Gwinnett Voters Elect First Non-White Mayors

LOGANVILLE, GA — In a county that has been majority minority for several years, there has never been a nonwhite mayor in Gwinnett County. But that's about to change.

Voters in Tuesday's municipal elections selected the county's first black and Hispanic mayors, who will take office in January. Craig Newton ran unopposed in Norcross and will become the city's first black mayor.

And, in Loganville — which sits in both Gwinnett and Walton counties — Rey Martinez will become the first Hispanic mayor of the city.

Recently retired from Micromeritic Instruments in Norcross, Newton is a nine-term city council member who has served as mayor pro tem for four terms. He has served as president of the Gwinnett Municipal Association and currently serves as chairman of the Gwinnett Transit Advisory Board.

Martinez is a U.S. Navy veteran and reservist and owner of Rey's Cuban Cafe in Loganville. He served as the city's vice-mayor before stepping down to run for mayor and rose to a degree of prominence during last year's presidential election through his outspoken support for then-candidate Donald Trump.

He was the chairman of Hispanics For Trump in Georgia and spoke at a pair of rallies in the state with now-Vice President Mike Pence.

Martinez won Tuesday's election in overwhelming fashion, defeating Donna Jones, the wife of Loganville's former mayor, 758-376.

Newton photo courtesy City of Norcross. Martinez photos courtesy City of Loganville.