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Craig Topple lives in Athens, Georgia. He earned his bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and his Master of Divinity from the Columbia Theological Seminary. He has volunteered with the Association of Professional Chaplains, the Interfaith Clergy Partnership of Greater Athens, the Presbytery of Northeast Georgia, and the Athens Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). He lives with his wife, Trasie, and their two children. 

Craig is a healthcare chaplain. He works at St. Mary's Highland Hills Village, where he has been for the past decade. He previously served as a pastor at four area congregations and co-manages a family-owned business with his father.

Craig currently works as the Staff Chaplain at St. Mary's Health Care System. he previously worked as the director of children and youth ministry at Covenant Presbyterian Church, the interim pastor at Commerce Presbyterian Church, and a minister at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Santa Fe. 

Craig Topple's campaign for Clarke County Commissioner, District 5 is his first entry into politics.

Craig Topple's campaign for Clarke County Commissioner, District 5, is his first entry into politics.

Brings business and budgeting experience to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and transparently for the benefit of District 5 residents.

Advocates for fiscal transparency and stewardship. 

- Advocates for fiscal transparency and stewardship. 

Economy

As of March 11, 2026, Craig Topple’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Services

Supports growth that benefits longtime residents and creates housing options for working families and young professionals, while preserving neighborhood character and greenspace.

- Supports growth that benefits longtime residents and creates housing options for working families and young professionals, while preserving neighborhood character and greenspace.

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Supports expanding safe transportation options, including bus, bike, and pedestrian access, while addressing traffic concerns that affect daily life.

- Supports expanding safe transportation options, including bus, bike, and pedestrian access, while addressing traffic concerns that affect daily life.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

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Craig Topple

Emileigh Crouch

Buket Urgen

Walter Ley

Kimberly Bennett has lived in Athens, Georgia since childhood and attended schools in the Clarke County School District. She earned a bachelor’s degree in integrative studies from Clayton State University and a master’s degree in youth development leadership from Clemson University. Kimberly is a trustee at Hill Chapel Baptist Church.

Kimberly's campaign for the Athens-Clarke County Commissioner seat to represent District 5 is her first run for public office.

Kimberly currently works as executive director of Cultivating a Lifetime of Legacy, Inc, a local nonprofit organization focused on youth mentorship in Athens, Georgia. She previously worked as a recruitment coordinator for the University of Georgia's Center for Family Research. She has served in leadership roles in several community organizations, including the Junior League of Athens and the Clarke Central High School Local School Governance Team. 

Supports policies that promote small businesses, encouraging entrepreneurship, and strengthen workforce development opportunities.

- Supports policies that promote small businesses, encouraging entrepreneurship, and strengthen workforce development opportunities.

Advocates for public programs that expand access to childcare and essential community resources.

- Advocates for public programs that expand access to childcare and essential community resources.

Supports policies aimed at making housing more affordable.

- Supports policies aimed at making housing more affordable.

As of March 11, 2026, Kimberly Bennett’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports improving transportation infrastructure by reducing dangerous traffic patterns, expanding pedestrian safety measures, and improving mobility within the community.

- Supports improving transportation infrastructure by reducing dangerous traffic patterns, expanding pedestrian safety measures, and improving mobility within the community.

Kimberly Bennett

Kimberly Bennett has lived in Athens, Georgia since childhood and attended schools in the Clarke County School District. She earned a bachelor’s degree in integrative studies from Clayton State University and a master’s degree in youth development leadership from Clemson University. Bennett is a trustee at Hill Chapel Baptist Church

Kimberly Bennett's campaign for the Athens-Clarke County Commissioner seat to represent District 5 is her first run for public office.

Kimberly currently works as executive director of Cultivating a Lifetime of Legacy, Inc, a local nonprofit organization focused on youth mentorship in Athens, Georgia. She previously worked as a recruitment coordinator for the University of Georgia's Center for Family Research.  She has served in leadership roles in several community organizations, including the Junior League of Athens and the Clarke Central High School Local School Governance Team. 

- Supports policies aimed at making housing more affordable

Matthew Tomas

Pavel Tantchev

Skateboarding in 1980’s Athens

Richard Allen "Rick" Stanziale is a longtime Athens resident. He attended the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have two children.

Rick Stanziale

Rick is a retired real estate agent and developer.

Rick previously ran for Athens-Clarke County Commissioner in 2023 but did not win.

