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rm± city dope Step Right Up QUALIFYING TO RUN FOR OFFICE IS THIS WEEK, AND MORE LOCAL NEWS By Blake Aued news@flagpole.com People love to complain about their elected officials (and often not without good rea son). Think you can do better? Now’s the time to put your money where your mouth is—literally. The week of Mar. 2-6 is when candi dates qualify to run for a host of local, state and federal offices, including even-num bered seats on the Athens-Clarke County Commission and Clarke County Board of Education, every seat in the Georgia General Assembly and U.S. House of Representatives, sheriff, several judgeships and two U.S. Senate seats. Last week, two sitting ACC commission ers—Allison Wright in District 4 and Jerry NeSmith in District 6—announced they’re running for re-election. Wright, a medical illustrator, has rep resented part of the Five Points area since 2013. She takes partial credit for a number of initiatives during those seven-plus years, including fare-free transit for children, seniors and the disabled; affordable hous ing; police body cameras; and addressing discrimination at downtown bars. She said she wants to continue to expand transit, provide training on discrimination and sex ual assault to bar employees, and address poverty and the aging population. “Experience matters as you look where Athens is locally and nationally and the huge projects we have underway,” she said. “From my work on public health and safety and community policing programming, to the beautification of our city, and tackling discrimination, my record is strong. My vision for the future includes partnerships and cooperation.” Wright will be opposed by Michael Stapor, a 22-year- old University of Georgia graduate. “I made the deci sion to run after seeing my district in danger of succumbing to growing pains, a commissioner that was out of touch with her constituents and an opportunity to push progressive change at a very important level of local politics,” Stapor told Flagpole last week. NeSmith, who represents and advo cates for the Atlanta Highway area mostly outside the Loop, has also held office since 2013. NeSmith called for lowering ACC’s property tax rate and giving preference to locally owned businesses in procurement, especially for the 11-year, $300 million SPLOST 2020. “The Sixth District has become more economically stable,” he said in a news release. “We are at the threshold of a renewed Sixth District that is ripe for com mercial redevelopment. Neighborhoods in District 6 remain very healthy, overall, with active citizen participation in business/ neighborhood issues, county activities and policy-making. “I will continue to facilitate creating collaborative alliances among business and neighborhood leaders—coalitions that inform my actions and speak with a unified voice,” he said. The retired UGA information technol ogy director is a former ACC planning commissioner and helped start the Athens Farmers Market. He serves on the board of Advantage Behavioral Health Systems, is active on the Ben Epps Airport Authority and Oconee Rivers Greenway Commission, and is a member of the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement. His son, Jason, performs in the bands Casper and the Cookies and the Pylon Re-enactment Society. Like Wright, NeSmith ran unopposed in 2016, but this year he’ll face progressive activist Jesse Houle in the May 19 nonpar tisan election. District 8 Commissioner Andy Herold is running for a fourth full term, setting up a three-way race among retired educator and transportation advocate Carol Myers, lawyer Kamau Hull and couples therapist Andrea Farnham on the Eastside. Other than District 8 representative John Knox, who said in December that he won’t run again, school board members had been silent on their plans as of press time. Grant Could Lure Airline to Athens Athens-Clarke County has received a $750,000 U.S. Department of Transportation grant to help bring commer cial air service to Athens Ben Epps Airport. An airline hasn’t flown out of Ben Epps since 2014, when Congress cut the Essential Air Service subsidy for small airports. County officials are currently negotiating with American Airlines to fly 50-passen ger jets twice a day between Athens and Charlotte, according to Commissioner Jerry NeSmith, who serves on the Airport Authority. ACC is also offering other incen tives, such as no landing fees for the first year. “I’m confident we can convince them to do this,” NeSmith said. In addition, the county recently extended the runway to accommodate fully fueled 737s and used SPLOST funds to build a new commercial terminal that opened in 2017. It’s currently being used for general aviation, such as charter jets. “The new terminal is a beautiful building that will provide a first class experience to anyone that comes through it and will accommodate any airline or airlines very comfortably that decide they want to do business at the Athens-Ben Epps Airport,” airport director Mike Mathews said in a news release. Other SPLOST and T-SPLOST funds are also available for airport improvements and matching state and federal grants. Experience matters as you look where Athens is locally and nationally and the huge projects we have underway. UGA Presents George Hinchliffe’s Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain THURS MAR 19, 7:30 PM Hodgson Concert Hall These eight virtuosos have toured the globe since 1985 with a trunk full of tunes, a uniquely British sense of humor, and a toe tapping performance that no one can ever resist. Don't even try! 232 W. HANCOCK AVENUE ATHENS, GA THENATIONALRESTAURANT.COM (706) 549-3450 SERVING LUNCH MONDAY - SATURDAY & DINNER DAILY BROUGHT TO YOU BY YOUR FAVORITE CHEF ,R DALE WINNER 4 FLAGPOLE.COM | MARCH 4, 2020