Gwinnett Daily Post

Camie Young

Lawrenceville is promising another interesting election year.

During a qualifying period last week, all of the incumbents up for election drew competitors.

For mayor, 2010 promised a rematch of the contest two years ago between Rex Millsaps and former Councilwoman Judy Jordan Johnson. The pair were only separated by a dozen votes after months of political sparring.

Incumbent Councilwoman Marie Beiser is challenged by Leon Smith, and Councilman Mike Crow faces Tony Powell.

Powell is the former city attorney who did an ethics investigation against Millsaps based on voting regarding Precision Planning, for which the mayor is an accountant. Powell now represents the city of Snellville, as well a private practice.

On Friday, former Councilman Bob Clark, who did not seek re-election last year, qualified to run against Crow, but he withdrew his candidacy later in the day. Clark's wife, Valerie, is the Republican nominee on November ballots for the city's state House district.

In Norcross, incumbents Ross Kaul, David McLeroy and Andrew Hixson did not draw competition during qualifying.

However, the city will still hold an election in November because of a referendum placed on ballots.

For the third year in a row, residents will consider changing council terms from two years to four years.

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.