Commissioner Allison Wright, District 4
2013 – present
Represents areas surrounding UGA and West Hancock Avenue.
706-549-3518
allison.wright@accgov.com
Wright’s website
Wright’s Facebook page
Certified Medical Illustrator – self employed
Clarke County School District Board of Education (2005-2012)
Clarke County School District SPLOST Citizens Oversight Committee
PTAs at Cleveland Road Elementary School, Barrow Elementary School, and Clarke Middle School
MS, Medical College of Georgia, Medical Illustration
BS, University of Kentucky, Animal Science
Primary Ballots: Allison Wright almost always takes Democratic primary ballots.
Donations: Donated to John Barrow (D) in 2006, Lisa Lott (D) in 2017 and Deborah Gonzalez (D) in 2017.
Inferred Party: Democrat
Signature Policies
Plastic Bag Ban or Fee: Commissioner Allison Wright has been active in pushing for a fee on single-use plastic bags. This will reduce plastic waste in our oceans. It would also save Athens-Clarke County money by reducing waste in the landfill, but the ordinance remains tied-up in committee.
Public Safety and Well-Being: As a budget priority, Wright wanted to increase the pay of police officers as a way of increasing retention and avoiding the expenses associated with re-hiring and re-training new officers. This happened in 2021. She said she wants to repeal the single-family ordinance and also pass an anti-discrimination ordinance, which happened in 2021.
Controversy
The Gerrymandering of Athens: Wright encouraged the Republican-controlled state legislature to gerrymander Athens’ commission districts in 2022 when she voted against the approval of a Board of Elections-endorsed redistricting map. She was informed several times about the consequences of this decision, including once just before the vote by Manager Blaine Williams. The Republican plan to gerrymander Athens removes three commissioners from office by fiat and puts over half of Athens voters in a different district just months before the May 2022 local election.
The ACC Democratic party censured Wright over this incident, saying that she has enabled Republicans to undermine democracy locally.
Voting Record
Approve TSPLOST 2023 Project List: YES
Appoint Public Safety Oversight Board: NO
Approve American Rescue Plan Framework: NO
Raise Commissioner Salaries: NO
Adopt Inclusionary Zoning Policy: YES
Adopt Complete Streets Policy: YES
Approve FY 2023 Budget: NO
Celebrate Pride Month and Juneteenth: YES
Approve 1010 Oglethorpe Avenue: NO
Begin Prince Avenue Road Diet Pilot: absent
Decriminalize Cannabis: absent
Approve the 100% Clean Energy Plan: absent
Create Homelessness Plan: YES
Authorize Eminent Domain for Firefly Trail: NO
Change Planning Department Work Plan: NO
Recognize Firefighters’ Union: NO
Allow Accessory Dwelling Units: NO
Keep Three Lanes on Prince Avenue: absent
(More information about 2022 votes.)
Approve Apartments Near Airport: NO
Give Public Land for a New Parking Deck: NO
Approve Apartments off Lexington Road: NO
Approve Taser Contract: YES
Approve Linnentown Resolution: YES
Extend the Firefly Trail on original route: NO
Fund Athens Eats Together: NO
Delay Project Reset: YES
Approve FY 2022 Budget: NO
Approve Official Homeless Camp: NO
Establish Local Anti-Discrimination Protections: YES
Mandate COVID-19 Vaccine for ACC Gov Employees: YES
Install Downtown Public Restroom: NO
Fund Non-Police Crisis Response Team: YES
Change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day: absent
Approve AFDC to Run Eviction Prevention Program: NO
Establish a Law Enforcement Oversight Board: YES
Establish a Human Relations Commission: YES
Accept JAG Grant: absent
Approve New Commission Districts: NO
(More information about 2021 votes.)
Accept Agreement with the Classic Center: YES
Support the Pre-Arrest Diversion Program: YES
Start a Community Energy Fund: YES
Declare State of Emergency, Banning Public Gatherings: absent
Order Athenians to Shelter in Place: YES
Urge Leniency for Rent and Mortgage Payments: YES
Refuse to Pay Attorney Bryan Sells: NO
Move Confederate Monument, Close College Square: YES
Establish Goal of Reducing Police Funding: NO
Adopt the FY 2021 Budget: YES
Make Masks Mandatory: YES
Resolve that Black lives matter: YES
Delay BLM resolution: NO
Start “parklet” pilot program: YES
Ban rentable scooters: YES
Establish West Downtown Historic District: NO
(More information about 2020 votes)
Reconsider Designating SPLOST Projects: YES
Accept $250,000 Settlement with Taylor Saulters: YES
FY2020 Goals and Objectives: YES
Designate SPLOST Projects: YES
Expand ACCPD Vehicle Program: YES
Adopt the 100% Athens Resolution: YES
End cash bail for local ordinance violations: absent
Delay Bike Lanes on Hancock Ave: YES
Remove Mention of Classic Center Arena from SPLOST 2020: NO
Approve Final SPLOST 2020 List: YES
Pass Along State Legislative Requests: YES, but temporarily held up requests for living wages for UGA employees and driver’s licenses for undocumented Athenians.
Reorganize Animal Control: YES
Approve the Neighborhood Leaders program: YES
(More information about 2019 votes)
Fund Cedar Creek Solar Array: YES
Move Work Sessions to City Hall: YES
Redesign Chase Street Corridor: YES
Update County Anti-Discrimination Policy: YES
Reject Concept Maps for Athens in Motion: NO
Adopt the Athens in Motion plan: YES
Protected Bike Lanes for Barnett Shoals: YES
Delay the Designation of SPLOST Projects: NO
(More information about 2018 votes)
Temporary Halt to Downtown Development: YES
Consultant Selection for Bike / Ped Master Plan: absent
TSPLOST project list and referendum: YES
Re-zoning Mitchell Street:YES
(More information about 2017 votes)
“Road Diet” for Chase Street: NO
Allow Sale of Growlers in Brewpubs: YES
Fare-Free Bus Rides for K-12 Students: YES
Downtown Anti-Discrimination Ordinance and Civil Rights Committee: YES
(More information about 2016 votes)
Allow Backyard Chickens: YES
Remove Wetland Buffers: NO
Award Jail Phone Contract to Securus Tech: YES
Allow Food Trucks: YES
Keep Domestic Partnership Benefits: YES
(More information about 2015 votes)
Interviews
Election Results
2020 Local Election
Allison Wright (incumbent) – 67.4%
Michael Stapor – 32.6%
Allison Wright did not face opposition in 2016.
Allison Wright (incumbent) – 67.4%