Athens-Clarke County appoints Robert S. Cowell Jr. as county manager

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, including capital projects and public‑private partnerships, and his stated ability to work with the university and on issues such as housing and homelessness.

The appointment is for an initial period beginning July 28, 2025, through July 30, 2027, and may be extended by mutual agreement and by terms set in an employment agreement that Cowell must sign before beginning. The mayor asked the commission to authorize execution of the employment agreement and the motion to appoint carried after a motion from Commissioner Link with a second by Commissioner Taylor.

The selection drew some public and commission debate about the search process. Commissioner Thornton said he would abstain because he remained “clear about the process” and had concerns about the depth and conduct of parts of the search, including a canceled follow‑up meeting and communication with the search firm. Thornton said his abstention was a reflection of process concerns rather than Cowell’s qualifications. Commissioner Myers and others who served on the search committee defended the depth of the vetting and said Cowell answered questions about matters raised in public materials with candor during interviews.

Cowell addressed the commission after the vote, saying he was grateful for the opportunity and promising to work with staff and the community during his first months on the job. “I am thrilled with the opportunity to join you all ... I want to assure you that you, the community, and the staff members will never doubt my commitment to the organization and to this community,” he said.

What happens next: the mayor was authorized to execute the employment agreement subject to Cowell’s signature. Commissioners noted a September strategic planning session where they expect the new manager to participate; the commission also said it expects staff to produce onboarding and orientation materials and to provide the commission with regular updates during Cowell’s initial months on the job.

Why this matters: The county manager is the chief administrative officer for Athens‑Clarke County and oversees daily operations, capital projects and implementation of commission policy. The appointment ends an extended period with interim managers and puts a permanent executive in place before several planned capital projects and a SPLOST referendum cycle that the commission has identified as priorities.