2026 Georgia Primary Election

Democrat

Nonpartisan

Republican

2026 Georgia Primary Runoff

Fred Smith Sr's career in making a difference

Fred smith, sr. named eadc's executive director

Fred Smith Sr. is originally from Oconee County, Georgia. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Paine College and a master’s degree in journalism and mass communications from the University of Georgia. Fred is a co-founder of the Athens Area Black History Bowl and has served on the board of the Athens Historical Society. Fred also previously served as the local branch president of The National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

This is Fred's first time running for public office. 

Fred currently serves as executive director of the East Athens Development Corporation, a role he assumed after previously serving as interim executive director. Fred has previously worked as district director, regional representative in the Labor Department’s Career Development Division, regional administrator and head of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs’ Family Self-Sufficiency Program in Atlanta.

Advocates for increased institutional commitment and resources to improve academic outcomes for African American students.

- Advocates for increased institutional commitment and resources to improve academic outcomes for African American students.

Access to Education

As of March 11, 2026, Fred O Smith Sr. did not have a website or any information online.

School Curriculum

Supports expanding structured youth programs and activities as a means of improving student outcomes.

- Supports expanding structured youth programs and activities as a means of improving student outcomes.

School Facilities & Resources

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Fred O Smith Sr.

Isaac Brickman

Pavel Tantchev

Walter Ley

Heather is from South Georgia. She attended the University of Georgia. She has a Bachelor of Arts in journalism, a second Bachelor of Arts, and a Master of Arts, all from the University of Georgia.

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Heather Fletcher Real Estate

Heather M. Fletcher is originally from South Georgia. She earned a bachelor's degree in journalism and a bachelor's degree in Spanish from the University of Georgia, as well as a master's degree in Spanish from the University of Georgia. She lives in Athens, Georgia.

Heather currently owns and operates H.M. Fletcher Real Estate, an independent real estate brokerage she founded in Athens. She also serves as a Spanish instructor in the Department of Romance Languages at the University of Georgia. She previously worked as a realtor at Keller Williams Greater Athens, and prior to that she taught Spanish at Cedar Shoals High School in the Clarke County School District. 

Heather's campaign for the Clarke County Board of Education to represent District 5 is her first run for public office.


Supports the Career Ready Program, which connects students with local businesses and tradespeople through a Career Speaker Series and a Career Mentoring Program.

- Supports the Career Ready Program, which connects students with local businesses and tradespeople through a Career Speaker Series and a Career Mentoring Program.

Supports the expansion of literacy mentorship programs, citing a 337% increase in reading achievement, and plans to continue volunteering and enhancing such initiatives in the district.

Advocates for the expansion of literacy mentorship programs.

- Advocates for the expansion of literacy mentorship programs.

Plans to allocate funds to purchase Yondr pouches, which are pouches that lock up cell phones, for all middle and high school students.

- Plans to allocate funds to purchase Yondr pouches, which are pouches that lock up cell phones, for all middle and high school students.

Supports restricting smartphone use in middle and high schools.

- Supports restricting smartphone use in middle and high schools.

As of March 11, 2026, Heather Melissa Fletcher’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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Heather Melissa Fletcher

Heather Melissa Fletcher is from South Georgia. She has a bachelor s degree in journalism from the University of Georgia, a bachelor s degree in Spanish from the University of Georgia, and a master s degree in Spanish from the University of Georgia. She is a literacy mentor at Stroud Elementary School and owns a local nonprofit dance organization called TIMBAthens.

Heather is a real estate agent. Before entering the real estate profession, she worked in the food and beverage industry for fourteen years, followed by four years as a Spanish teacher at Cedar Shoals High School. She also owns and operates the local nonprofit dance organization TIMBAthens.

Heather previously served on the Cedar Shoals High School Local School Governance Team from 2022 to 2024 and on the Athens-Clarke County Historic Preservation Commission from 2018 to 2024.

Buket Urgen

- The Board of Education runs the public school system. The Board of Education is entirely independent from the rest of the county government.
- Board of Education members work together to make school policy, set the budget, and appoint the superintendent to run the schools day to day.
- Board of Education members are elected to four-year terms in nonpartisan elections.

Part of the board that governs your county's public school system

Clarke County Board of Education Member, District 5

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