Online Athens

Bennie is from Athens, Georgia. Bennie is a graduate of Cedar Shoals Excessive College.

Bennie is currently retired. Previously, he owned a dental lab in Clarke County.

Bennie Coleman’s campaign for Athens Mayor is his first entry into politics.

As of March 22, 2022, Bennie Coleman III did not have a website or any information online.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Wants easier access to housing for veterans.

- Wants more safe and affordable housing.
- Wants easier access to housing for veterans.
- Wants to address homelessness.

Housing & Urban Development

Wants to bring more trade schools and programs for the youth to the city.

- Wants to bring more trade schools and programs for the youth to the city.

Public Services

Public Safety

Wants to see more transparency in city government decisions.

- Wants to see more transparency in city government decisions.

City Budget

Bennie Coleman III

Fred is a former dermatologist and currently owns several properties in Athens.

Fred Moorman’s campaign for Athens Mayor is his first entry into politics.

Wants to see renovations and infrastructure improvements in the area.

- Wants to see renovations and infrastructure improvements in the area.

Supports addressing homelessness with rehabilitation programs as well as connecting people with “employment via necessary infrastructure renovations”.

- Supports addressing homelessness with rehabilitation programs as well as connecting people with “employment via necessary infrastructure renovations”.

As of March 22, 2022, Fred Moorman did not have a website or any information online.

Wants to create a safer downtown area by increasing police presence.

- Wants to create a safer downtown area by increasing police presence.

Wants to see lower taxes for business owners.

- Wants to see lower taxes for business owners.

Fred Moorman

Kelly is from Norfolk, Virginia. He attended Old Dominion University, graduating with a degree in sociology. Kelly also received his master's degree in teaching from Piedmont College. He lives with his wife and son in Athens.

Kelly previously worked as regional director for student services at Foothills Education Charter High School. He also worked as a teacher and principal at Classic City High School.

Kelly Girtz is currently Mayor of Athens. He was elected in 2018 and has served one term. In 2010, Kelly was elected District 9 County Commissioner and he has served two terms.

Wants to continue the re-building of Loop 10 interchanges at Lexington Highway and Atlanta Highway.

As Mayor, Kelly oversaw the Firefly Trail extension project. Kelly said that efforts to expand trails “provide safe recreation and access to amenities to thousands of children and families”.

As Mayor, Kelly supervised the completion of new sidewalk segments in under-supported areas such as Baxter Street, King Avenue, and Magnolia Street.

Wants to increase the frequency of key Athens Transit routes. Said new investment in transit “no longer means that there is an hour to wait for the next bus,... \[but rather it is] a matter of just ten or fifteen minutes”.

- Wants to continue the re-building of Loop 10 interchanges at Lexington Highway and Atlanta Highway.
- As Mayor, Kelly oversaw the Firefly Trail extension project. Kelly said that efforts to expand trails “provide safe recreation and access to amenities to thousands of children and families”. 
- As Mayor, Kelly supervised the completion of new sidewalk segments in under-supported areas such as Baxter Street, King Avenue, and Magnolia Street.
- Wants to increase the frequency of key Athens Transit routes. Said new investment in transit “no longer means that there is an hour to wait for the next bus,... \[but rather it is] a matter of just ten or fifteen minutes”.

As Mayor, he helped develop six Tax Allocation Districts to bring below-market housing stock to construction.

As Mayor, he organized the purchase and revitalization of the North Downtown/Bethel Midtown Village area. This project will create 500+ bedrooms of below-market apartments and 500+ market-rate apartments.

Wants to focus on revitalizing the East Athens/Nellie B community.

Supports a “Housing First” approach to ensure the unsheltered community in Athens can obtain housing without worry.

- As Mayor, he helped develop six Tax Allocation Districts to bring below-market housing stock to construction. 
- As Mayor, he organized the purchase and revitalization of the North Downtown/Bethel Midtown Village area. This project will create 500+ bedrooms of below-market apartments and 500+ market-rate apartments. 
- Wants to focus on revitalizing the East Athens/Nellie B community.
- Supports a “Housing First” approach to ensure the unsheltered community in Athens can obtain housing without worry.

As Mayor, he oversaw over $2 million in aid given to small businesses.

As Mayor, he created the Athens Community Corps to bring more jobs to residents.

Said, “The work of great grassroots organizations in Athens holds the key to steering our young residents toward pro-social endeavors that will have lifelong positive consequences for their lives”.

Wants to create a partnership with the Clarke County School District and nonprofits in the area to connect the youth to local programming.

