Mara Zuñiga is from Brooklyn, New York. She studied electrical engineering at Stony Brook University and history at the University of Georgia. She and her husband have two children and live in Athens.

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Mara currently manages InkaMaya Farms, a sustainable, family-operated cattle farm. She has also served as chief financial officer for Green Source Environmental and worked as a home loan advisor and consultant for the PRG Group and Countrywide. Before that, she worked in the Department of Labor.

Businesswoman Mara Zuniga announces intent to run for Athens-Clarke County mayor

Mara Zúñiga enters mayoral race in Athens

2022 Candidate Mara Zuniga Enters the 2026 Athens Mayor’s Race

Mara previously ran for mayor of Athens in 2022 but did not win. She is a former treasurer of the Athens-Clarke County Republican Party.

Mara Zúñiga

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."

Aims to bring good-paying jobs to Athens.

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

Plans to hire local residents rather than outsourcing jobs and to create additional job opportunities for Clark County School District graduates.

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

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.

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

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

Supports local tourism, which facilitates economic growth to local businesses.

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

Will require spending accountability from nonprofits that receive government funds.

Plans to "support small business over corporate dominance downtown."

Thinks the local government spends money "frivolously" and says she will "prioritize financial accountability."

- Aims to bring good-paying jobs to Athens.
- Plans to hire local residents rather than outsourcing jobs and to create additional job opportunities for Clark County School District graduates.
- 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 promote entrepreneurship.
- Supports local tourism, which facilitates economic growth to local businesses.
- Will require spending accountability from nonprofits that receive government funds.
- Plans to "support small business over corporate dominance downtown."
- Thinks the local government spends money "frivolously" and says she will "prioritize financial accountability."

Economy

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

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

Public Services

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

Plans to increase housing affordability and prevent gentrification by changing the zoning code and creating infill housing options where the necessary infrastructure already exists.

- Believes Athens has a "severe affordability crisis" with rising costs and local displacement due to "unmanaged growth."
- Plans to increase housing affordability and prevent gentrification by changing the zoning code and creating infill housing options where the necessary infrastructure already exists.

Housing & Urban Development

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Athens on the Ballot: Q&A with Mara Zúñiga, candidate for Athens mayor

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

Supports providing "adequate resources" to 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.

Wants to address the city's opioid death rate, which is higher than the state average, by collaborating with local non-profits.

Plans to address sex-trafficking and organized crime.

Will be "unyielding" against sex trafficking and organized crime.

Believes that Athens must enforce immigration laws because it is not a sanctuary city and criticizes "misinformation" about immigration enforcement that "is making people fearful to report crime in their communities."

- Supports providing "adequate resources" to law enforcement and corrections to ensure officer safety.
- Wants to address the city's opioid death rate, which is higher than the state average, by collaborating with local non-profits.
- Will be "unyielding" against sex trafficking and organized crime.
- Believes that Athens must enforce immigration laws because it is not a sanctuary city and criticizes "misinformation" about immigration enforcement that "is making people fearful to report crime in their communities."

Public Safety

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.

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

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

Transportation & Infrastructure

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.

- 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.

Energy & the Environment

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Mara Zuñiga

Mara Zuniga

- 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. 