Kelly Darryl Girtz (born November 12, 1971) is an American educator and politician currently serving as mayor of the unified government of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, having succeeded Nancy Denson in January 2019. Before he was sworn in as mayor, Girtz maintained a long career as a teacher and school administrator in Northeast Georgia.
Girtz earned his Master of Arts in Teaching from Piedmont College. From 1998 to 2014, he was a teacher and administrator in the Clarke County School District in Athens. He then served as Regional Director for Student Services and Special Education for Foothills Charter High School, a public charter high school.[1]
Political careeredit
County commissioneredit
In November 2006, Girtz was elected to serve as a member of the Athens-Clarke County commission, representing District 9. He was re-elected unopposed in both 2010 and 2014.
Mayoral candidateedit
In May 2017, Girtz announced that he would run for mayor of Athens-Clarke County. On May 22, 2018, he defeated fellow commissioner Harry Sims and local businessman Richie Knight, earning over 60 percent of the vote, to become mayor-elect.
Mayoredit
Girtz was sworn in as Mayor on January 8, 2019. Former Clarke County School District Board of Education member Ovita Thornton was sworn in as Girtz's replacement for the District 9 commissioner seat.[2] During the 2020 COV-ID 19 pandemic in the United States, Girtz urged Athens residents to continue sheltering in place, opposing Governor Brian Kemp's April 20 announcement that non-essential Georgia businesses, like gyms and hair salons, could re-open that week.[3][4]
During the Black Lives Matter protests of late May/early June 2020, Mayor Girtz joined protesters in calling for the removal of a Confederate monument on Broad Street. The demand came after local law enforcement teargassed protesters at a March for a World Without Cops demonstration in front of the University of Georgia Arch on the night of May 31.[5]
Girtz was re-elected in May 2022 with around 60 percent of the vote.[6]
Electoral historyedit
2006edit
Athens-Clarke County Commission, District 9 general election results, 2006[7]
Candidate
Votes
%
Kelly Girtz
3,185
42.02%
Chuck Jones
784
10.34%
Alvin Sheats
2,736
36.10%
Ed Vaughan
874
11.53%
Athens-Clarke County Commissioner, District 9 runoff election results, 2006[8]
Candidate
Votes
%
Kelly Girtz
2,636
58.89%
Alvin Sheats
1,840
41.11%
2018edit
Athens-Clarke County Mayor, election results, 2018[9]
Candidate
Votes
%
Kelly Girtz
10,924
60.20%
Richie Knight
1,664
9.17%
Harry L. Sims
5,499
30.31%
Write-In
58
0.32%
2022edit
Athens-Clarke County Mayor, election results, 2022[10]
Candidate
Votes
%
Kelly Girtz
12,969
59.54%
Mara Zuniga
5,422
24.84%
Pearl Hall
1,092
5.01%
Mykeisha Ross
1,034
4.75%
Fred Moorman
659
3.03%
Bennie Coleman III
607
2.79%
Referencesedit
^"Kelly Girtz". Athens for Everyone. 2016-04-07. Retrieved 2019-01-22.
^Shearer, Lee. "Commissioners used Bibles, other books in taking oaths". Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved 2019-01-22.
