2006 Junior League of Athens Candidate Survey

Responses by Mayor Heidi Davison

1) What is the most important issue facing Athens-Clarke County in the next five years and what is your plan to address that issue?

Our continued population growth will place pressures on this community in a variety of areas including housing, transportation, waste disposal, air and water protection, schools, etc. Please see my answers to other questionnaires under the issues section of my website: www.ElectHeidi.com

Poverty is the other pressing concern being addressed by the Partners for a Prosperous Athens initiative, which I helped start. This is the first initiative of its kind in the State of Georgia where all major community partners are involved. What is unique about this initiative is its grassroots, bottom-up approach to finding localized solutions to a very complex persistent (30 years or more) problem rather than seeking help from the outside, as had been the case with other programs such as Model Cities.

Currently the committees are developing recommendations with plans for those to be completed by year’s end. The Steering Committee, of which I am a member, will develop an action plan based on the recommendations. It is my belief that this plan will include ways for local government to continue addressing poverty reduction, just as it does now. It will be my job to advance those recommendations to the Commission and staff.

2) What volunteer work are you currently involved in and what volunteer work have you done in the past?

Please visit my website for a resume posted in 2002 and an updated resume.

One major problem that Athens-Clarke County faces is the high poverty level and the devastating effects that are magnified for women and children. In order to address these problems:

3) Do you have any plan to help women balance a career and family, for example, how do you feel about issues such as universities providing child care, etc.? If you had money to grant to causes supporting women and children in Athens-Clarke County, how would you spend that money?

Athens-Clarke County currently grants money that supports families. The Independent Agency budget includes money for the Board of Health, Athens Regional Library and the Department of Family and Children's Services. This year I advocated for, and gained support from the Commission, for the return of the Neighborhood Health Center to this portion of the budget with a promise for additional funding next year. I also recommended additional hours for the transit service Monday through Friday to provide greater access to education and employment opportunities.

In each year since 2003, I recommended and gained support for funding of Project Safe. Additionally, the Community Development Block Grant budget includes funding for the Neighborhood Health Center, Project Safe, Athens Tutorial Center, Nurses’ Clinic for the Homeless, Nancy Travis House, Court Appointed Special Advocates, Interfaith Hospitality Network, and others.

The Leisure Services Department has a myriad of after-school and summer programs available for no to little cost to families that provide children wholesome activities under the supervision of caring adults. This department also works closely with the Clarke County School District in providing quality programming in shared facilities. I strongly support these efforts.

Before offering additional ideas let’s receive recommendations from Partners for a Prosperous Athens.

4) We would like to hear your ideas on the issue of affordable healthcare.

Local funding for the Board of Health has been increased every year since 2003 in my recommended budget. This year I advocated with our legislative delegation to retain their grant-in-aid funding when it was threatened to be reduced by 33%. Additionally, I recommended returning the Athens Neighborhood Health Center to the Independent Agency budget – this is a part of the general fund, with a promise to increase their funding next year. The Commissioners accepted this recommendation. I also requested that Athens Regional Medical Center continue providing a portion of their indigent care funding to this agency, as well, as the Board of Health for their Cardiovascular and Teen Matters programs.

These two agencies provide quality affordable health care. When our residents are unable to access health care that is affordable they may forego necessary preventative treatments until a serious problem arises forcing them to use the emergency room as their first line of defense. This is significantly more expensive, which is why the Board of Health and Neighborhood Health Center are so critical.

Mercy Health Center and the Nurses Clinic for the Homeless are important health agencies, as well. The latter receives CDBG funds from Athens-Clarke County.

At the state level, I support the PeachCare program for children and its expansion.

5) What will you do to improve our public education system? If the school system that you are zoned for is failing to meet its annual goals year after year and you can't afford private school, what options will you make available?

As the Clarke County Board of Education is a separate and independently elected body, this does not apply to the Mayor and Commission.

However, I would like to point out that I initiated the first ever regularly scheduled, formal meetings between the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission and the Clarke County School District Board of Education. It may come as a surprise to many of you that this had never before been done. In my 2002 campaign, I pledged to change this sometimes adversarial relationship to one of cooperation and the sharing of resources. I have delivered on this promise. The relationship between the two bodies has never been better. It is my hope that we can continue to build on this progress for the benefit of our community.

6) What qualifications or special attributes do you feel you will bring to the office you are seeking? Is there any other area of your platform that you think the Junior League of Athens should be aware of, and why do you think you are the most qualified candidate for the position?

I am the most qualified candidate for this position because my first term has demonstrated my ability to get the job done and an extreme commitment to the work. Several issues dominated the previous campaign including the lack of ordinance enforcement, downtown historic designation, loss of tree canopy, neighborhood revitalization, degradation of the environment, declining citizen participation in local government, and the need for increased economic development. Every single one of these issues has been addressed with tangible achievements in all! I listened to the concerns of the citizens and acted. Again, please visit the issues section of my website for a detailed list of accomplishments.

Qualifications and special attributes: background in teaching and community leadership development, honest, compassionate, fair, willing to listen and consider multiple points of view, appreciate the gifts and talents of others, sense of humor, open, ability to tackle tough issues, wide network of friends and acquaintances, respect and trust of my colleagues, dedication and commitment, studious, facilitate and encourage participation, ability to see possibilities in others and the community, strong, tenacious, resilient, knowledgeable, articulate, forthright, share leadership and credit, strong work ethic, positive ambassador, love of community, organized, and juggle well. I also know my weaknesses.

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