Duluth Officials Invite Brooks to Campaign Event

Updated 2:17 p.m., July 20

Duluth city officials have notified the public that the mayor and council members may attend a campaign event soon for Gwinnett BOC District 1 candidate Jace Brooks of Suwanee.

Duluth this week sent out a public notice that "there may be a quorum of the Duluth Mayor and Council" at an ice cream social for Brooks, who is opposing Laurie McClain for the post. The event will be at Chocolate Perks, 3160 Main Street, on Tuesday, July 24, 5:30- 7 p.m.

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The notice said that no official council action will be taken.

Brooks said Friday that Duluth officials invited him.

Duluth City Clerk Teresa Lynn said city officials had been invited to attend the ice cream social. Her possible quorum notice was sent out in response to an invitation to the social for the mayor and city council that had arrived at City Hall.

"I have no idea who's going to attend," Lynn said. "When I know they've been invited, then I send out a notice so that I can be sure that we're covered under the Open Meetings/Open Records Act. It's for the protection of our elected officials."

Lynn said she was not aware of any invitations to campaign events for McClain, a Suwanee accountant and Duluth resident.

McClain said she doesn't have any campaign events planned. "We're focusing our efforts on going out to the voters instead of having them come to us," she said.

She has made appearances at several recent Duluth community events including the June 30 Duluth Fall Festival, 30th Anniversary Celebration on the Duluth Town Green and a live broadcast of the 11Alive television morning show on the Duluth Town Green June 15.

McClain said she is willing to participate in candidate forums if invited.

Brooks attended the Duluth Fine Arts League's "Arts at Twilight" event July 14 and mingled with guests.

Brooks and McClain both qualified as Republicans to appear as candidates for the commission post on the July 31 Primary ballot.

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