Athens Decides: Sharon Miller
Community organizer and pastor Sharon Miller desires to improve Athens’ reputation as the poorest county in Georgia.
“I want to be a mayor who facilitates lifting Athens from the narrative that it is known for being the smallest city in the state of Georgia. Nothing can be done about that stat, but to be the poorest county, I want to be a mayor to influence change, to lift our narrative so that people can see us in a better light and the quality of life for our citizens improves,” Miller said.
To accomplish her goals, she wants to increase trust in government by implementing “Mayor Miller’s listening sessions” at community meetings and spaces.
“I want to set up community hubs so that residents could have access to tell me the issues. Every resident is not going to come downtown, but I want to be a mayor that comes from my skills as clergy: relating to people, showing that we care, showing empathy and listening to them. I want our residents to know they can meet with me to have the opportunity so that we can find solutions for their concerns,” Miller said.
With experience in federal initiatives focusing on adolescence, substance abuse prevention, recidivism, mental health, public health and community organization, Miller plans to address top issues like homelessness, housing insecurity and economic growth.
“I have always had a bi-vocational career track. The duality of what I bring to the table, I think, makes me fit (for service), and a career that focuses on social services is what brings me to this platform of public service that I want to lift the human condition,” Miller said.
In addressing homelessness and housing insecurity, Miller emphasizes the importance of transparency, collaboration with developers and ensuring affordable housing for veterans, single parents and working citizens. She plans to review and potentially restrict certain development projects to ensure affordability.
“I want to present transparency to our citizens, and I would like to make sure that we are in partnership with developers, and every linkage of collaboration that the residents need is first,” Miller said. “I want to get in there and review the developers’ stronghold on all of this building. There may not be anything I can do about those that are currently building, but we may be able to restrict some things.”
In the U.S., federal housing programs such as the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV) supports about 2.3 million households nationwide, including communities like Athens. Miller believes properly managing these funds is important to expanding affordable housing opportunities. She plans to review current spending to ensure both federal and local resources are being used effectively.
“I want to make sure that those funds are allocated and not misappropriated to the right place for the fulfillment of the development of housing,” Miller said. “I would do a thorough review to make sure that we are making our best effort to build affordable housing for those greatly in need.”
To encourage economic development, Miller would small businesses simply by giving them more access to local government and the chamber of commerce.
“I want to make sure that (residents) have direct access to my office and I want to be able to speak with our Athens Chamber of Commerce to make sure that the entry fee is lessened to give our small startup businesses a start for networking.”
Miller plans to involve law enforcement and mental health clinicians in addressing substance abuse issues. She plans to strengthen existing programs and find new ways to support residents struggling with substance abuse.
“Every resident is not going to come downtown, but I want to be a mayor that uses my skills as clergy: relating to people, showing that we care, showing empathy and listening to them,”
“I would like to be able to have an interdisciplinary discussion with law enforcement and mental health clinicians (about) how we can actively address its causes,” Miller said. “I’m not saying or denying that nothing has been done, but I would like to be a mayor to help strengthen those areas.”
While Miller wants to continue zero fare transit as mayor, which was implemented in March 2020, she plans to improve public transportation and transit options in Athens by exploring budgets and transit capacity. She acknowledges the need for more transportation options and expanding services.
“There is limited access where citizens are saying, ‘We need more.’ So there again is the exploration of budgets and looking at transit and their capacity to hire good employees: to make sure that as we ask for expansion, we have the manpower to make that happen,” Miller said.
With Athens being a college town, Miller plans to explore innovative opportunities to address infrastructure needs and repair old pipes.
“We’ve got to know what’s under us so that we can have sustainability. I want to repair old pipes and go back and pull the layers and see if there’s anything that our budget to help facilitate. Let’s repair and renew our infrastructure system. We have to address this problem (of) infrastructure,” Miller said.
Highlighting her lack of influence from corporations and organizations, Miller plans to focus solely on the needs of Athens residents to influence growth and new development, if elected.
“I want to be mayor because I’m confident that I am the best candidate for such a time as this. I bring a new set of eyes, a new perspective, to look at Athenians unfiltered. I don’t have anybody in my pocket. I’m not influenced by any corporation or any organization. I can come into this seat with a laser focus on the residents and their needs only. I’m the fifth candidate in, but I hope I rise to the top and we both win for new growth and new development for all Athenians,” Miller said.
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