Nancy Denson

Age: 74

Occupation: Mayor

Party: Democrat

Address: 420 Forest Heights Dr.

Phone: 706-338-0725

Email: [email protected]

Website: nancydensonformayor.com

Athens-Clarke County has one of the highest poverty rates in the nation. What should the local government be doing to alleviate poverty?

Our poverty rate in Athens has been too high for too many years. One person in poverty is unacceptable. Education and jobs are the only two known cures to curb poverty.  That's why my focus as mayor has been on job creation.  My vision is that anyone in Athens who wants a job has a job. While our unemployment rate has dropped from 8.1 percent to 5.1 percent since my taking office, I will continue to fight for jobs for our community.  I will also continue to work with our non-profit community partners to address poverty’s ill effects by making sure there is access to affordable housing (a study initiated by our Land Bank Authority will help us determine how to best meet those needs), that health care options are made known, and that job training opportunities are made available.

Downtown development has been a major issue the past few years. Is this a good trend for Athens, and if not, how can we curb it and/or encourage development other than student apartments?

Downtown Athens is a major economic engine for our community. Years ago, during the land use planning process it was decided that an in town density would help create the mixed use that our community desires, help with our transportation efforts and allow a green belt at the edge of the county. Having people living downtown will create demand for services bringing business, such as a grocery store and more retail, and help sustain a vibrant downtown. The Downtown Development Authority is looking at ways to encourage a broader use of downtown such as: helping secure financing for businesses (like what we did for Creature Comforts with the Georgia Cities Foundation), finding ways to make high-speed internet accessible for all of downtown, creating opportunities for office development so that we have a viable workforce to help support downtown ventures, attracting people to downtown by supporting new community events and determining incentives that can be offered to retail and office ventures.

Do you support expanding Athens Transit service, reducing fares and/or exploring a merger with the UGA bus system? If so, how would you pay for it?

The upcoming transit study should provide us with solid data to move forward on improving our Athens Transit service. I’m grateful that UGA is participating in this study and am hoping that we can find ways to make Athens Transit more convenient for people to use and more sustainable for years to come.

Athens is often pigeonholed as "business unfriendly." Do you support easing restrictions on businesses? If so, which ones?

Over the last three and a half years, the conversation has changed in Athens. Companies like Caterpillar and Ethicon chose us, existing industry is hiring, and our small businesses are expanding. Yet, we have more work to do. A commission committee is working on implementing the Economic Development Task Force recommendations. I’m hopeful that this year we will find a way to support an ombudsman to assist existing small businesses looking to grow and those looking to become a part of Athens, guide them through our planning and building process.

Are you in favor of the Complete Streets: Prince Avenue lane reconfiguration demonstration project? Why or why not?

I am extremely interested in improving pedestrian and bike safety on Prince Avenue, which is why I have scheduled a work session on June 10 to discuss this issue in great detail. The demonstration project is of great interest, but we must first examine the facts. I have not killed the project, but on the contrary, am very excited to look at ways of improving one of my favorite streets that I travel daily. I want us all to feel safer as we walk or bike along Prince Avenue.

The Eastside is lagging behind downtown and the Westside in terms of growth. What would you do to encourage investment in the Eastside?

The Eastside is a very important part of Athens. It is made up of dynamic neighborhoods, vibrant businesses, parks, our airport, and the new UGA veterinary teaching hospital. It is also an important gateway into Athens. As part of our budget goals for fiscal year 2015, I will be putting together an Eastside Corridor Committee, similar to the Atlanta Highway Committee, to look for ways to improve transportation, business opportunities, and aesthetics along the corridor.  I’m hoping this committee will identify areas eligible for the Opportunity Zone designation (such as the one we established at Willowood), and incentivize an effort to establish a corridor business association, identify transportation needed improvements and help maintain a strong neighborhood protection program.

What other issues concern you?

I want to make sure that we have an Athens economy that has job and entrepreneurial opportunities for everyone—for the recent high school graduate, the recent college graduate, the retiree still wanting to work, the person needing work, the person trying to figure out their next step and the artist who has a passion to make a living doing what they love.