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About Athens City Mayor
About this position
The Mayor is the chief executive officer of the municipality. They often preside over council meetings and may have the power to hire and fire heads of municipal departments.
- Office level
- City
- Election frequency
- Every 4 years
- Typical salary
- $45,000.00
- Commitment level
- Full Time
- Affiliation
- Nonpartisan
- Positions
- 1 open seat
Election type
- Partisan election (party labels appear on ballots)
- Run-off election
How to run for Athens City Mayor
- Step 1
Meet eligibility requirements
21 years old, resident of the county for at least a year and continue to live there, registered voter
- Step 2
File for office
- Filing requirements
- In order to file, candidates must present a valid photo I.D., a check or money order of $1350 made out to their respective local party or, if independent, the Georgia Secretary of State (candidates who cannot furnish the fee may have it waived by executing a pauper's affidavit), and a completed notice of candidacy and appropriate affidavit from the Georgia SoS website (http://sos.ga.gov/admin/files/Notice_of_Candidacy_and_Affidavit_(County).pdf). Candidates filing for the Republican Party are also required to complete and submit the Republican Party Oath. Candidates for Sheriff, Coroner, Tax Commissioner, Clerk of Superior Court, Judge of Probate Court, and Local Board of Education must submit an additional affidavit specific to their desired office - all of these can be found at the Georgia SoS website. Independent candidates running for partisan elections are further required to circulate a nominating petition and achieve a number of signatures equal to one quarter of one percent of the number of registered voters eligible to participate in that election in order to appear on the ballot during the general. Write-in candidates only need complete a Notice of Intention and submit it to their respective election superintendent (or the state SoS if running for a state-level position) and publish it in a newspaper or official newsletter of general circulation before the Tuesday after the first Monday in September before the election in order to be considered eligible to hold office.
- Filing period
- August 17, 2026 - August 21, 2026
- Paperwork instructions
- Submit paperwork to the Municipal Clerk's office.
- Where to file
- P.O. Box 1868 Athens, Georgia 30603
- Filing phone
- 706-613-3150
- Step 3
Launch your campaign
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