Commissioner Seth Clark is seeking re-election to the Macon-Bibb County Commission and facing opposition from Caitlin Mee. District 5 is roughly centered between I-75, Forsyth Avenue, Vineville Avenue and Columbus Road.
The Murphy Center for Collaborative Journalism and its partners the Georgia Trust for Local News, GPB and 13WMAZ contacted the candidates to share their platforms and reasons for seeking elected office.
Below is an edited version of what we received.
Seth Clark
Seth Clark, 38, is running for re-election in Macon’s fifth county commission district. Clark has lived in Monroe and Middle Georgia most of his life, and has served four years as a commissioner in the Macon-Bibb consolidated government.
Clark has been very involved in Macon, serving as a county district commissioner, executive director of the Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve Initiative, on the Board of Directors of Visit Macon, Former Chairman of the Macon Area Transportation Policy Commission and Vice-Chair of the Macon-Bibb County Board of Public Health.
He said he is running for re-election to help ensure bold investments in the community to create a community for the future. He also said that he is the only candidate in the district 5 race with a county commission track record that won him the mayor’s support for his re-election.
Q: Why are you running for office?
A: I believe we’ve seen some incredible progress in the past 4 years because of teamwork in the Macon-Bibb Government. I’m running because I believe we need 4 more years of efficacy, vision and progress to build on the work the team has accomplished. Our investments in public safety and quality of life measures are working. Our homicide rate is down, our property taxes are lower than they have been since consolidation, and our tourism and economic development numbers are up. So many of the initiatives championed by Mayor Lester Miller’s administration would never have gotten off the ground without a team behind him on the commission. I’m proud to be part of that team, and proud to be the only candidate in my race to have the Mayor’s support.
I’m running for re-election because I want my 8-year-old son to live in a city where the bold investments in our community are foundational to the community HE will live in. Over the past four years, we’ve made Macon safer and more fair—and we’ve done so by lifting up ALL sides of town, not just one side of town over the other. I’m running on a commitment to see these investments and projects through because I truly believe Macon is worth it.
Q: What are your plans and ideas for improving Macon/Bibb if elected?
A: The progress of the last 4 years has been transformational for this community. But we cannot become complacent or get distracted from the work at hand. I’m running for a second term to continue to: Promote and strengthen tourism, and prepare to become the gateway city for Georgia’s first National Park. Support renewal of the OLOST to continue reducing property taxesInvest in programs targeting violence prevention and poverty alleviation. We must continue ensuring our investments in law enforcement and public safety aren’t fleeting but are constant and consistent. We need to ensure the over $1 billion in private investment we’ve secured for our community is enjoyed by ALL residents. That’s why I’m working to create a Tax Allocation District for Unionville to ensure those who live near the new amphitheater are uplifted by this progress. The upcoming SPLOST requires leaders who will make smart, targeted plans to address our infrastructure needs.
Caitlin Mee
Caitlin Mee, 38, is an architectural historian for the department of the interior, she has lived in Macon for three years, but has lived in Georgia since 2016, when she came from California to study Heritage Preservation at Georgia State University.
Mee is the chairwoman of the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), and is a voting member of the Complete Streets Committee.
Mee said she wanted to reopen public communication between the District 5 Commissioner and the people in the district. She promises to hold a monthly meeting to hear public complaints if elected.
Q: Why are you running for office?
A: District 5 deserves the best! Through my experience and education as a city and regional planner, as well as a preservationist, I feel I can connect our district with vital resources to raise our holistic quality of life.
Q: What are your plans and ideas for improving Macon/Bibb if elected?
A: Consistent communication with our representative and leadership has suffered over the past four years. I would hold a monthly rotating meeting to ensure the public had a safe consistent place to voice their concerns and issues. Most importantly, I plan to address the disinvestment in District 5. I would work to designate Macon-Bibb/ District 5 a Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH) community. I would also put a pause to all demolitions in our district so that a thorough housing condition and historic resource survey could be conducted. The “fight on blight” initiative has been successful in removing potentially dangerous buildings. However, it has also failed to consider what could be rebuilt or rehabilitated using the same funding. Our district is also in a food desert. I would partner with the state and local individuals to develop community food solutions empowering residents to grow their own healthy produce and co-op for some.
