Fisher was the Director of Services within the Facilities Management Division at UGA for 31 years. Then he worked as the Chief of District Services for the Clarke County School District until finally retiring in 2022. He has served on a number of boards and commissions in the Athens area, including the Piedmont-Athens Hospital Authority, the Athens Community Foundation and the Rotary Club. He is the President of UGARA at the University of Georgia which represents all UGA Retirees.
Fisher has a bachelor’s of social work from Mars Hill University and a master’s degree of business administration from Piedmont College.
Signature Issues
Working across party lines: Fisher promises that, as mayor, he would “unite the community” by working with both Republicans and Democrats to move Athens forward. For example, Fisher has been a consistent advocate for lowering property tax rates. He also says he will be a “voice of reason” in office, contrasting himself with other mayoral candidates who may have more ambitious goals.
Single-family housing: Fisher has pushed for local government housing policy to focus on increasing the availability of single-family housing for working-class and middle-class professionals. He went so far as to vote against the acceptance of the 2023 affordable housing investment strategy because it focused on building affordable rental housing for low-income and working class people rather than on single-family housing.
APN interviewed Fisher about his mayoral run in April.Fisher went on WUGA in July, 2025 after announcing his candidacy for mayor.Fisher also went on AthChat before announcing his run for mayor in May, 2025.
Approve student apartments near Lay Park: NO Extend the ban on new data centers: YES Approve the future land use map: YES Regulate data centers: YES Approve North Avenue road diet: YES Build judicial center downtown: YES Start affordable housing trust fund: NO Approve FY 2027 budget: YES Authorize new sales tax referendum: NO Block ban on “urban camping”: NO Allow tiny houses: YES Keep accessory dwelling units banned: YES
Approve settlement with Charles Hardy: YES Delay racial justice resolution: YES Approve “The Shoals” housing development: YES Speak out against dissolving the ACC Board of Elections: YES Allow the demolition of the Saye building: YES Reject / proclaim support for racial equity and economic justice: YES / YES Approve roundabout at W. Hancock and W. Broad: NO Purchase electric vehicles: NO Approve Gaines School Road townhomes: NO Approve ADDA agreement allowing student apartments downtown: NO Approve FY2026 budget: YES Allow community garden for Triangle Plaza: NO Authorize fire station on Old Lexington Road: NO Moratorium on new data centers: YES Limit short-term rentals in multifamily zones: YES
Fund the Athens Homeless Coalition / Salvation Army: YES Raise the Stormwater Fee: YES Approve the Leisure Services Master Plan: NO Regulate Short-Term Rentals: YES Block Townhomes in Green Acres: YES Approve Low-Barrier Homeless Shelter: YES Overturn Restrictions on Public Comment: YES Fund Athens Achieves: YES Approve FY 2025 Budget: YES Approve Workforce Development Plan: YES Construct the Firefly Trail to Winterville: YES Living Wages for Neighborhood Leaders: NO Reallocate ARPA Funding: YES Block North Ave Roundabout & Road Diet: YES Reject Trash Franchising: YES Proclaim Athens as an LGBTQ+ Safe Haven: absent Urge State Legislature to Allow Ranked Choice Voting: NO
Delay Barber Street Improvements: YES Approve Mall Redevelopment: YES Restart the Eviction Prevention Program: YES Recognize the Firefighter’s Union: YES Approve the FY 2024 Budget: NO, YES Ban Indoor Vaping: YES Start Delinquency Prevention Initiative: YES Place Public Safety Monitor in Auditor’s Office: YES Accept Affordable Housing Investment Strategy: NO Accept Plan to Reduce and Prevent Homelessness: YES Reject Pet Registration: YES Close First Step Encampment and Extend Hotel Voucher Program: NO
Dexter Fisher – 52.8%