Animal Welfare Candidate Survey
Where do the candidates for Gwinnett County Commissioner stand on the animal-welfare issues affecting our community?
Animal Welfare Positions at a Glance
This comparison shows candidate participation and summarizes submitted positions by major survey topic. Candidates who received the survey but did not respond are identified directly in the chart.
|
Ben Ku
No Response
|
Rodolfo Ochoa
Not Delivered
|
Matthew Holtkamp
No Response
|
Benjamin Culberson
Read Full Response
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Survey Topics | District 2 | District 4 | ||
| Independent Oversight & Community Voice | No Response | Not Delivered | No Response | Supports |
| Transparency, Investigations & Accountability | No Response | Not Delivered | No Response | Supports |
| Independent Review, Public Data & Cameras | No Response | Not Delivered | No Response | Supports |
| Humane Care, Enrichment & Behavioral Welfare | No Response | Not Delivered | No Response | Supports |
| Veterinary Care & In-House Medical Capacity | No Response | Not Delivered | No Response | Supports |
| Euthanasia Safeguards & Lifesaving | No Response | Not Delivered | No Response | Supports |
| Open Intake, Capacity & Infrastructure | No Response | Not Delivered | No Response | Supports |
| Prevention, Spay/Neuter, TNR & Community Programs | No Response | Not Delivered | No Response | Supports |
| Animal Protection Laws & Enforcement | No Response | Not Delivered | No Response | Supports |
| Volunteer, Foster, Rescue & Community Access | No Response | Not Delivered | No Response | Supports |
| Budget Priorities & Commissioner Responsibility | No Response | Not Delivered | No Response | Supports |
Supports: The candidate supported the substantive questions within that survey section.
No Response: The candidate received the survey but did not submit it by the deadline.
Not Delivered: GAAA was unable to provide the survey because verified campaign contact information was not located before the deadline.
Benjamin Culberson submitted a complete response: Read his answers to all 68 questions →
Animal welfare decisions are made at the ballot box, too.
Decisions made by the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners directly affect shelter operations, animal care, public safety and enforcement, funding, prevention programs, oversight, infrastructure and long-term animal-welfare priorities.
GAAA created this survey to give voters more than campaign talking points. Candidates are being asked where they stand on specific policies and what actions they would support if elected.
What We're Asking Candidates
The 68-question survey addresses the major policy, funding and oversight decisions that shape animal welfare in Gwinnett County.
Oversight & Accountability
- Animal Advisory Council independence
- Citizen representation
- Transparency and public records
- Independent review and cameras
Humane Care & Lifesaving
- Enrichment and behavioral welfare
- Veterinary and in-house medical care
- Euthanasia safeguards
- Rescue, foster and adoption opportunities
Prevention & Protection
- Spay/neuter and TNVR
- Breeding and retail pet sales
- Owner retention and reunification
- Animal-protection ordinances and enforcement
Capacity, Community & Resources
- Open intake and shelter capacity
- Emergency overflow planning
- Volunteer and rescue partnerships
- Budget priorities and performance measures
Built Around Gwinnett's Actual Animal-Welfare Issues
This is not a generic candidate questionnaire. GAAA developed the 2026 survey from the issues we have researched, documented and advocated on in Gwinnett County.
Records & Data
County records, shelter data, medical records, contracts, investigations and operational information help establish the factual basis for many of the questions.
Independent Analysis
GAAA's audits and issue analyses examine areas such as enrichment, managed intake, veterinary care, volunteer engagement, community cats and oversight.
Community Experience
Feedback from residents, volunteers, advocates, rescue partners and others helps identify where policies and practices affect animals and the people trying to help them.
Candidate participation is part of the public record.
Candidates were not required to agree with GAAA's positions. They were asked to tell voters where they stand and were given opportunities throughout the survey to explain their views. Responses — and decisions not to respond — will remain publicly documented so residents can revisit the record during and after the election.
