Last week, Sara Bickerton announced her intentions to seek the District One seat on the Athens-Clarke County Commission currently held by Doug Lowry. In an email exchange to some introductory questions regarding her campaign, Bickerton offered a little more insight regarding her bid for office ...

What prompted you to run for District One?

I began to seriously consider the possibility of becoming a candidate for District One immediately after Commissioner (Doug) Lowry announced he would not seek re-election. In my opinion, the responsibility of elected public service officials can not be overstated. Thus, my decision-making process continues to involve a very deliberate and diligent evaluation of local policy issues.

As a proud citizen of Athens-Clarke County, I am determined to advance the greatest potential of this community. I recognize running for ACC Commissioner in District One as the most compelling means by which I can work toward the achievement of this goal. In addition, I am committed to the promotion of a more representative democracy within our local government through increased citizen participation. I am motivated to engage in an ongoing substantive exchange of dialogue with fellow District One constituents as well as other citizens throughout ACC.

I feel confident in my ability to provide meaningful local government representation and constructively contribute to local policy discussions. This confidence is the result of my academic merits and work-related experiences. I have completed both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Public Administration (with a specialization in Public
Policy Analysis) from the University of Georgia. I have acquired a variety of work-related experiences within the local community's private, nonprofit, and public sectors to include: Athens Regional Medical Center; DePalma's Italian Cafe; Athens Montessori School; Clarke County School District; Jack R. Wells Boys & Girls Club; and
the Athens Clarke Literacy Council.

What are some of the issues you'd like to focus on in the race?

My campaign is focused around a platform of five primary issues:

• Responsible and Sustainable Economic Growth
• Efficient/Effective Public Works and Service Delivery
• Public Education Partnership
• Environmental Stewardship
• Civic Engagement

These five issues are not mutually exclusive. Rather, each platform issue shares some degree of relativity with the others. Comprehensively, this issue platform reflects the following contemporary challenges that face Athens-Clarke County: poverty alleviation; community-based revitalization of social and economic capital; criminal justice reformation; securing a competent and stable local workforce; and fiscally sound budgetary considerations. Innovative local governance along with collective action among the public, nonprofit, and private sectors may be perceived as a necessity for progress.

I've heard rumors regarding a candidate from the group, 'The Washington Street Liberation Army" ... are you that candidate?

As far as the WSLA is concerned, I am the "as of yet unnamed candidate in an as of yet unnamed district" who was referenced in the previously published Flagpole article, "Power to the Party People". I am very proud of all the WSLA's public outreach and community service accomplishments. However, the WSLA is not a political party and I AM NOT RUNNING AS A WSLA CANDIDATE.