- As Mayor, he oversaw over $2 million in aid given to small businesses. 
- As Mayor, he created the Athens Community Corps to bring more jobs to residents.
- Said, “The work of great grassroots organizations in Athens holds the key to steering our young residents toward pro-social endeavors that will have lifelong positive consequences for their lives”.
- Wants to create a partnership with the Clarke County School District and nonprofits in the area to connect the youth to local programming.

As Mayor, raised the police department salary minimum to $47,000/year.

As Mayor, oversaw the addition of counselors for the crisis intervention team that respond to emergency calls where violence is not involved.

Created the Neighborhood Leaders program to connect residents with local government.

- As Mayor, raised the police department salary minimum to $47,000/year.
- As Mayor, oversaw the addition of counselors for the crisis intervention team that respond to emergency calls where violence is not involved.
- Created the Neighborhood Leaders program to connect residents with local government.

Youtube

In 2021, Kelly helped get the FY22 city budget passed. This included raising the minimum wage, new youth programs, fare-free transit, homeless initiatives, and a civil rights ordinance.

- In 2021, Kelly helped get the FY22 city budget passed. This included raising the minimum wage, new youth programs, fare-free transit, homeless initiatives, and a civil rights ordinance.

Kelly Girtz

Mara is originally from Nicaragua. She and her family immigrated to Brooklyn, New York. She attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, studying electrical engineering. She now lives with her husband, Marcos, and her two children, in Athens.

Mara currently works as the Chief Financial Officer for her husband’s asbestos removal business. She has worked as a loan officer, regional manager, motivational speaker, and ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher.

Mara Zuniga’s campaign for Athens Mayor is her first entry into politics.

Wants to see cleaner streets in all areas of the city.

- Wants to see cleaner streets in all areas of the city.

Said, "the unsheltered population is increasing because of the local government’s unsustainable actions and policies".

- Said, "the unsheltered population is increasing because of the local government’s unsustainable actions and policies".

Wants a “life class” that would teach residents about financial security. This would be provided through community programming or as a high school class requirement.

- Wants a “life class” that would teach residents about financial security. This would be provided through community programming or as a high school class requirement.

Wants to rebuild trust between the Athens community and the police.  Said, “I support our men and women who serve daily to protect the people of Athens.”

- Wants to rebuild trust between the Athens community and the police.  Said, “I support our men and women who serve daily to protect the people of Athens.”

Wants to provide “clear documentation in government spending”. This includes “simple, understandable public education” on the budget.

Opposes the “burden on Athen’s taxpayers” to support social welfare responsibilities.

- Wants to provide “clear documentation in government spending”. This includes “simple, understandable public education” on the budget. 
- Opposes the “burden on Athen’s taxpayers” to support social welfare responsibilities.

Mara Zuniga

Mykeisha attended Athens Technical College, graduating with a degree in business administration. She lives with her two children in Athens, Georgia.

Mykeisha is the founder of Youth is Life, an organization focused on providing after-school programs for minority, low-income families.

Mykeisha Ross’s campaign for Athens Mayor is her first entry into politics.

As of March 22, 2022, Mykeisha Ross did not have a website or any information online.

Wants to address the homeless population by focusing on mental health treatment and better youth development programming.

- Wants to address the homeless population by focusing on mental health treatment and better youth development programming.

Supports new recreational facilities for the community.

Wants to implement new collaboration with the Clarke County School District.

- Supports new recreational facilities for the community.
- Wants to implement new collaboration with the Clarke County School District.

Mykeisha Ross

Pearl is currently a retired Clarke County School District staffer.

Pearl Hall’s campaign for Athens Mayor is her first entry into politics.

As of March 22, 2022, Pearl Hall’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Facebook

Wants to “Renew energy, vision, and quality of life” for Athens.

Wants to support senior citizens, youth, and public education.

- Wants to “Renew energy, vision, and quality of life” for Athens. 
- Wants to support senior citizens, youth, and public education.

Pearl Hall

- The mayor leads the executive branch of local government, presiding over city council meetings, making sure city departments run smoothly, and providing services to citizens. 
- The mayor runs the city day to day and prepares the budget each year, meaning that they propose how much funding goes to each city department, including the police department, city parks, transportation, and the fire department. 
- The mayor also hires the Police Chief, Fire Chief, and city department heads, such as City Planning, Parks & Recreation, and Transportation. 
- Most Georgia mayors are elected in odd years to four year terms. Elections are nonpartisan. 

Athens Mayor

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Transportation & Infrastructure

Housing & Urban Development

Public Services

Public Safety

City Budget