Community Engagement Marks LaKeisha Gantt’s Mayoral Campaign
In a bid to connect with voters and discuss pressing local issues, Athens mayoral candidate LaKeisha Gantt organized a community listening session. Held at the Upper Cutz barber shop in West Athens, the event provided a platform for residents to voice their concerns, focusing on mental health, housing affordability, and the effects of gentrification.
During the session, Gantt introduced her plan to implement a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) program with the University of Georgia (UGA). She emphasized her commitment to fostering local economic growth, stating, “Part of helping people get by, obviously, is good wages. 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, who currently serves on the Clarke County School District Board of Education, believes her experience equips her to enhance collaboration and morale within the city’s government. She remarked, “It takes skill to build a governance team. Like the Mayor and Commission, like the Board of Education. 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.”
Residents were particularly engaged in discussions about rising housing costs, reflecting a broader concern within the community about maintaining affordable living standards amidst ongoing development. Gantt’s approach to these issues underscores her focus on practical solutions and community involvement.
The Athens-Clarke County mayoral election is set to take place in May 2026, and Gantt’s grassroots engagement strategy marks an early effort to connect with voters and address their concerns directly.
