You’d think being the mayor of a college town is all about football Saturdays and cutting ribbons at new local breweries. It isn't. Not even close. When you look at the Mayor of Athens GA, you're looking at a role that is technically the "Mayor of the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County." It’s a mouthful. It’s also a unique political structure that makes the job way more complicated than just managing a city.
Kelly Girtz is the guy in the seat right now. He’s been there since 2019. If you spend any time in Athens, you know his name, but you might not know how much the job has changed over the last few years. It’s a weird mix of high-level policy and "why hasn't my trash been picked up yet?"
Athens is a blue dot in a deep red state. That tension defines almost everything the mayor does. You've got the University of Georgia (UGA) sitting right in the middle of everything, but the university doesn't pay property taxes. That’s a massive chunk of land that doesn't directly fund the city’s coffers. It’s a constant balancing act. Girtz has to play nice with the Board of Regents while trying to figure out how to pay for infrastructure when a huge portion of the real estate is tax-exempt.
What the Mayor of Athens GA Actually Does
People get confused about power. In Athens, we have a "strong manager" form of government. This basically means the Mayor isn't a dictator. Kelly Girtz doesn't just wake up and decide to build a new park. He’s the presiding officer of the Commission. He sets the agenda. He has veto power, sure, but the day-to-day operations—the actual "running" of the city—fall to the Manager, Williams Edwards.
Girtz is the face. He’s the one who stands at the podium when things go wrong. And things have gone wrong.
Take the budget. It’s massive. We’re talking hundreds of millions of dollars. The Mayor of Athens GA has to guide the 10 commissioners through a thicket of competing interests. One commissioner wants more bike lanes in Five Points. Another is screaming about the lack of affordable housing in the Northside. It’s messy. It’s loud. It’s democracy in a town where everyone has a PhD or a very strong opinion about indie music.
Honestly, the job is mostly about consensus. If Girtz can’t get six commissioners to agree with him, nothing happens. He’s a facilitator. He spent years as a teacher and a school administrator before this, and you can see that in how he handles meetings. He’s calm. Some say too calm. Critics think he needs to be more aggressive, especially when dealing with the state legislature in Atlanta.
The Shadow of the State Capitol
Athens often feels like an island. The Georgia General Assembly frequently passes laws that feel specifically targeted at liberal enclaves like Athens. Whether it's gun laws or immigration policy, the Mayor of Athens GA is often caught between local progressive activists and a state government that is happy to strip away local control.
Remember the 2024 controversy? The tragic death of Laken Riley on the UGA campus put Athens in the national spotlight. Suddenly, Kelly Girtz wasn't just a local mayor; he was on CNN and Fox News. He was being grilled about "Sanctuary City" designations—a term that is legally fuzzy but politically explosive.
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Girtz pointed out that Georgia law actually prohibits sanctuary cities. He stood his ground. But the pressure was immense. Protesters showed up at City Hall. Some were local, some were definitely not. It showed the world that being the mayor here isn't just about zoning permits. It’s about being a lightning rod for the entire country’s culture wars.
Housing, Poverty, and the "Town and Gown" Divide
If you ask a local what the biggest problem is, they won't say "national politics." They’ll say "rent."
Athens has one of the highest poverty rates in the country for a city of its size. That’s a heavy stat. It’s skewed a bit by the massive student population who "earn" zero dollars, but the underlying reality for permanent residents is tough. The Mayor of Athens GA has to deal with the fact that luxury student apartments are popping up everywhere while long-time residents are being priced out of their neighborhoods.
Girtz has pushed for more inclusionary zoning. He’s talked a lot about the "Linneantown" project—a historic recognition of a Black neighborhood that was destroyed to build UGA dorms decades ago. It’s about restorative justice. But talk is cheap, and construction is expensive.
- Eviction Prevention: The city put money into legal aid for renters.
- Public Transit: Athens has tried to keep the bus system free, which is a huge deal for low-income workers.
- The Encampment Issue: Like every growing city, Athens has a visible homeless population. Girtz backed a "sanctioned" encampment for a while, which was controversial. Some saw it as a humane temporary fix; others saw it as a disaster.
It’s easy to complain about the mayor when you see a tent in a park. It’s harder to find the $20 million needed to build permanent supportive housing. Girtz is basically trying to fix a leaking ship with a handful of corks and a lot of optimistic rhetoric.
