ARC reported the 10-county region lost 108,074 jobs between 2006 and 2009. That’s a decline of 5.4 percent, ARC said. The job losses were highest in the core 10 counties, where Fulton and Gwinnett produced more than half of all job losses. Fulton lost 29,914 jobs (-4.1 percent), while Gwinnett lost 27,301 (-8.5 percent), DeKalb lost 10,115 (-3.3 percent) and Cobb lost 10,019 (-3.1 percent).

ARC: Fulton, Gwinnett hit hardest in recession – Atlanta Business Chronicle:

Even though the ARC also includes citizen members and city mayors, the Chairmen of the 10 metro counties in the ARC have managed to control the Chairman’s seat. Former Gwinnett Chairman Wayne Hill held the position for years.

Although it was Bannister’s “turn” this year, the board instead chose Tad Leithead by a substantial margin, 23-14. From Cobb County, Leithead is the first citizen member to chair the 60-year-old board.