Gwinnett Commissioners; Above the Law?

Well, some of them sure seem to feel that way. Have you ever been fined for something in Gwinnett? Maybe for violating a nutty zoning ordinance?  Ever taken it to the Gwinnett Board of Commissioners, hoping for satisfaction? If you have, there is a good chance it fell on deaf ears, particularly in the case of Commissioners Jace Brooks and John Heard.  These two both seem to live by the mantra; "We make the rules, you citizens follow them."

Which brings to mind another old saying; "Do as we say, not as we do."
Really. I've been dealing with members of the Gwinnett County Commission on behalf of a friend of mine relative to individual liberty and property rights. Frankly, Government is already too intrusive into our daily lives. It is simply unacceptable for government to tell me I need to have 3 acres if I want to keep a few 7 pound birds.  Commissioners Tommy Hunter, Charlotte Nash, and Lynette Howard, seem to have an understanding of this reality.

But not Commissioners Jace Brooks and John Heard. They like the heavy-handed rules, and have no intention of budging on them. They expect  Gwinnett citizens to "follow the rules" or suffer the consequences. They support heavily controlling what WE do on our own property, even if what we want to do is virtually harmless, and even beneficial.

Well, for such sticklers for 'the rules,' they sure don't mind scoffing at rules themselves. Between John Heard and Jace Brook, they have not just one, but numerous campaign finance ethics violations and fines outstanding that they simply Ignored. In Commissioner Heards case, dating back to 2009 . . . .and 2010 . . . and 2011.

Here are Commissioner Heards and Commissioner Brooks campaign ethics violations, which remain unpaid and ignored, through today, August 28, 2013

06/30/2009  Failure to pay fine: CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION DISCLOSURE REPORT
12/31/2010  Failure to pay fine: CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION DISCLOSURE REPORT
06/30/2011  Failure to pay fine: CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION DISCLOSURE REPORT
07/01/2011  Failure to file: PERSONAL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

12/31/2011 Failure to file: CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION DISCLOSURE REPORT

And scofflaw Commissioner,  Jace Brooks;
10/25/2012 Failure to pay fine: CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION DISCLOSURE REPORT

This is simply unacceptable, particularly considering the reality that these two act more like they are Gwinnett Citizens overseers, rather than as the public servants they are in reality.  Both also seem oblivious to the reality that it is their job to protect the property rights and liberties of even one person, over the fickle will of even a majority. 

The United States, and this includes Gwinnett County, is a Constitutional Republic,  not a socialist republic or even a democracy where the rights of the few can be trumped by a majority. Our founding fathers worked vbery hard to make sure the rights of the few, the individual, were protected. Commissioners Jace Brooks and John Heard need to 'get with our founding fathers program' . . . and pay their fines.