Dexter L Fisher

Buket Urgen

Walter Ley

Dexter Fisher is from Athens, Georgia. He has a bachelor 27s degree in social work from Mars Hill University and a master 27s degree in business administration from Piedmont College. He and his wife, Audrey, have three adult children and five grandchildren.

Dexter is an education administrator. He spent 33 years in education administration, most recently serving as chief of district services for the Clarke County School District. Before that, he worked for 31 years at the University of Georgia, retiring in 2019 as director of facilities management. 

Dexter is currently a commissioner representing District 5 on the Athens-Clarke County Commission.

Supports fiscal responsibility that lowers taxes, balances budgets, and ensures public funds are spent wisely.

As a city commissioner, voted to lower the millage rate for two years to provide tax relief while maintaining critical services.

Supports balancing the budget without raising taxes.

Economy

As of March 11, 2026, Dexter L Fisher’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Services

Housing & Urban Development

Supports funding the Real Time Crime Center, which uses live camera feeds to enhance safety for residents and officers.

Supports equal pay for Deputy Sheriffs and Athens-Clarke County Police Officers.

Public Safety

As a city council member, voted to approve $2.4 million to launch a program supporting local nonprofits serving young people and job seekers.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

Lakeisha Gantt

Lakeisha Gantt is from Athens, Georgia. She has a doctorate from the University of Georgia. She has four children.

Lakeisha previously served on the Clarke County School District Board of Education.

Supports strengthening procurement opportunities for women-owned, minority-owned, and small businesses.

Supports establishing concierge-style services to assist women-owned, minority-owned, and small business owners from concept through launch and operation.

Supports the Launch Every Child Thrives Initiative to promote positive youth development.

Supports expanding resources for older adults and aging communities.

Supports increasing resources for veterans.

Supports strengthening collaboration between Athens-Clarke County and individuals and communities with disabilities.

Supports the use of alternative housing solutions like accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and tiny homes.

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

Mara Zuniga

Said, "I will be drawing on my successful entrepreneurship experiences to create and help bring in good-paying jobs to Athens, and actively extend support to small business over corporate dominance downtown."

Supports prioritizing hiring local residents over outsourcing jobs and creating job opportunities for Clark County School District youth after graduation.

Plans to establish Small Business Districts with tailored regulations to boost the local economy and create jobs.

Plans to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and regulatory restrictions to foster entrepreneurship.

Supports Athens' robust tourism industry, which facilitates economic growth to existing local businesses.

Supports commercial flights at Ben Epps Airport and railway transport from Atlanta to Athens.

Plans to "Require spending accountability from nonprofits receiving government funds."

Promises to "provide overdue transparency and answerability for taxpayer money."

Believes Athens has a "severe affordability crisis" with rising costs and local displacement due to "unmanaged growth."

Supports providing resources for law enforcement and corrections to ensure officer safety.

Wants to address Athens' opioid deaths, which are higher than the state average, by collaborating with local non-profits.

Plans to address sex-trafficking and organized crime.

Believes prompt improvements to infrastructure are essential for quality of life and safety.

Plans to advance transportation initiatives by investing in sidewalk extensions and intersection upgrades.

Plans to continue fostering Athens' status as a Tree City by implementing public tree protections and urban forestry measures.

Plans to promote environmental stewardship and clean energy plans aligning with efforts from the ACC Sustainability Office.

Wants to expand resources for urban beekeeping and butterfly sanctuaries.

Pastor announces intent to seek mayor's seat in Athens-Clarke County

Facebook

Sharon Miller is originally from Birmingham, Alabama. She earned a degree in sociology and psychology from Morris Brown College in Atlanta. Sharon founded and leads Words of Faith Christian Church Inc. and has participated in local civic initiatives including the Athens-Clarke County Community Police Academy and the Athens-Clarke County Human Relations Commission.

Sharon's campaign for mayor of Athens-Clarke County in the 2026 election is her first run for public office.

Sharon previously served as senior pastor of Greater Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Athens and Paradise AME Church in Jefferson.

Supports policies aimed at increasing middle-class incomes and reducing poverty.

- Supports policies aimed at increasing middle-class incomes and reducing poverty.

Advocates for engaging residents directly and incorporating community feedback into local government decision-making.

- Advocates for engaging residents directly and incorporating community feedback into local government decision-making.

As of March 11, 2026, Sharon Miller did not have a website or any information online.

Sharon Miller

Sharon Miller is originally from Birmingham, Alabama. She earned a degree in sociology and psychology from Morris Brown College in Atlanta. Miller founded and leads Words of Faith Christian Church Inc. and has participated in local civic initiatives including the Athens-Clarke County Community Police Academy and the Athens-Clarke County Human Relations Commission.

Miller's campaign for mayor of Athens-Clarke County in the 2026 election is her first run for public office.

Miller previously worked as a pastor and served more than 30 years in ministry. She served as senior pastor of Greater Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Athens and Paradise AME Church in Jefferson.

Matthew Tomas

Pavel Tantchev

Tim Denson

Tim currently works with individuals facing behavioral health crises and helps house those who are facing homelessness. He has also worked as a labor organizer for United Campus Workers of Georgia (CWA Local 3821), as organization coordinator of Athens for Everyone, and has more than a decade of experience in the service industry.

Tim previously served as an Athens-Clarke County Commissioner from 2019 to 2022. He is currently a member of the Clarke County School Board.

Supports using public economic incentives to create living wage and union jobs.

Supports implementing purchasing policy changes to assist Black, women, and minority-owned businesses in securing government contracts.

Supports addressing racial disparities in the Athens-Clarke County (ACC) Disparity Study.

As a county commissioner, worked with the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement to create an anti-discrimination ordinance.

Supports maintaining and improving green spaces, parks, and trails, including developing a Westside Park.

Supports the sale of special ACCGOV-permitted cups to generate revenue for downtown safety, infrastructure, and events.

Supports expanding local art and music grants.

Supports increasing public funding for local music, art, and cultural events.

Supports creating a Childcare Affordability Program to ensure low-income families can access childcare.

Supports the creation of affordable housing through the Affordable Housing Fund, Land Bank Authority, and expanded inclusionary housing policies.

Supports adapting zoning policies to allow diverse housing options like duplexes, cottage courts, tiny homes, and in-law suites.

Supports funding eviction prevention programs to help families stay in their homes.

Supports creating a "Tangled Title Fund" to assist low-income individuals in clearing legal titles to their homes.

Supports helping seniors maintain their homes by expanding home rehabilitation programs.

Supports helping homeowners lower property taxes by enrolling in homestead exemptions, including new and low-income exemptions he authored legislation for.

Supports reducing chronic homelessness by 50% by 2035 by implementing "housing first" and supportive housing models.

Supports providing mental health resources, sobriety resources, and harm-reducing resources to eliminate barriers to housing, health, and safety.

Supports and wants to expand co-responder units and community policing initiatives.

Supports working with the sheriff to reduce the inmate population, ensure safety in jails and courthouses, and end cooperation with for-profit prison companies.

Supports the Public Safety Civilian Oversight Board.

Supports protecting residents from "unlawful activity of ICE & other federal entities."

Supports local marijuana decriminalization.

Supports reforming cash bail legislation.

Supports expanding sidewalks, crosswalks, and multimodal transportation.

Supports zero-fare public transit for Athens-Clarke County.

Supports increasing zero-fare bus service to run more often and to more places.

Supports the development of commuter rail between Athens and Atlanta.

Supports ensuring safe routes to all public schools and parks in Athens.

Supports continuing "100% Athens Resilience & Sustainability Initiatives."

- 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

Candidates (5)