Photo by Tommy Valentine
For Immediate Release:
Written By Richard Banton
AADM PR
Athens- Clarke County mayoral candidates share ideas, platforms at 2018 forum Athens, Ga – The 2018 Mayoral Forum, held at the Athens-Clarke County Library auditorium, on Monday night was the first time that all three mayoral candidates shared the stage to address their stances on various community concerns. Moderated by Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement President Mokah Johnson and VP Knowa Johnson, each candidate was given one minute to answer a series of ten questions pulled from local activist organizations or community groups.
In front of a large crowd of more than 150 people, Richie Knight, Kelly Girtz and Harry Sims offered brief introductions before Johnson started questioning. One main focus during the discussion centered on more job opportunities. All three echoed a similar sentiment that Athens struggles to attract industry that also pays workers fairly. Knight and Girtz both emphasized the need to pressure business leaders for higher wages. “If employers are coming to us and asking for incentives, then we have to make sure we’re saying “we expect you to pay your people a living wage,” Girtz said. On the creation of a civil rights committee, all three candidates agreed it was a good solution.
Knight said he wanted to see a committee with the power to investigate complaints and prosecute violators. Girtz mentioned the creation of an Ombudsman position that could connect victims to legal and other resources while Sims backed a committee with the hope it was not just symbolic.
Thornier issues of undocumented status and Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention elicited vocal audience response. Girtz blasted ICE detainers as unconstitutional. The two other candidates expressed less opposition. Knight said that Sheriff Ira Edwards should proceed with caution in his cooperation with ICE to detain immigrants. Sims said he’s unaware of any illegal activity involved in ICE detention and supported the sheriff in following his oath of office. However, a shared sympathy for undocumented immigrants was clear. Sims was adamant that we should not deport longtime residents regardless of status, especially those that accept the
jobs that citizens are not willing to perform. Knight felt that ICE should consider the separation of families during the deportation process. Girtz went further and suggested that he was open to providing undocumented Athenians with drivers licenses and identification cards.
On the issue of marijuana decriminalization, Knight and Girtz looked to Atlanta and Savannah’s recent efforts that have reduced the penalty for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana to a small fine and no jail time as a model for future policy change. Sims stopped short of disapproval. “It’s the choices you make. Most of the people that get caught with this [marijuana] are out in public,” Sims said.
Sims cautioned the audience on the limited jurisdiction of any ordinance passed by the commission since it would only apply to Athens-Clarke County Police and not other law enforcement agencies. After the discussion panel, the three candidates answered audience questions selected by two designated moderators, including those on issues of racial profiling and gun violence, before the event concluded.
Elections for Athens-Clarke County and other statewide offices will be held on May 22. For video of the AADM 2018 Mayoral Forum or more information about our upcoming events, please visit aadmovement.org.
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