2026 Georgia Primary Runoff

Democrat

Nonpartisan

Republican

Dexter Fisher is from Athens, Georgia. He has a bachelor 27s degree in social work from Mars Hill University and a master 27s degree in business administration from Piedmont College. He and his wife, Audrey, have three adult children and five grandchildren.

District 5 - Dexter Fisher

Dexter Fisher earned a bachelor's degree in social work from Mars Hill University and a master's degree in business administration with a concentration in leadership and finance from Piedmont College. He attends Ebenezer Baptist Church-West, where he serves on the Deacon Board. 

Dexter is an education administrator. He spent 33 years in education administration, most recently serving as chief of district services for the Clarke County School District. Before that, he worked for 31 years at the University of Georgia, retiring in 2019 as director of facilities management. 

LinkedIn

Dexter serves as the chief operating officer of Clark County School District and as director of facilities management at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. 

Dexter is currently a commissioner representing District 5 on the Athens-Clarke County Commission.

Dexter is currently a commissioner representing District 5 and serves as mayor pro tem on the Athens-Clarke County Commission. He was first elected in 2022 and is serving his first term. 

As a city commissioner, voted to lower the millage rate for two years to provide tax relief while maintaining critical services.

Supports balancing the budget without raising taxes.

Wants to balance the budget without raising taxes.

- As a city commissioner, voted to lower the millage rate for two years to provide tax relief while maintaining critical services.
- Wants to balance the budget without raising taxes.

Economy

Led the initiative to invest $3.8 million in youth development and gang prevention through the Boys and Girls Club.

- Led the initiative to invest $3.8 million in youth development and gang prevention through the Boys and Girls Club.

Public Services

As of May 22, 2026, Dexter L Fisher’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports funding the Real Time Crime Center, which uses live camera feeds to enhance safety for residents and officers.

Supports equal pay for Deputy Sheriffs and Athens-Clarke County Police Officers.

- Supports funding the Real Time Crime Center, which uses live camera feeds to enhance safety for residents and officers.
- Supports equal pay for Deputy Sheriffs and Athens-Clarke County Police Officers.

Public Safety

As a city council member, voted to approve $2.4 million to launch a program supporting local nonprofits serving young people and job seekers.

- As a city council member, voted to approve $2.4 million to launch a program supporting local nonprofits serving young people and job seekers.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

Dexter L Fisher

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Tim Denson earned his associate's degree from Florida SouthWestern State College. He lives with his family in Athens, Georgia. 

Tim currently works with individuals facing behavioral health crises and helps house those who are facing homelessness. He has also worked as a labor organizer for United Campus Workers of Georgia (CWA Local 3821), as organization coordinator of Athens for Everyone, and has more than a decade of experience in the service industry.

Tim currently works as a team lead at Advantage Behavioral Health Systems. He previously worked as a labor organizer with United Campus Workers-Georgia and as an organization coordinator at Athens for Everyone. 

Tim previously served as an Athens-Clarke County Commissioner from 2019 to 2022. He is currently a member of the Clarke County School Board.

Tim currently serves as a member of the Clarke County, Georgia, School Board, representing District 5. he was first elected in 2022 and is serving his first term. He previously served as a member of the Athens-Clarke County Commission, representing District 5. He served one term from 2019 to 2023. 

Supports using public economic incentives to create living wage and union jobs.

Supports implementing purchasing policy changes to assist Black, women, and minority-owned businesses in securing government contracts.

- Supports using public economic incentives to create living wage and union jobs.
- Supports implementing purchasing policy changes to assist Black, women, and minority-owned businesses in securing government contracts.

Supports maintaining and improving green spaces, parks, and trails, including developing a Westside Park.

Supports the sale of special ACCGOV-permitted cups to generate revenue for downtown safety, infrastructure, and events.

Supports the sale of special open container cups to generate revenue for downtown safety, infrastructure, and events.

Supports increasing public funding for local music, art, and cultural events.

Supports creating a Childcare Affordability Program to ensure low-income families can access childcare.

- Supports maintaining and improving green spaces, parks, and trails, including developing a Westside Park.
- Supports the sale of special open container cups to generate revenue for downtown safety, infrastructure, and events.
- Supports increasing public funding for local music, art, and cultural events.
- Supports creating a Childcare Affordability Program to ensure low-income families can access childcare.

