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Athens-Clarke County appoints Robert S. Cowell Jr. as county manager
Summary
After a national search and public interviews, the Athens-Clarke County Commission voted to appoint Robert S. Cowell Jr. as county manager, effective Aug. 28, 2025; the motion passed 8–1 with one abstention. Commissioners expressed both support for Cowell’s experience and concerns about aspects of the hiring process.
The Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission voted July 15 to appoint Robert S. Cowell Jr. as the unified government’s county manager, with the appointment to begin at 8 a.m. on July 28, 2025. The commission approved the recommendation by roll call: Link, Taylor, Wright, Fisher, Culpepper, Myers, Hamby and Davenport voted yes; Commissioner Johnson voted no; Commissioner Thornton abstained. The vote was 8 yes, 1 no, 1 abstention.
The vote follows a months‑long national search and interviews conducted by an advisory and hiring committee. Mayor (unnamed) said the process produced a candidate who “rose to the top of the heap,” and recommended Cowell “pursuant to section 4‑101(a) of the charter.” Commissioners who supported the appointment cited Cowell’s management experience,…
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