State Senate

District 46:
Haines
Kemp

District 1:
Carter
Garland

District 3:
Maxwell
Robinson

District 5:
Logan
Lynn

District 7:
Bushnell
Hoard
Vaughan

District 9:
Chasteen

Mayor:
Davison

Friends of Five Points Candidate Survey

(Note: the information on this page is provided by Friends of Five Points, and was not compiled by Athens Grow Green Coalition, Inc.)

Here are the results of our FOFP Questionnaire to Athens-Clarke County Commission and Mayoral candidates. The Questionnaire was sent to all 18 candidates by certified mail, with a self-addressed stamped envelope included. Eleven candidates responded. Those who did not were Bushnell, Chasteen, Clark, Eldridge, Logan, Redman, and Smith. Chasteen, Eldridge and Logan are incumbents. We asked 6 questions, each with a YES/NO choice, and a query for elaboration. The responses to the YES/NO choices appear below. View the candidates' written responses (PDF). Several candidates wrote very thoughtful comments. I strongly encourage you to read them, particularly those of Davison, Hoard, Lynn and Ponsoldt, who show considerable knowledge of neighborhood issues.

We gave each candidate a total score based on the sum of YES/NO responses consistent with FOFP's position (NO on the first question, YES on the others). In some cases a few candidates did not give a YES or NO response; but if they responded with a "maybe" and their comments indicated support for the proposal named in the question, we assigned them a YES. We excluded question 5 (querying candidates about familiarity with two of our reports) because though the documents were sent to incumbents many weeks ago, not all the challengers had the opportunity to see them. Finally, for incumbents, there were two parts to question 6, and only one for challengers. We included only the response to the part shared by incumbent and challenger. The answer to the (excluded) part for each incumbent is in the public record.

The highest possible total score is 5. CANDIDATES DAVISON, HOARD, KRASLE, LYNN AND PONSOLDT EARNED THE HIGHEST SCORE.

Though the candidates differed in overall scores and more so in their comments, the findings show overwhelming support for the proposals outlined in the questions: registration of rental property; permanent town-gown relationship, special court for neighborhood ordinance violations, and a pay raise for police. Moreover, the candidates all agreed that the Athens-Clarke County policy to "educate" violators of neighborhood ordinances instead of enforcing the ordinances fails to deter violations.

Questions summarized below; view the complete questionnaire (PDF)

1. Does ACC "warning" policy deter violations?
2. Do you support registration of rental property?
3. Do you support a permanent town-gown relationship?
4. Do you support a special court for neighborhood ordinance violations?
5. Have you read/viewed the FOFP report "Decline of Neighborhoods" and photo portfolio? (Excluded from results.)
6. Do you support a pay raise for police?