Supports the creation of affordable housing through the Affordable Housing Fund, Land Bank Authority, and expanded inclusionary housing policies.

Prioritizes the creation of affordable housing through the Affordable Housing Fund, Land Bank Authority, and expanded inclusionary housing policies.

Supports adapting zoning policies to allow diverse housing options like duplexes, cottage courts, tiny homes, and in-law suites.

Calls for the adaptation of zoning policies to allow diverse housing options like duplexes, cottage courts, tiny homes, and in-law suites.

Supports funding eviction prevention programs to help families stay in their homes.

Advocates for funding eviction prevention programs to help families stay in their homes.

Supports creating a "Tangled Title Fund" to assist low-income individuals in clearing legal titles to their homes.

Supports helping seniors maintain their homes by expanding home rehabilitation programs.

Supports helping homeowners lower property taxes by enrolling in homestead exemptions, including new and low-income exemptions he authored legislation for.

Aims to help homeowners lower property taxes by enrolling in homestead exemptions, including new and low-income exemptions he authored legislation for.

Supports reducing chronic homelessness by 50% by 2035 by implementing "housing first" and supportive housing models.

- Prioritizes the creation of affordable housing through the Affordable Housing Fund, Land Bank Authority, and expanded inclusionary housing policies.
- Calls for the adaptation of zoning policies to allow diverse housing options like duplexes, cottage courts, tiny homes, and in-law suites.
- Advocates for funding eviction prevention programs to help families stay in their homes.
- Supports creating a "Tangled Title Fund" to assist low-income individuals in clearing legal titles to their homes.
- Supports helping seniors maintain their homes by expanding home rehabilitation programs.
- Aims to help homeowners lower property taxes by enrolling in homestead exemptions, including new and low-income exemptions he authored legislation for.
- Supports reducing chronic homelessness by 50% by 2035 by implementing "housing first" and supportive housing models.

Supports providing mental health resources, sobriety resources, and harm-reducing resources to eliminate barriers to housing, health, and safety.

Prioritizes providing mental health resources, sobriety resources, and harm-reducing resources to eliminate barriers to housing, health, and safety.

Supports and wants to expand co-responder units and community policing initiatives.

Supports working with the sheriff to reduce the inmate population, ensure safety in jails and courthouses, and end cooperation with for-profit prison companies.

Aims to work with the sheriff to reduce the inmate population, ensure safety in jails and courthouses, and end cooperation with for-profit prison companies.

Supports the Public Safety Civilian Oversight Board.

Supports protecting residents from "unlawful activity of ICE & other federal entities."

Advocates for the protection of residents from "unlawful activity of ICE & other federal entities."

Supports local marijuana decriminalization.

Supports reforming cash bail legislation.

Prioritizes reforming cash bail legislation.

- Prioritizes providing mental health resources, sobriety resources, and harm-reducing resources to eliminate barriers to housing, health, and safety.
- Supports and wants to expand co-responder units and community policing initiatives.
- Aims to work with the sheriff to reduce the inmate population, ensure safety in jails and courthouses, and end cooperation with for-profit prison companies.
- Supports the Public Safety Civilian Oversight Board.
- Advocates for the protection of residents from "unlawful activity of ICE & other federal entities."
- Supports local marijuana decriminalization.
- Prioritizes reforming cash bail legislation.

Supports zero-fare public transit for Athens-Clarke County.

Supports the development of commuter rail between Athens and Atlanta.

Calls for the development of commuter rail between Athens and Atlanta.

Supports ensuring safe routes to all public schools and parks in Athens.

- Supports zero-fare public transit for Athens-Clarke County.
- Calls for the development of commuter rail between Athens and Atlanta.
- Supports ensuring safe routes to all public schools and parks in Athens.

Supports continuing "100% Athens Resilience & Sustainability Initiatives."

Prioritizes continuing "100% Athens Resilience & Sustainability Initiatives."

- Prioritizes continuing "100% Athens Resilience & Sustainability Initiatives."

Instagram

Facebook

Tim Denson

- 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. 

Athens Mayor Runoff

Election results

Candidates (2)