Melissa Link grew up in southern Prince George's County, Maryland and graduated from Frederick Douglass High School in 1988. She attended East Carolina University before moving to Athens as an art history graduate student in 1993. Melissa resides in the Boulevard neighborhood of Athens with her husband.

Melissa Link works in the University of Georgia Department of Philosophy as a communications specialist and managing editor of an environmental ethics journal. 

Melissa Link is currently County Commissioner in Clarke County. She was elected to this position through a special election in March 2023. She is a former Athens-Clarke County Commissioner for District 3. She was elected to that position in 2015, and served two terms. 

Candidate website

The candidate's website says, "In her nine years in office, Melissa has successfully fought to ... invest in affordable housing, ... support public transit and bike & pedestrian safety, ... expand parks & trails for a healthier & more connected community, ... create youth opportunities, ... and promote justice & equality for all. ..."

Wants to expand local parks and trails aiming to foster a healthier and more connected community. 

The candidate's website says, "investment in youth development & low-income homeowner assistance"

Supports investing in youth progress and helping low-income homeowners. 

- Wants to expand local parks and trails aiming to foster a healthier and more connected community. 
- Supports investing in youth progress and helping low-income homeowners. 

Public Services

The candidate's website says, "$15 minium wage for ACC employees"

Supported increasing the minimum wage to $15 for Athens-Clarke County employees.

- Supported increasing the minimum wage to $15 for Athens-Clarke County employees.

Economy

As of April 23, 2024, Melissa Link’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Education

Supports firefighters' rights to collective bargaining, advocates for a Fire Safety fee on large buildings, including tax-exempt entities, to ensure proper equipment and compensation for firefighters in a growing and complex environment.

Supports granting  firefighters' the ability to partake in collective bargaining and advocated for a Fire Safety fee on large buildings in an effort to ensure proper equipment and compensation for firefighters.

- Supports granting  firefighters' the ability to partake in collective bargaining and advocated for a Fire Safety fee on large buildings in an effort to ensure proper equipment and compensation for firefighters.

Public Safety

Plans to engage the community in updating Athens-Clarke County's Future Land Use Map, aiming to protect neighborhoods, promote affordable housing, smart growth, environmental preservation, and properly locate student housing away from Downtown.

Plans to update Athens-Clarke County's Future Land Use Map, aiming to protect neighborhoods, promote affordable housing, smart growth, environmental preservation, and properly locate student housing away from Downtown.

The candidate's website says, "preserved affordable housing in the historically Black West Hancock neighborhood"

Supported the perseveration of "affordable housing in the historically Black West Hancock neighborhood."

The candidate's website says, "Supported a funded & accountable Strategy to Prevent Homelessness"

Voted in favor of the Strategic Plan to Reduce and Prevent Homelessness.

- Plans to update Athens-Clarke County's Future Land Use Map, aiming to protect neighborhoods, promote affordable housing, smart growth, environmental preservation, and properly locate student housing away from Downtown.
- Supported the perseveration of "affordable housing in the historically Black West Hancock neighborhood."
- Voted in favor of the Strategic Plan to Reduce and Prevent Homelessness.

Housing & Urban Development

The candidate's website says, "created pedestrian plaza at College Square & park on Washington St Downtown"

Supported the creation of a pedestrian plaza at College Square & park on Washington St Downtown.

Wants to improve transportation infrastructure.

- Supported the creation of a pedestrian plaza at College Square & park on Washington St Downtown.
- Wants to improve transportation infrastructure.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

Melissa Link

Jason holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Georgia. Jason is married to his wife, Katie and they have three sons. 

Jason’s co-owns a retail store, Cheeky Peach Boutique and is a baseball instructor. He is a retired Professional Baseball Player, and played with the New York Mets.  

Ballotpedia: Jason Jacobs 

This is Jason Jacobs’s first entry into politics. 

Wants to focus on improving underserved neighborhoods in district 2.

Wants to improve district parks and public areas.

Supports youth programs aimed at addressing family homelessness and gang violence.

Wants to provide soft and job skills training and programs that aim to reduce the likelihood of being an incarcerated youth by supporting organizations like the Boys & Girls Club and Grand slam.

Plans to advocate for government funds to be allocated towards recovery programs, mental health treatment and crisis response for district 2.

Wants to provide federal assistance for homeless individuals.

- Wants to focus on improving underserved neighborhoods in district 2.
- Wants to improve district parks and public areas.
- Supports youth programs aimed at addressing family homelessness and gang violence.
- Wants to provide soft and job skills training and programs that aim to reduce the likelihood of being an incarcerated youth by supporting organizations like the Boys & Girls Club and Grand slam.
- Plans to advocate for government funds to be allocated towards recovery programs, mental health treatment and crisis response for district 2.
- Wants to provide federal assistance for homeless individuals.

Supports competitive salaries for public safety employees.

Wants to build up tourism to increase sales tax revenue, and use those funds to reduce property taxes and expand housing.

Wants to create jobs with a "living-wage", and expand sufficient workforce housing.

- Supports competitive salaries for public safety employees.
- Supports job creation.
- Supports small business growth. 
- Wants to build up tourism to increase sales tax revenue, and use those funds to reduce property taxes and expand housing.
- Wants to create jobs with a "living-wage", and expand sufficient workforce housing.

As of April 23, 2024, Jason Jacobs’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes police training should include mental health and crisis response courses.

Plans to provide training and resources to local agencies, aiming to ensure they operate with compassion.

Supports sufficient and competitive pay for safety officials.

- Supports community policing programs. 
- Believes police training should include mental health and crisis response courses.
- Plans to provide training and resources to local agencies, aiming to ensure they operate with compassion.
- Supports sufficient and competitive pay for safety officials.

Website said, "....will work to help the unhoused find not just a tent, but a roof over their head with the goal of healing the root causes, not just the symptoms of this issue. "

Supports affordable and workforce housing.

- Website said, "....will work to help the unhoused find not just a tent, but a roof over their head with the goal of healing the root causes, not just the symptoms of this issue. "
- Supports affordable and workforce housing.
- Wants lower property taxes.

Jason Jacobs

- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay in property and sales taxes, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of county residents.
- County Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms in staggered years. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district.