Redistricting a misrepresented Athens
Oct. 15, 2021 — America’s eye may be on the newly purple Georgia after 2020 elections, but for Democrats in Athens, the fight for representation is far from over.
“A basic need is just to be listened to,” local activist Kathy Lynne Sanderson expresses as her wish for the community.
The blue pocket in a traditionally red state experiences a unique mismatch of community values and elected officials. While the decennial statewide redistricting process is underway, progressive residents like Sanderson are watching closely to see if the Republican-controlled state legislature will redraw the lines to their benefit or detriment.
A red line indicates the split between Georgia’s Congressional Districts 9 and 10 as of 2021 in the city limits of Athens, Ga., outlined in blue. District 9 is represented by Andrew Clyde and 10 by Jody Hice, both Republicans. (Source/Fair Districts GA interactive map)
In Athens, where none of the seven combined congressional or state-level districts are considered competitive, the way lines are redrawn could still affect constituents’ representation.
Currently, the area is represented by conservatives in two of three state house districts, both state senate districts and both congressional districts the city is split between. Georgia’s 10th Congressional District, which covers most of Athens, is represented by tried-and-true Donald Trump ally Jody Hice.
“I think he’s aware of course, Athens votes like 70% Democrat, it’s progressive and liberal and it’s not his base,” Sanderson said. “So he just doesn’t listen. Everything that he does is contrary to what the Athens-Clarke County community would ask for or want.”
Sanderson added that atop her community’s frustration to be heard, because of Georgia’s deeply split and highly partisan political climate, there’s not much chance for moderate candidates to emerge and appeal to the middle ground.
“When you have these really skewed districts that aren’t competitive, then you know, the centrist politicians aren’t going to get elected,” Sanderson said. “So you’re going to have extremists on both sides, not really representing the mainstream public. And I think that’s not good for the country.”
Voters in State Districts 117 and 119 — Athens-area districts represented by Republicans Houston Gaines and Marcus Wiedower — lean right enough to be considered “safe” now. However, Vicki Krugman, local activist with organizations Indivisible Georgia 10 and Fair Districts GA, suggests shifting district lines a bit could create a real contest for both political sides and be beneficial for all.
“That would be my hope and dream, that we would have competitive districts where people really talk to both sides,” Krugman said. “We’d have people willing to compromise and talk things out rather than refusing to talk to groups, refusing to answer to constituents and only answer to those people who they know are gonna vote for them.”
The contrast between Athenians’ desires and that of their GOP state and federal leaders make it difficult for agenda items to be achieved. For example, Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz shares that the local government has not been able to enact property tax breaks for lower income families due to state-level resistance.
Athens-Clarke County mayor Kelly Girtz poses outside of city hall in downtown Athens, Ga., on Oct. 13, 2021. (Photo/Sydney Fordice)
“We’ve been seeking for two years now what’s called a floating homestead exemption for moderate and low income homeowners, so that if your income was — let’s say ballpark $40,000 or less — your property taxes wouldn’t go up,” Girtz said. “Our current representatives aren’t willing to do that for us, but that’s a perfect example of something we’ve not been able to get across the finish line that we need the State House’s help with.”
Sanderson voiced frustration with Athens’ state representatives who challenged criminal justice reform passed by city commissioners. In 2019, the ACC commission unanimously passed an ordinance to eliminate cash bail for minor offenses. Around the same time, Athens-area state senators Frank Ginn and Bill Cowsert advocated that cities not be allowed to pass such an ordinance.
“You can see our frustration, you know, that at every point not only when something gets passed by our local people, it can be overturned at the state-level by our representatives,” Krugman added.
On the federal level, Girtz pointed out Athens currently being split into two congressional districts complicates the ability for their needs to be directed. The northern part of town is mapped into U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde’s District 9 while Hice covers the rest of town in District 10.
“The residents are marginalized because there’s no common congressperson for everybody to appeal to for a local need, ” Girtz said. “If we’re at least in a single congressional district, then the community can speak with one voice to one person.”
Hice is running for Georgia’s Secretary of State seat in the 2022 midterm elections, which means District 10 will elect a new representative soon. Though voting patterns of areas surrounding Athens make them unlikely to elect a Democrat, Athenians still have hopes for whoever may arise.
“It’s time that our legislators understand in Georgia that we care, and it’s not that we elect you and you just go and do what you want,” Krugman said. “I think that’s the most important thing… that they represent our voices.”
Girtz echoed the plea for his community to be listened to.
“I hope for any representative that they’d be somebody who would be a strong listener and at least open minded to the needs of the community,” he said. “I would hope for somebody less interested in tweeting and Instagramming and somebody more interested in understanding.
Though races in Athens won’t be noteworthy for Democrats, several statewide races on the docket have Girtz’ attention with his city in mind, including gubernatorial and secretary of state. Atlanta Journal-Constitution political reporter Tia Mitchell notes that Republicans will come out swinging in 2022 to reverse gains Democrats made in 2020 elections.
“Georgia is still Georgia, and it remains to be seen whether the successes that Democrats had in 2020 in January runoffs were partially influenced by Trump bringing the ticket down,” Mitchell said. “They’re going to work really hard to duplicate that and make this a trend for Georgia, but Republicans are just as invested in making sure that what happened doesn’t happen again.”
The liberal college-town may be just one small area of the state, but their yearning and advocacy for political accountability across the board will remain strong in the 2022 elections.
Writer’s Note: I produced this story for a mutliplatform storytelling class in which I was able to explore my beat of interest. I chose local politics as Georgia is in a history-making, politically divided time, and the city of Athens is no exception to the state’s split nature. Looking at politics on a local level helps me further understand and be able to produce stories that are relevant on state and national levels.