With Athens County experiencing a 9.6 percent unemployment rate and 32 percent poverty rate, both Athens mayoral candidates agree there needs to be a focus on economic change after this November’s elections.
“The mayor should take a lead role in encouraging and helping small businesses succeed in the community as well as support jobs,” said Randy Morris, Republican challenger.
In terms of the current situation, Mayor Paul Wiehl cites his collaboration with the Economic Development Council, of which he serves as vice president.
The council split from the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce three years ago in order to focus specifically on membership needs, Wiehl said.
“I’m not a dictator, I’m a mayor,” Wiehl said in regard to the mayor’s ability to control economic progress. “The best things I can do as mayor is make sure the infrastructure is good, maintain the city services as best as possible, and make sure the quality of life is good.”
For small businesses to succeed, they must be “sustainable in the down times,” Wiehl said. Entities must be able to survive student-less summers and in the instance of BananaRoad, an Uptown costume shop, the months following the Halloween block party.
Despite the “down times” that come with running a business in Athens, Morris said there is still a need for more interaction.
“I’ve talked to small businesses, and they feel that the city doesn’t do enough to help them and isn’t invested in progress,” he said. “The mayor needs to encourage the city government to assist small businesses.”
In regard to local government interaction, Wiehl said the amount of business a store gets is out of his control, but he would gladly help out if asked.
Morris added that if elected, he plans on being proactive in the development of business.
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