Zander Mason, former candidate for ACC Commission, District 5
Zander Mason ran unsuccessfully to represent Forest Heights, Homewood Hills, Moss Side, Country Club Estates and other westside neighborhoods on the ACC Commission in 2026.
Election Results
2026 Local Election
Kimberly Bennett — 35.2%
Craig Topple — 30.9%
Zander Mason — 25.1%
Rick Stanziale — 8.8%
Signature Issues
Public safety — Mason wanted all Athenians to have “freedom from crime and gangs.” He said he would make a continued investment in the ACC Police Department and that he wanted to fight gangs through youth programs. “It’s not a community if you don’t feel safe to live, work and gather,” Mason told APN.
Cutting red tape — Mason wanted to provide more freedom for homeowners and developers by cutting red tape around zoning. For example, he wanted to allow homeowners to build accessory dwelling units on their property to help boost housing supply and cut costs. He also wanted to allow for more office space to help cut rent expenses for local businesses.
Cutting property taxes — One of Mason’s goals during his 2026 campaign was to reduce property tax bills for homeowners. This would have been challenging given Athens’ infrastructure needs, which was another reason why Mason wanted to increase housing density and create a more favorable climate for business. With this additional property and sales tax revenue, Mason hoped that deep property tax cuts could become possible.
Experience
Mason worked as a financial advisor for Raymond James before starting his own advising firm, The Black Arrow Group. He received an accounting degree from UGA in 2018. He has also served on the boards of Bigger Vision Athens, Athens Jaycees, Palm House Recovery and the Athens Academy Alumni Board. He volunteers with organizations like Our Daily Bread, Toys for Tots and Books for Keeps. He had no direct experience with local government.
Political Affiliation
Mason voted for the first time in Athens in 2022, when he took a Democratic primary ballot. However, Zander told APN that he does not identify with any particular party over another.
Inferred Party: Independent