Charles Bannister was elected Chairman of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners in 2004 with 70% of the vote. He brings to the job a wide range of experience in public service, business, and community involvement.
As Chairman, Charles is the top elected official for a county government with a $1.5 billion budget serving more than 700,000 residents. He is a member of the executive committee of the Atlanta Regional Commission, as well as a member of the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia and the National Association of County Officials.
Prior to being elected Chairman, Charles was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives for 18 years, serving on the Insurance, Industrial Relations, and Appropriations Committees. He also served as mayor of Lilburn for four years and as a Lilburn City Council member for six years, during which time he served as President of the Gwinnett Municipal Association, and as Vice President of the Georgia Municipal Association. Charles was also a member of the Gwinnett Hospital System Board of Directors for 14 years.
Charles had a successful career in the insurance and financial services industry, owning his own insurance agency serving customers in northeast Georgia for over 28 years. He served his country as a member of the U.S. Marine Reserves from 1962 to 1967.
A member of the Tucker First United Methodist Church, Charles has been married for 43 years to his high school sweetheart, Glenda. They have lived in Lilburn since 1972. Charles and Glenda have three grown children and seven grandchildren.
