Gwinnett Daily Post

Political Notebook

By Camie Young

A Duluth businessman is stepping into Gwinnett's MARTA board spot.

Commissioners on Tuesday tapped Bruce LeVell for the job to replace embattled Duluth representative Mychal Walker.

Walker was ousted this year after commissioners found that he acted improperly in taking money from a potential MARTA subcontractor.

LeVell and his wife own The Diamond Warehouse in Lawrenceville and another development company.

"It's about what I can give back to the county because it has treated me and my family well," LeVell said of his desire to serve.

Although LeVell doesn't use Atlanta's public transportation system for his daily commute, he said he does use the service to go to events downtown and to the airport.

"Gwinnett's growing, and transportation has to be addressed," he said, although he said he hasn't decided if the public transit system should expand into the suburbs.

LeVell said he was not fully aware of Walker's history but said he was sure the county wouldn't have to worry about ethical lapses with him in the position.

Qualifying ending for 106th

Candidates have until noon Friday to qualify for Gwinnett's next special election.

The three-day period began Wednesday in Atlanta for those running for House District 106, a seat vacated by Phyllis Miller earlier this month.

Miller, who was elected last year, was named to the county's Juvenile Court bench.

So far, three men have announced plans to run - Melvin Everson, the former Snellville councilman Miller narrowly defeated in the Republican primary a year ago; Warren Auld, the attorney who replaced Everson on the council; and Garry Rhodes, a Lawrenceville insurance salesman who serves on the Gwinnett Transit Advisory Board.

Anyone living in District 106 who hopes to vote in the

Aug. 30 election must be registered by Monday.

At least one forum for the race already has been set.

The Greater Gwinnett Republican Women is hosting the event at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4 in Conference Room A at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center in Lawrenceville.

Tegwen Beaudreau said the three candidates have agreed to attend the question and answer session.

For more information about the Greater Gwinnett Republican Women, visit ww.ggrw.org.

Everson is holding a rally on Saturday.

Congressman John Linder, R-Duluth, is expected to attend the event from 3:30 to

6:30 p.m. at Briscoe Park in Snellville.

Berry sworn in

Isaiah Berry was sworn in Tuesday as Barrow County's District 4 commissioner.

He replaces Norma Jean Brown, who is now the county's human resources director.

Berry defeated Frank Clark by a vote of 222 to 119 during a runoff election earlier this month.

Political Notebook appears in the Thursday and Sunday editions of the Gwinnett Daily Post.

Camie Young can be reached via e-mail at camie.young@gwinnettdailypost.com .