Rick's campaign to represent District 5 on the Clarke County Commission is his first run for public office.

Aims to promote economic policies that help local businesses and create good-paying jobs while strengthening the local tax base.

Plans to scrutinize the county budget to make sure tax dollars are spent on core services and smart investments.

- Aims to promote economic policies that help local businesses and create good-paying jobs while strengthening the local tax base.
- Plans to scrutinize the county budget to make sure tax dollars are spent on core services and smart investments.

Will protect and expand parks and green spaces.

- Will protect and expand parks and green spaces.

Supports zoning decisions that maintain the current character of District 5 neighborhoods while also promoting sustainable growth.

Plans to increase housing density to reduce housing costs and the property tax burden on residents.

- Supports zoning decisions that maintain the current character of District 5 neighborhoods while also promoting sustainable growth.
- Plans to increase housing density to reduce housing costs and the property tax burden on residents.

Wants to increase public safety by supporting effective community policing and investing in youth programs that offer positive alternatives.

- Wants to increase public safety by supporting effective community policing and investing in youth programs that offer positive alternatives.

Prioritizes maintaining roads, sidewalks, and stormwater systems.

Wants to increase transit frequency and expand local bike lanes to allow for higher population density without increasing traffic.

- Prioritizes maintaining roads, sidewalks, and stormwater systems.
- Wants to increase transit frequency and expand local bike lanes to allow for higher population density without increasing traffic.

As of March 11, 2026, Richard Allen "Rick" Stanziale’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Richard Allen "Rick" Stanziale

As of March 11, 2026, Richard Allen Stanziale’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Richard Allen Stanziale

Sam Scruby

Supports smart growth, real affordability, and transparent local government in District 5.

Zander Mason is from Athens, Georgia. He attended Athens Academy. He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Georgia. He lives with his wife, Avery, in Athens. He attends Classic City Church.

Zander Mason is from Athens, Georgia. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Georgia. He volunteers with Bigger Vision Athens, Athens Jaycees, and Palm House Recovery. He lives with his wife, Avery, in Athens and attends Classic City Church.

Zander is a financial advisor. He works at Raymond James, where he helps families reduce stress, plan for retirement, and build generational wealth. He previously worked at Delta Airlines, where he reviewed billion-dollar budgets as an auditor.

Zander currently works as a financial advisor at The Black Arrow Group. He previously worked as an auditor at Delta Air Lines. 

Zander Mason's campaign for Athens-Clarke County Commission, District 5, is his first run for public office.

Aims to reduce burdensome red tape for small businesses, make Athens more business-friendly, revitalize shopping centers with community-focused growth, and encourage projects that expand the tax base and improve quality of life.

- Aims to reduce burdensome red tape for small businesses, make Athens more business-friendly, revitalize shopping centers with community-focused growth, and encourage projects that expand the tax base and improve quality of life.

Supports investing in after-school programs, mentorship, recreation opportunities, and partnerships with UGA to benefit youth development and the community.

Supports investing in after-school programs, mentorship, recreation opportunities, and partnerships with the University of Georgia to benefit youth development and the community.

- Supports investing in after-school programs, mentorship, recreation opportunities, and partnerships with the University of Georgia to benefit youth development and the community.

Supports cutting red tape for builders to create needed housing, encouraging smart development, and partnering with nonprofits and faith communities to address homelessness effectively.

- Supports cutting red tape for builders to create needed housing, encouraging smart development, and partnering with nonprofits and faith communities to address homelessness effectively.

Supports continued investment in police and fire services, strengthening youth programs to prevent gang recruitment, and ensuring residents feel safe in their neighborhoods.

- Supports continued investment in police and fire services, strengthening youth programs to prevent gang recruitment, and ensuring residents feel safe in their neighborhoods.

For Candidate Zander Mason on Issue Transportation & Infrastructure: Advocates for fixing potholes, upgrading roads, water systems, and power lines, while ensuring accessible transit and reliable infrastructure for working families and students.

Advocates for fixing potholes, upgrading roads, water systems, and power lines, while ensuring accessible transit and reliable infrastructure for working families and students.

- Advocates for fixing potholes, upgrading roads, water systems, and power lines, while ensuring accessible transit and reliable infrastructure for working families and students.

As of March 11, 2026, Zander Mason’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Zander Mason

- 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.

Clarke County Commissioner, District 5

Candidates (4)