Athens Mayoral candidate LaKeisha Gantt held a listening session Sunday afternoon where she heard concerns from the community and presented her platform.
Dr. LaKeisha Gantt held a small listening session at Upper Cutz barber shop in West Athens on Sunday. She heard from members of the community, who expressed concern about mental health awareness, rising housing costs, and gentrification.
Gantt proposed offering UGA a payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT, program. Moreover, she says she wants to emphasize local economic development.
“Part of helping people get by, obviously, is good wages," Gantt said, "But also those individuals that have businesses -- how do we help them? How do we help them be able to care for themselves, and give them the business that we know comes through here?”
Gantt said she believes that if elected mayor, she can improve morale and unite a majority of the commission.
“It takes skill to build a governance team. Like the Mayor and Commission, like the Board of Education," she continued, "You have to have someone that is not just principled…and bold, but also someone who knows how to work through some of the stuff that we bring to our positions. I really believe that that is me.”
Gantt currently serves on the Clarke County School District Board of Education, representing District 7.
Mayoral elections for Athens-Clarke County will be held in May 2026.
