Kirkland’s Vision for Gwinnett


“Gwinnett County will be a place where we make the American dream a reality.”

  • When the county says it is committed to equity and inclusion, Commissioner Carden believes this must be more than a tagline. He is committed to continued development and implementation of public policy that makes the community a more just, equitable, and accessible place to live. Commissioner Carden believes it’s time to pass a non-discrimination ordinance in Gwinnett County to prevent discrimination based on gender, race, sexual orientation or gender identity, nationality, religion, age, immigration status, ability or language.

    It’s also time for key criminal justice reforms, such as reforming our outdated marijuana ordinance in a way that small amounts of marijuana will not completely destroy lives.

  • One of Commissioner Carden’s highest priorities has been working with community partners to provide a wide range of human services designed to promote self-sufficiency, safety and well-being for our residents. For the first time Gwinnett has opened warming shelters, one of Commissioner Carden’s top priorities for our residents. When temperatures drop to 35 degrees or below, five stations around Gwinnett activate, offering a place to get relief from the cold, eat a meal, and rest. Gwinnett County has also launched a community navigator initiative to help residents find needed social services and assistance.

  • Gwinnett County seeks to be an employer of choice. Without quality personnel to staff county departments and divisions, Gwinnett will struggle to provide the services that residents and businesses have come to expect. In Commissioner Carden’s second year in office, The Board of Commissioners expanded paid parental leave and raised pay for all county employees to help them provide for themselves and their families.

  • The Gwinnett Place area is the economic engine for Gwinnett County, creating jobs, providing housing, and offering transportation opportunities that can help solve our traffic problems. Commissioner Carden remains committed to ensuring that our investment in Gwinnett Place Mall bears fruit. As Commissioner, Carden supported the $23 million purchase of 39 acres of the Gwinnett Place Mall.

    Carden stated “It is very important that our plan to revitalize the mall and the surrounding area is successful as it would grow the County's tax digest and generate new revenue to fund county services for our rapidly growing community.”

  • Gwinnett is a very diverse community and we must make sure all eligible citizens have access to elections and understand the process. As Commissioner, Carden approved funding to translate sample ballots and voter outreach materials into four Asian languages (Vietnamese, Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese), making it easier for some of Gwinnett County’s diverse Asian American communities to participate in the most American of exercises — voting. Commissioner Carden firmly believes we can do more to provide a wide range of services in different languages and he is committed to expanding language access to all essential county services.

  • Violent crime has decreased in Gwinnett thanks to our public safety professionals. As Commissioner, Carden has led the fight to hire more police officers, while at the same time advocating for transparency and accountability in local law enforcement. During his first year in office, the Board of Commissioners created a citizens’ police advisory board and supported additional public safety outreach efforts, including advocating for an overhaul of mental health resources at the local level.

    In 2022, the Board of Commissioners established a Behavior Health Unit to enhance police interactions with those in need of mental health services. Instead of ending up in a jail cell, this will allow officers to better recognize persons who need mental health care and facilitate the needed services.

  • The cost of living continues to rise in Gwinnett and puts pressure on family finances, as wages have not kept up with inflation. While Gwinnett Government is only a portion of the annual property tax bill, Commissioner Carden believes we must provide economic relief for families including renters, small business owners and commercial property owners who do not receive the benefit of the VOE (value offset exemption).

    During his time in office, Commissioner Carden voted twice to lower the millage rate which would lower the tax burden for businesses and families. He supports expanding the homestead exemption which would put money back into the pockets of Gwinnett homeowners.

  • Gwinnett is home to many working professionals of all backgrounds, however many don’t work locally unless they work from home. Many have to drive on busy highways and spend more time in traffic than at home with their families. We must address our transportation problems so that more employers choose Gwinnett, effectively boosting our community. “Live. Work. Play” isn’t just a mantra, it should be a reality - that is what Commissioner Carden will continue to advocate for.

    As a professional with transportation and municipal planning experience, Commissioner Carden has the experience needed to be a leader in addressing our transportation challenges. Commissioner Carden is committed to developing long-term and achievable transportation plans to improve mobility and reduce congestion in our community.

  • Commissioner Carden recognizes that the quality of county services impacts the quality of residents' lives. This was evident in his response to trash disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many residents experienced significant disruptions to trash and recycling collection by the county contracted solid waste haulers due to COVID-19 in the workforce. Commissioner Carden worked with the other commissioners, county staff and solid waste contractors to improve the complaint response process, and he continues to work with contractors to address processes and problem resolution. This is just one example of his commitment to ensuring everyone has access to high-quality, professional, and efficient county services. He believes that no matter what zip code you live in, your trash should be picked up on time, your roads should be paved, your sidewalks should be uncracked, and people should feel confident that Gwinnett County government will deliver the local services for which they are paying.

  • Rent is too high and housing prices have become unaffordable, especially for young people who are just starting their lives. Commissioner Carden has the experience needed to create new policies that will lead to more market based solutions to ensure we have housing options that meet the needs of our community.

    Commissioner Carden has worked with experts on housing policy – including County Planning and Development staff, local developers and home builders to promote policies and practices that lead to an increase in the housing supply in Gwinnett.

    Commissioner Carden has stated, “While we cannot control market conditions, there are steps we can take – such as adjusting ordinances or activating a housing bond – to ensure we have a wide variety of housing options available.”