The Economic Engine
It’s not all gloom. Athens is growing. The biotech scene is actually pretty legit. Meissner Corporation announced a massive expansion here recently. That’s hundreds of high-paying jobs. The Mayor of Athens GA plays a big role in these negotiations. They have to sell the "Athens vibe" to CEOs while making sure the city’s infrastructure can handle the influx of people.
We aren't just a college town anymore. We’re a regional hub. People from Oconee, Madison, and Jackson counties all flow into Athens for healthcare and jobs. The Mayor has to manage a city that effectively doubles in size every workday morning.
Why the 2022 Election Mattered
Girtz won re-election in 2022 with a massive majority. Like, over 60% of the vote. That tells you something. Despite the noise on Twitter (or X, whatever), the average voter in Athens seems to like his steady hand. He beat out Mara Zúñiga and Mykeisha Ross.
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The campaign was a bit of a proxy war. Zúñiga represented a more conservative, "law and order" approach. Girtz stuck to his "progress for all" platform. The fact that he won so handily gave him a mandate, but it also put a target on his back for the next four years.
People expect results.
In a town where everyone thinks they are the smartest person in the room, being the Mayor of Athens GA is a thankless task. You’re never progressive enough for the activists and you’re way too radical for the folks out in the rural parts of the county.
A Quick Look at the Numbers (No Tables Needed)
The mayor earns a salary of around $75,000. It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme. For a job that requires 60-hour weeks and constant public scrutiny, that’s almost public service in the literal sense. The city budget he oversees is north of $150 million for the general fund alone. Total expenditures, including all the bells and whistles of a unified government, can hit closer to $300 million depending on capital projects.
He oversees about 1,700 employees. From the police department to the folks who fix the water mains under Prince Avenue. It’s a lot of moving parts.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Mayor
Most people think the Mayor of Athens GA can just fix the police department or fire a bad cop. He can't. Not directly. Because of the "Manager" system, the Police Chief reports to the Manager, not the Mayor. Girtz can influence the budget and the "vibe," but he doesn't have a direct line to every officer on the street.
Also, the "Sanctuary City" thing? Purely a talking point. Georgia state law (specifically OCGA 36-33-1.3) effectively banned sanctuary policies back in 2009. The Mayor has to follow state law, or the city loses its state funding. Girtz has to walk a tightrope: expressing compassion for immigrant communities while following the strict mandates handed down from the Gold Dome in Atlanta.
It’s a frustrating spot to be in.
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Looking Ahead to 2026 and Beyond
Kelly Girtz is in his second term. In Athens, you can't just stay forever. The focus now is on his legacy. Will it be the "Classic Center" expansion? The new arena is a massive deal for the local economy. It’s going to bring in huge concerts and events that used to skip Athens for Atlanta or Greenville.
But will that help the guy living in a trailer on Danielsville Road? That’s the question that haunts every Mayor of Athens GA.
Actionable Insights for Athens Residents
If you want to actually influence what happens in this town, don't just tweet at the Mayor. Here is how the system actually responds to you.
1. Show up to the Agenda Setting Sessions. The real work doesn't happen at the televised Tuesday night meetings. It happens at the work sessions a week prior. This is where the Mayor and Commission actually debate the details. If you show up here, they’ll notice.
2. Focus on your District Commissioner. The Mayor of Athens GA only has one vote. There are ten commissioners. Find out who represents your specific slice of the pie. If you live in District 2, talk to Jason Edwards. If you're in District 6, talk to Jesse Houle. They are much more likely to return your email than the Mayor is.
3. Use the ACCGov App. Want a pothole fixed? Don't call the Mayor's office. Use the "myAthens" app. It creates a digital paper trail that the city staff has to respond to. It’s way more effective than a complaint on a Facebook group.
4. Watch the SPLOST projects. The Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax is where the real money is. This is how we pay for big things like the Firefly Trail or new parks. The Mayor proposes the list, but the voters approve it. Stay informed on what's on the next ballot. That’s your money.
Athens is a beautiful, chaotic, frustrating, and brilliant place. The person who sits in the Mayor’s office has to be part politician, part therapist, and part cheerleader. Whether you love Girtz or can't stand him, you have to admit: it’s one of the hardest jobs in Georgia.
The city is changing fast. The next few years will decide if Athens remains a place where artists and townies can afford to live, or if it just becomes another expensive suburb of Atlanta with a really nice football stadium. The Mayor of Athens GA is right at the center of that fight. Keep your eyes on City Hall. The drama is just getting started.