Athens Politics Nerd

The following local candidates qualified today:
DEXTER FISHER (Mayor)
LAKEISHA GANTT (Mayor)
MARA ZUNIGA (Mayor)
TIM DENSON (Mayor)
RICHARD STANZIALE (ACC Commission, D5)
TERRY JOHNSON (ACC Commission, D1)
TIFFANY TAYLOR (ACC Commission, D3)

We have a challenger in every commission district, folks!

How ACC gov (almost) lost a $25 million grant for north Athens | Athens Politics Nerd UPDATE 3/4/26: ACC Manager Robert Cowell reported last night that the US Congress has extended the RAISE grant deadline significantly, which should allow

I've had to update the title of this article because -- y'all -- the RAISE grant has been extended significantly! 😲
athenspoliticsnerd.com/how-acc-gov-...

Beyond Linnentown: The impact of urban renewal on downtown Athens | Athens Politics Nerd The Bottom. Lickskillet.

The Bottom. Lickskillet.

We may never have heard these names before, but they were once thriving Black neighborhoods downtown.

A new website has been created to share the story of these neighborhoods and how they were destroyed during urban renewal.
athenspoliticsnerd.com/beyond-linne...

For progressive activists (I've been there), the state government is an impenetrable brick wall. If we say vote yes, they vote no just to spite us, if they listen at all.

Much respect for people who do it, but the state govt is so, so much more difficult than the local to lobby for things.

I think the GICH recommendations (if they were all adopted) would make an impact, yeah! Like Blake is saying, it would take years but I do think it matters.

As far as the resolution, unfortunately I agree with Blake here too. It would require state approval, so that's kind of the end of it.

The Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement is giving public comment now in favor of an affordable housing resolution they developed, although they acknowledge that many of their ideas will require approval at the state level.

The ACC commission has unanimously voted to extend the ban on new data center construction until June 5.

The final vote in favor of sending the GICH affordable housing recommendations to the planning commission for review was 8-1, with Hamby opposed and Myers absent.

It sounds like Commissioner Thornton has been whipping votes in favor of sending the GICH affordable housing regulations to the planning commission for review.

Give 'em hell, Ovita! I love it.

"If it makes some folk uncomfortable, we've been uncomfortable for a long time." -Thornton

Commissioner Hamby says he will vote against sending the GICH affordable housing recommendations to the planning commission for review.

He says that there isn't enough guidance given to the planning commission ahead of time for him to approve it.

The ACC commission just voted unanimously (with Fisher recusing himself) to NOT recapture any ARPA funds at this time.

There will be other opportunities to recapture the funds if ACC staff continue to believe that it is necessary. The final deadline to spend these funds is in December.

For a second meeting, there's no one speaking during public comment in favor of allowing data centers.

Not surprising. I think data centers have a PR problem, though. 🤷‍♂️

The ACC commission has delayed making a decision on how to regulate data centers, choosing to send the proposed policy back to the planning commission for changes.

They'll see it again in a few months. Later tonight, they'll vote on extending the ban on new data center construction.

Commissioner Melissa Link just spoke, urging people to "reject" AI and other technologies that require a large expansion of data centers. She says the technology is "destroying the planet."

People are speaking in favor of strong regulations on data centers at city hall right now (or for completely disallowing them in Athens).

YouTube video by Athens-Clarke County (accgov) 03-03-2026 Mayor & Commission Regular Session

The monthly mayor and commission meeting is getting underway. The main topic tonight is data centers. There will be two votes: #1 - on data center regulations, and #2 - on extending the data center moratorium.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NxA...

State Rep. Gisler Explains His Vote And Vote Intentions On Property Tax Legislation, Income Tax Cuts, School Metal Detectors ***Second Town Hall Draws Engaged Crowd*** Democratic State Rep. Eric Gisler began his second Town Hall meeting on Saturday with an update...

State Rep. Eric Gisler held his second town hall meeting on Saturday to give his constituents a legislative update mid-session.
www.oconeecountyobservations.org/2026/03/stat...

I talked to her about this recently. She doesn't regret saying what she did at all.

It's like, either she understands basic planning concepts like planned developments and was playing to the crowd for political points (disqualifying for me), or she doesn't understand it (and it's disqualifying for another reason).

IKR. To me, this is disqualifying (Fisher also voted against it, btw).

To be fair, she says she doesn't oppose community gardens, just this development. She thinks it opens the door to student housing in the plaza. That's not true, she was told that at the time, but it makes no difference.

PATRICK DAVENPORT (ACC Commissioner, District 1)
BENNIE L COLEMAN III (ACC Commissioner, District 7)
EDWARD D TOLLEY (ACC Commissioner, District 7)
TAMMIE DENISE FOOTE (ACC Commissioner, District 3)

ADAM SHIRLEY (Board of Education, District 7)
REGINALD WILLIS (Board of Education, District 3)
KIMBERLY BENNETT (ACC Commissioner, District 5)
OVITA THORNTON (ACC Commissioner, District 9)
TRACY SMITH (ACC Commissioner, District 9)
(cont)

Local candidates (ACC / Western Circuit) who qualified today:

WILL FLEENOR (Solicitor General)
LISA LOTT (Superior Court Judge)
ERIC WAYNE NORRIS (Superior Court Judge)
SHARON MILLER (Mayor)
HEATHER MELISSA FLETCHER (Board of Education, District 5)
MARK EVANS (Board of Education, District 9)
(cont)

BENJAMIN ARTHUR LAND (Supreme Court Justice)
SARAH HAWKINS WARREN (Supreme Court Justice)
LISA LOTT (Superior Court Judge)
ERIC WAYNE NORRIS (Superior Court Judge)

The following non-partisan candidates have qualified to run for office:
SARA GEBHARDT DOYLE (Appeals Court Judge)
ELIZABETH DALLAS GOBEIL (Appeals Court Judge)
J. WADE PADGETT (Appeals Court Judge)
CHARLES BETHEL (Supreme Court Justice)
(cont)

RICHARD WRIGHT (Lt. Governor)
PETER HUBBARD (PSC, District 3)
ADRIAN CONSONERY JR (Secretary of State)
PENNY BROWN REYNOLDS (Secretary of State)
LYDIA POWELL (State School Superintendent)
WILLIAM FLEENOR (Solicitor General)

MELANIE MILLER (State House, District 124)
RAY SMITH (State Senate, District 46)
WILLIAM GAULDEN JR (State Senate, District 46)
DERRICK L JACKSON (Governor)
JASON ESTEVES (Governor)
KEISHA R LANCE BOTTOMS (Governor)
DEANDRE MATHIS (Insurance Commissioner)
JOSH MCLAURIN (Lt. Governor)
(cont)

It's day 1 of qualifying for the May 19 local election and primary.
The following Democratic candidates have qualified to run for office:
LEXY DOHERTY (US House, District 10)
SUZANNA KARATASSOS (State House, District 120)
ERIC GISLER (State House, District 121)
(cont)

The impact data centers have on Georgia residents (and what can we do about it) | Athens Politics Nerd Data centers are spreading across Georgia to power the AI boom, with one already complete right here in Athens. Is this facility a health risk for those

Are data centers a health risk for those living nearby? Will they cause our power and water bills to go up?

If so, what can we do to stop them from being built?

The ACC Democrats held a town hall meeting last Thursday to answer these questions.
athenspoliticsnerd.com/data-center-...

I have confirmed that the warden of the ACC Corrections Department has been fired for violating the county's drug and alcohol policy. 👀

No further information is available at this time, but I'm looking into it.