April 2023 – present [District 2 Commissioner] 2015 – January 2023 [District 3 Commissioner]
Melissa Link represents District 2 on the ACC Commission, including Boulevard, Cobbham, Magnolia Street near the ACC Library and First through Fourth Streets in east Athens.
Primary Ballots: Melissa Link almost exclusively takes Democratic primary ballots. Donations: Donated to Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary of 2016.
Official member of the Athens-Clarke County Democratic Committee.
Downtown Design Guidelines: During Nancy Denson’s tenure as mayor from 2010-2018, the Athens skyline saw significant change, especially downtown. Link urged the adoption of design guidelines to help shape the look and feel of Athens’ new buildings. Later, she helped develop guidelines for the west downtown historic district and for the north downtown redevelopment project.
Arts and Culture: Link is a strong supporter of public art and for protecting the local creative scene. She has advocated for the hiring of local artists to complete public art projects when feasible.
Environmental Advocacy: Link has been a consistent advocate for renewable energy, such as the solar array at the Cedar Creek Water Treatment plant and for banning plastic bags and styrofoam.
Approve student apartments near Lay Park: YES 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: YES Approve FY 2027 budget: YES Authorize new sales tax referendum: YES Block ban on “urban camping”: YES Allow tiny houses: YES Keep accessory dwelling units banned: NO
Approve Settlement with Charles Hardy: NO Delay Racial Justice Resolution: NO Approve “The Shoals” Housing Development: YES Speak out against dissolving the ACC Board of Elections: YES Allow the demolition of the Saye building: NO Reject / proclaim support for racial equity and economic justice: NO / YES Approve roundabout at W. Hancock and W. Broad: YES Purchase electric vehicles: YES Approve Gaines School Road townhomes: YES Approve ADDA agreement allowing student apartments downtown: YES Approve FY2026 budget: NO Allow community garden for Triangle Plaza: YES Authorize fire station on Old Lexington Road: YES Moratorium on new data centers: YES Limit short-term rentals in multifamily zones: YES
Fund the Athens Homeless Coalition / Salvation Army: NO Raise the Stormwater Fee: YES Approve the Leisure Services Master Plan: YES 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: NO Approve FY 2025 Budget: YES Approve Workforce Development Plan: YES Construct the Firefly Trail to Winterville: YES Living Wages for Neighborhood Leaders: YES Reallocate ARPA Funding: NO Block North Ave Roundabout & Road Diet: YES Reject Trash Franchising: YES Proclaim Athens as an LGBTQ+ Safe Haven: YES Urge State Legislature to Allow Ranked Choice Voting: YES
Restart the Eviction Prevention Program: YES Recognize the Firefighter’s Union: YES Approve the FY 2024 Budget: YES, NO Ban Indoor Vaping: YES Start Delinquency Prevention Initiative: YES Place Public Safety Monitor in Auditor’s Office: YES Accept Affordable Housing Investment Strategy: YES Accept Plan to Reduce and Prevent Homelessness: YES Reject Pet Registration: NO Close First Step Encampment and Extend Hotel Voucher Program: NO
Approve Apartments Near Airport: YES Give Public Land for a New Parking Deck: NO Approve Apartments off Lexington Road: YES Approve Taser Contract: YES Approve Linnentown Resolution: YES Extend the Firefly Trail on original route: YES Fund Athens Eats Together: YES Delay Eviction Prevention: NO Approve FY 2022 Budget: YES Approve Official Homeless Camp: YES Establish Local Anti-Discrimination Protections: YES Mandate COVID-19 Vaccine for ACC Gov Employees: YES Install Downtown Public Restroom: YES Fund Non-Police Crisis Response Team: YES Change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day: YES 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: YES
Accept Agreement with the Classic Center: NO 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: YES Adopt the FY 2021 Budget: YES Make Masks Mandatory: YES Resolve that Black lives matter: YES Delay BLM resolution: YES Start “parklet” pilot program: NO Ban rentable scooters: YES Establish West Downtown Historic District: YES (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: YES Delay Bike Lanes on Hancock Ave: NO Remove Mention of Classic Center Arena from SPLOST 2020: YES Approve Final SPLOST 2020 List: NO 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: YES Move Work Sessions to City Hall: YES Redesign Chase Street Corridor: NO 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 SPLOST Projects: YES (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-zoning Mitchell Street: NO (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: abstain (More information about 2016 votes)
Allow Backyard Chickens: YES Remove Wetland Buffers: NO Award Jail Phone Contract to Securus Tech: NO Allow Food Trucks: YES Keep Domestic Partnership Benefits: YES (More information about 2015 votes)
Interviews and Media
APN interviewed Link and her 2024 opponent on April 10:
Melissa Link — 68.5%