Mara Zúñiga, former candidate for Mayor of Athens, Georgia
Mara Zúñiga, the former Treasurer of the Athens GOP, ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Athens-Clarke County in 2022 and 2026.
Signature Issues
An outsider who listens to everyone – Zúñiga believed that a fresh, outside perspective is what is needed to make government work for regular people. She has never held a position in the local government before. She often emphasized the nonpartisan nature of her candidacy, despite her previous role as the treasurer of the Athens GOP. She said that she would not allow partisan politics to affect her decision making as mayor.
Public safety – During her 2026 campaign, Zúñiga supported increased funding for the ACC Police Department and has previously opposed attempts by progressive commissioners to find alternatives to policing or to reduce police budgeting. Zúñiga also opposed the creation of the public safety civilian oversight board. She said she wanted to ensure that law enforcement have “adequate resources…for officer safety while they protect our community.”
Fiscal conservatism – Zúñiga has said that she believes the ACC government spends money “frivolously” and that she would “prioritize financial accountability” as mayor. She said she wanted to take a close look at the county budget and “eliminate what hasn’t worked, while rewarding what has.” She promised that, as mayor, “every dime would be accountable and transparent” in her administration.
Opposition to progressives – Zúñiga is a regular at city hall meetings where she often rails against progressives on the commission, once calling them “Sandinistas.” During her 2022 campaign for mayor, she published an open letter in Classic City News in which she accused commissioners of listening only to a select few, such as members of the defunct progressive organization Athens for Everyone. Despite having a consistent record of saying things like this, Zúñiga’s campaign told APN that she “does not oppose any particular political group, rather [she] opposes those who use labels and issues to their political advantage instead of looking at the actual issues affecting everyday people.”
Other issues
Opposition to a community garden redevelopment – Zúñiga strongly opposed a redevelopment plan for Triangle Plaza in inner east Athens which centered around a community garden. She told commissioners before the vote that the redevelopment “would be the end of this community and the blood would be on each of your hands.” She believed that this vote would allow for student housing in Triangle Plaza, which is false.
Experience
Zúñiga was a mortgage consultant for over 20 years. She currently helps run a business “in the environmental field,” and she also manages “a family-operated cattle farm focused on striving towards sustainable living.” She has served on the Local School Governance Team at Winterville Elementary and also at Cedar Shoals High School. She taught English as a second language in Athens for two years.
Political Affiliation
Zúñiga is the former treasurer of the Athens GOP and takes Republican primary ballots.
Inferred Party: Republican
Interviews
Election Results
2026 Local Election
Tim Denson — 37.7%
Dexter Fisher — 27.1%
LaKeisha Gantt — 21.7%
Mara Zúñiga — 11.7%
Sharon Miller — 1.8%
2022 Local Election
Kelly Girtz (incumbent) – 59.5%
Mara Zúñiga – 24.9%
Pearl Hall — 5.0%
Mykeisha Ross — 4.8%
Fred Moorman — 3.0%
Bennie Coleman — 2.8%