ATLANTA – State Representatives Pedro Marin (D-Duluth) and Dewey McClain (D-Lawrenceville) today announced that they are questioning the motives of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners following its vote on Tuesday to schedule the vote on whether or not to bring the MARTA rail system through parts of Gwinnett County until March 2019. Roughly 200 people attended the 8 a.m. meeting to determine if the November ballot should include a vote on MARTA.
Reps. Marin and McClain plan to hold a press conference along with other elected officials on Wednesday, August 8, 2018, at 1 p.m. at the Gwinnett County Justice Center in the breezeway leading to the auditorium.
“Many people left the meeting stating that there are a number of reasons to be suspicious of the board’s actions and what it proposes to do,” said Rep. McClain. “Bringing MARTA to Gwinnett County is something that is very important to the people and the county. In order for us to continue to attract businesses and top tier industries, we must provide their employees with easy access in and out of the county. In addition, the residents of Gwinnett should be able to get from point A to point B without having to endure a two-and-a-half to three-and-a-half-hour commute. The fact that this board would hold a meeting regarding something as important as this at 8 a.m. is suspect.”
“Residents and lawmakers questioned the board’s decision to hold the vote regarding MARTA in March of 2019 versus placing it on the ballot in November,” said Rep. Marin. “This Board of Commissioners claims to be fiscally conservative, however there is nothing fiscally conservative about the action they took. It is by all accounts fiscally irresponsible to not include MARTA on the ballot in November. The decision to hold the MARTA vote in March forces the taxpayers of Gwinnett to pay for an additional election when it’s not necessary.”
“In addition to the costs associated with holding the MARTA vote at a time when it would be the only item on the ballot, Rep. Marin and I have concerns about the sincerity of the board to allow the will of the people to be done by not making conditions amenable for as many people as possible to be able to cast a vote regarding the issue,” added Rep. McClain.
Representative Pedro “Pete” Marin represents the citizens of District 96, which includes portions of Gwinnett County. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2002 and currently serves on the Banks and Banking, Economic Development & Tourism, Industry and Labor and Science and Technology committees.
Representative Dewey McClain represents the citizens of District 100, which includes portions of Gwinnett County. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2013 and currently serves on the Industry and Labor, Interstate Cooperation, Motor Vehicles and State Planning & Community Affairs committees.
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