Girtz Centers Mayoral Campaign on Poverty

Athens-Clarke County Commission Kelly Girtz—the likely frontrunner in the May mayor’s race—called for “a broader, stronger and more inclusive foundation in our community” in a speech to Athens Democrats last week. Athens has “fantastic” employers and innovators, nonprofits, educational institutions, artists and musicians, Girtz said, but there are “cracks and fissures” in that foundation, he said. “Now is the time for us to turn the corner, and I’m here to tell you, if you’re looking for a candidate who’s going to put on some new window dressing, this is not that candidate,” he said. Girtz emphasized Athens’ persistent poverty, dating back t…