kelly, girtz, kelly, darryl, girtz, born, november, 1971, american, educator, politician, currently, serving, mayor, unified, government, athens, clarke, county, georgia, having, succeeded, nancy, denson, january, 2019, before, sworn, mayor, girtz, maintained,. Kelly Darryl Girtz born November 12 1971 is an American educator and politician currently serving as mayor of the unified government of Athens Clarke County Georgia having succeeded Nancy Denson in January 2019 Before he was sworn in as mayor Girtz maintained a long career as a teacher and school administrator in Northeast Georgia Kelly GirtzMayor of Athens Clarke County GeorgiaIncumbentAssumed office January 8 2019Preceded byNancy DensonDistrict 9 Commissioner for Athens Clarke CountyIn office 2007 2019Personal detailsBornKelly Darryl GirtzNovember 12 1971 1971 11 12 age 52 Bath Maine U S Political partyDemocraticSpouseAndrea Griffith GirtzChildren1 sonOccupationPolitician educator Contents 1 Early life 2 Educator 3 Political career 3 1 County commissioner 3 2 Mayoral candidate 3 3 Mayor 4 Electoral history 4 1 2006 4 2 2018 4 3 2022 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editGirtz was born on November 12 1971 in Bath Maine to Darryl Sylvester and Joanne nee Kirsch Girtz now Claridge while his father was stationed aboard the USS Dale The Dale was homeported in Newport Rhode Island where Girtz and his family then lived for a year before moving to Oakland California for a year From 1974 to 1994 he was raised and resided in Norfolk Virginia where he graduated from Lake Taylor High School in 1989 and Old Dominion University in 1993 Educator editGirtz earned his Master of Arts in Teaching from Piedmont College From 1998 to 2014 he was a teacher and administrator in the Clarke County School District in Athens He then served as Regional Director for Student Services and Special Education for Foothills Charter High School a public charter high school 1 Political career editCounty commissioner edit In November 2006 Girtz was elected to serve as a member of the Athens Clarke County commission representing District 9 He was re elected unopposed in both 2010 and 2014 Mayoral candidate edit In May 2017 Girtz announced that he would run for mayor of Athens Clarke County On May 22 2018 he defeated fellow commissioner Harry Sims and local businessman Richie Knight earning over 60 percent of the vote to become mayor elect Mayor edit Girtz was sworn in as Mayor on January 8 2019 Former Clarke County School District Board of Education member Ovita Thornton was sworn in as Girtz s replacement for the District 9 commissioner seat 2 During the 2020 COV ID 19 pandemic in the United States Girtz urged Athens residents to continue sheltering in place opposing Governor Brian Kemp s April 20 announcement that non essential Georgia businesses like gyms and hair salons could re open that week 3 4 During the Black Lives Matter protests of late May early June 2020 Mayor Girtz joined protesters in calling for the removal of a Confederate monument on Broad Street The demand came after local law enforcement teargassed protesters at a March for a World Without Cops demonstration in front of the University of Georgia Arch on the night of May 31 5 Girtz was re elected in May 2022 with around 60 percent of the vote 6 Electoral history edit2006 edit Athens Clarke County Commission District 9 general election results 2006 7 Candidate Votes Kelly Girtz 3 185 42 02 Chuck Jones 784 10 34 Alvin Sheats 2 736 36 10 Ed Vaughan 874 11 53 Athens Clarke County Commissioner District 9 runoff election results 2006 8 Candidate Votes Kelly Girtz 2 636 58 89 Alvin Sheats 1 840 41 11 2018 edit Athens Clarke County Mayor election results 2018 9 Candidate Votes Kelly Girtz 10 924 60 20 Richie Knight 1 664 9 17 Harry L Sims 5 499 30 31 Write In 58 0 32 2022 edit Athens Clarke County Mayor election results 2022 10 Candidate Votes Kelly Girtz 12 969 59 54 Mara Zuniga 5 422 24 84 Pearl Hall 1 092 5 01 Mykeisha Ross 1 034 4 75 Fred Moorman 659 3 03 Bennie Coleman III 607 2 79 References edit Kelly Girtz Athens for Everyone 2016 04 07 Retrieved 2019 01 22 Shearer Lee Commissioners used Bibles other books in taking oaths Athens Banner Herald Retrieved 2019 01 22 Ward Myah Coronavirus lockdowns pit Republican governors against Democratic mayors POLITICO Retrieved 2020 05 13 Mettler Katie April 21 2020 Georgia mayors push back on governor s decision to reopen businesses The Washington Post Retrieved May 10 2020 Mayor Girtz Calls for Removing Confederate Monument Flagpole 2020 06 05 Retrieved 2020 06 11 Kelly Girtz rolls to second term as Athens Clarke mayor easily besting 4 other candidates Online Athens Retrieved 2023 08 08 2006 11 07 General Election Official Results Retrieved 2019 01 22 2006 12 05 General Election Runoff Unofficial Results Retrieved 2019 01 22 2018 05 22 General Primary Election Summary Report Retrieved 2019 01 22 Election Night Reporting External links editOfficial website of the Mayor of Athens Clarke CountyPolitical officesPreceded byNancy Denson Mayor of Athens Clarke County2019 present Incumbent Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kelly Girtz amp oldid 1192531342, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
