After ‘racist pig’ post, a new Gwinnett normal: Disruption and disorder

Protesters interrupting the most mundane proceedings.

Or coughing as embattled Commissioner Tommy Hunter tries to speak.

Or shouting at his colleagues for not trying to force him out.

In the nearly two months since Hunter wrote his controversial Facebook post calling civil rights leader and U.S. Rep. John Lewis a "racist pig," it's all become the new normal for Gwinnett County's Board of Commissioners.

It’s a tough, distracting development a body that, under Chairman Charlotte Nash’s leadership, has pulled itself from the shadow of a corruption scandal and heretofore prided itself on orderly business.

And it’s one that’s begun to flirt with a more tangible disruption to county business.

“There’s a certain decorum that needs to be maintained in a public meeting,” Nash said. “It’s hard. I’ll not make any bones about that. It’s hard to deal with situations where we’re not able to [maintain order].”