The Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov) Commission voted at the Regular Session on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, to appoint Christine Howard as the new Clerk of Commission. She will begin her new role on November 9, 2025.

Howard has worked for ACCGov in several offices since 1995. She has served most recently as the Executive Assistant to Mayor Kelly Girtz since October 2022. Prior to her work in the Mayor’s Office, she worked as the Deputy Clerk of Commission from 2015 until 2022 and with the Sheriff’s Office in Administrative Secretary, Records Technician, and Secretary Intake Clerk roles over nearly 20 years.

“I am grateful for this opportunity from the commission and appreciate their faith in me to lead the Clerk of Commission’s Office,” said Howard. “I don’t think I would be able to step into this new position without the experience gained working for retired Clerk of Commission Jean Spratlin and Mayor Kelly Girtz. I look forward to bringing some changes to the Clerk of Commission’s Office and working with all the departments within ACCGov.”

Former Clerk of Commission Jean Spratlin retired in June 2025 after 51 years with the City of Athens and ACCGov. Upon her retirement, District 5 Commissioner Dexter Fisher was appointed to chair a hiring committee to conduct a national search, review applications, interview candidates, and recommend a final candidate to the commission for the Clerk of Commission position. The committee’s recommendation to appoint Howard at the October 2025 meeting was approved unanimously by the commission.

The Clerk of Commission is a charter officer appointed by the commission with roles and responsibilities defined in the charter that established ACCGov. Among other duties, the office maintains required records of the operations and activities of the commission, certifies ordinances, attests the mayor's signature, and provides other support to the commission, the mayor, and the manager. The two-person Clerk of Commission’s Office is located in City Hall.

For more information, visit www.accgov.com/clerkofcommission or call 706-613-3031.