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Athens News Matters: December 13th, 2025

Today on Athens News Matters, we’ll hear from Rick Stanziale, a political newcomer running for commissioner in District 5. We'll also hear from one of his opponents, Zander Mason.

Rick Stanziale, District 5 Commissioner candidate, presents his platform

As current District 5 Commissioner Dexter Fisher runs to be the next mayor of Athens-Clarke County, his seat is up for grabs. Several political newcomers have emerged in the race. Rick Stanziale is a skateboarder, musician, and real estate developer running for the seat. He sat down with WUGA’s Emma Auer to discuss his platform—and what he calls Athens’ affordability crisis.

Stanziale is also running against Zander Mason and Kimberly Bennett.

District 5 Commissioner candidate Zander Mason on his priorities

Zander Mason is an Athens-native, financial advisor, and University of Georgia graduate running for the District 5 Commissioner seat in Athens-Clarke County. He joined WUGA’s Emma Auer to discuss his priorities, including youth development.

Mason is running against Rick Stanziale and Kimberly Bennett.

Emma Auer is an award-winning reporter who joined WUGA as a full-time producer in 2024. She is also a graduate student in UGA's Romance Languages Department, studying French and Spanish. She covers the breadth of Northeast Georgia stories, from Athens City Hall to Winterville farmers' markets. Emma's work has also been heard on Georgia Public Broadcasting.