MY VISION
Leadership
I envision a Clerk’s office that prioritizes a proactive approach to meeting the diverse needs of Cobb County residents. My Clerk’s office will be present in the community, educating and reestablishing trust and reliability in the court system. As an organized and inclusive leader, I will prioritize efficiency and staff retention in the Clerk’s office.
Integrity
​We should trust our leaders to serve with the best interests of Cobb County residents. As Clerk, I will restore and strengthen public trust in the integrity of our judicial system with my steadfast dedication to ethical conduct, accountability, and justice.
Transparency
​The Clerk’s office should be accessible and efficient. My commitment is to establish accessible and clear channels of information, and empower the community to understand and engage with our judicial system.
MEET BRUNESSA
Brunessa Drayton is a mom, wife, daughter of a veteran, and a proud Afro-Latina immigrant. She moved to the United States from Panama as a child and grew up on U.S. military bases across the United States and Germany. She takes pride in a strong work ethic and brings a unique perspective deeply rooted in her Afro-Latina heritage. From a young age, she became a tenacious advocate for her family and community, a commitment that has defined her journey. Driven by an inner passion for service and community, she is a passionate champion dedicated to advocating for the historically underserved and underrepresented.
In her 20s, Brunessa made metro Atlanta her home. After several years in the private sector as a sales professional, Brunessa pivoted her career. She earned an M.P.A from Kennesaw State University. She completed a year of service with AmeriCorps, serving as an Outreach and Enrollment Specialist for Project Health Access and serving unhoused residents, connecting people with the healthcare they needed. Her dedication to public service continued as she joined the Cobb County library system, where she led a team of library technicians and developed programming that fit the community’s needs.
Just as the COVID-19 outbreak began, Brunessa transitioned to the office of the Chairwoman of the Board of Commissioner in Cobb County. In a critical time for government leadership, Brunessa provided oversight of all critical functions in the Chairwoman’s office through the COVID-19 response and beyond, supporting and implementing key policy initiatives such as the County’s first Youth Commission and Cobb African American Public Policy Forum.
Most recently, Brunessa served as the Northwest Georgia Outreach Coordinator in the Office of U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff. Brunessa engaged with organizations across the region to understand community needs, informing her work advocating and securing federal funding for Cobb and Northwest Georgia.
In addition to her M.P.A. from Kennesaw State University, Brunessa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Spanish from Western Kentucky University and has a certification in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. She is a Fellow of the Georgia Women’s Policy Institute and has served as a Trustee on the Cobb County Library Board.
In her spare time, Brunessa enjoys being a global citizen and experiencing new cultures. She is passionate about service, and is heavily involved in Jack & Jill of America and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc, where she embodies her commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of others and has served as the GA State Social Action Coordinator. She is a runner and enjoys training for half marathons.
Brunessa and her husband Christopher have four boys and live in Powder Springs.
