Mike Hamby

Commissioner Mike Hamby makes a comment at a commission meeting.Commissioner Mike Hamby, District 10

2009 – present

Represents the 5-Points area.

706-338-3970
mike.hamby@accgov.com
Mike Hamby’s website

Owner of “a small office cleaning business.”
Publisher, Athens Believer magazine
Sales and management, Northeast Sales Distributing
Financial Advisor, J.C. Bradford

Master’s degree in Instructional Design, UGA
Undergraduate degree, Social Sciences Education, UGA

Primary Ballots: Mike Hamby usually takes Democratic primary ballots, but not exclusively.
Previous Races: Ran for Mayor as a Republican in 1994.
Donations: Donated to Douglas Haines (D) in 2003, Russell Edwards (D) in 2010, Houston Gaines (R) in 2017 and Charlie Bailey (D) in 2018.
Fundraising: On the fundraising committee of Houston Gaines (R) in 2017.

Inferred Party: Seems to have switched from a Republican when he was young to a Democrat-leaning independent now.

Signature Policies

Workforce and Economic Development: Hamby has supported business development, job training initiatives and also supports incentives for businesses to hire locally.

Gateway Beautification: Hamby encouraged the use of TSPLOST 2018 funds for infrastructure improvements and beautification for the “gateways” to Athens (for example, Prince Avenue, Lexington Road and other points of entry).

Controversy

The Gerrymandering of Athens: Hamby encouraged the Republican-controlled state legislature to gerrymander Athens’ commission districts in 2022 when he voted against the approval of a Board of Elections-endorsed redistricting map. He 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.

APN has found through open records request that Hamby made four calls to Athens’ Republican state delegation on January 6, the day the Republican commission redistricting map was released. Based on Senator Bill Cowsert’s comments on Tim Bryant’s radio show on January 7, these calls were likely made to thank the Republican delegation for the gerrymandered maps.

A record of the phone calls Commissioner Hamby made to the Republican state delegation.

The ACC Democratic party has censured Hamby over this incident, saying that he has enabled Republicans to undermine democracy locally.

Voting Record

Delay Barber Street Improvements: YES
Approve Mall Redevelopment: YES
Restart the Eviction Prevention Program: YES

(More information about 2023 votes.)

Approve TSPLOST 2023 Project List: YES
Appoint Public Safety Oversight Board: YES
Approve American Rescue Plan Framework: NO
Raise Commissioner Salaries: NO
Adopt Inclusionary Zoning Policy: YES
Adopt Complete Streets Policy: YES
Approve FY 2023 Budget: YES
Celebrate Pride Month and Juneteenth: YES
Approve 1010 Oglethorpe Avenue: NO
Begin Prince Avenue Road Diet Pilot: YES
Decriminalize Cannabis: YES
Approve the 100% Clean Energy Plan: YES
Create Homelessness Plan: YES
Authorize Eminent Domain for Firefly Trail: NO
Change Planning Department Work Plan: YES
Recognize Firefighters’ Union: YES
Allow Accessory Dwelling Units: NO
Keep Three Lanes on Prince Avenue: YES

(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: YES
Fund Athens Eats Together: YES
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: YES
Establish a Law Enforcement Oversight Board: YES
Establish a Human Relations Commission: YES
Accept JAG Grant: YES
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: YES
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: YES
(More information about 2020 votes)

Reconsider Designation of 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: YES
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
Reorganize Animal Control: YES
Approve the Neighborhood Leaders program: YES
(More information about 2019 votes)

Fund Cedar Creek Solar Array: absent
Move Work Sessions to City Hall: YES
Redesign the Chase Street Corridor: YES
Update County Anti-Discrimination Policy: YES
Reject Concept Maps for Athens in Motion: YES
Adopt the Athens in Motion plan: YES
Protected Bike Lanes for Barnett Shoals: NO
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: YES
TSPLOST project list and referendum: YES
Re-zone Mitchell Street:YES
(More information about 2017 votes)

“Road Diet” for Chase Street: YES
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: YES
Delay repaving of Chase Street: YES
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
Mike Hamby (incumbent)69.8%
Knowa Johnson – 30.2%