Charles Bannister calls Gwinnett County home, just like thousands of other families who enjoy Gwinnett's outstanding quality of life. Charles ran for Chairman to provide new leadership to protect our quality of life. Charles set out to provide Gwinnett County with fresh ideas, new priorities and new vision. He was determined to provide the bold leadership necessary to solve the challenges that faced Gwinnett. He did just that.

When Charles took office as Gwinnett County Commission Chairman was being eroded by worsening crime rates, high taxes going higher, loss of high-paying jobs, and neglect of older neighborhoods. That all changed when Charlie took over.
Charles used his experience as a successful small business owner, longtime state legislator and mayor, and veteran as Chairman to get the job done.
As Chairman, Charles confronted the rising crime rates that were plaguing Gwinnett County. He put over 290 new police officers and over 270 new sheriff's deputies on the streets to help protect our families and way of life. He also lead the fight for 2 new police precincts, 2 new fire stations and a new police training facility. Charles made a promise that he would get tough on criminals, enhance our police force, and make Gwinnett safer, and he did just that.
Charles also confronted high taxes and the loss of high-paying jobs. He led the fight to lower the mileage rate, understanding that the higher the taxes, the fewer jobs we attract. Bannister also led the effort to create the Department of Economic Development, a partnership of the Gwinnett Commission and Chamber of Commerce to attract new businesses to Gwinnett County, so that its citizens do not have to commute to work. Thanks to these efforts, Gwinnett saw a 2.4% increase in job growth in the 2nd quarter of 2006 and Hewlett Packard announced it will build a $240 million data center in Suwannee. Charles Bannister said he would lead the fight to lower taxes and create jobs, and he did it.
Bannister also made improving transportation a top priority. Through his contacts and experience in his 20 years as a state legislator led to bringing $110 million in local road construction projects back to Gwinnett. In all, Gwinnett is spending over $513 million on roads in Gwinnett including the I85/SR-316 interchange. With an understanding that every minute you are stuck in traffic is a minute less you spend with your family, Charlie went to work to fix our transportation problems, and he's doing it.
Bottom line, Charles Bannister made promises to the people of Gwinnett County, and he has kept them all.
Before coming Chairman, Charles Bannister was a member of the Gwinnett delegation in the Georgia General Assembly for 18 years. He has served on several committees, including Appropriations, Industrial Relations, and Insurance, and he has earned the respect of his colleagues and citizens from Gwinnett and around the state for his leadership. Prior to his state legislative service, Charles was a member of the Lilburn City Council for 6 years, and Mayor of Lilburn for 4 years.
Raised in Tucker, Georgia, Charles attended both the University of Georgia and Georgia State University. In 1962, Charles made a promise to his country and followed through on that promise by serving in the U.S. Marine Reserves for five years. Driven by an ambition to succeed in small business, Charles relied on his entrepreneurial skills to begin a career in the insurance and financial services field. During a 30-year career, Charles operated several successful insurance agencies serving Gwinnett and northeast Georgia.

Charles and his wife, Glenda, have been married for 42 years, and raised their family in the home in Lilburn where they have lived for the past 32 years. Their three children and seven beautiful grandchildren all live or work in Gwinnett County. Charles and Glenda are members of Tucker First United Methodist Church, and are proud to call Gwinnett home.
For more information please visit http://charlesbannister.com

###