’s still more to do. And that’s why I’m running for re-election, to continue to deliver progress and advocate for every Gwinnettian’s freedom to be healthy, prosperous and safe.”