Christine Howard has been appointed as the new Clerk of Commission for the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov), following a unanimous vote by the ACCGov Commission during its regular session on October 7, 2025. She will assume her duties starting November 9, 2025.
Howard brings three decades of experience with ACCGov to her new role. Since October 2022, she served as Executive Assistant to Mayor Kelly Girtz. Her previous positions include Deputy Clerk of Commission from 2015 to 2022 and various administrative roles in the Sheriff’s Office over nearly twenty 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.”
The appointment follows the retirement of former Clerk of Commission Jean Spratlin in June 2025 after more than fifty years with both the City of Athens and ACCGov. In response, District 5 Commissioner Dexter Fisher chaired a hiring committee that conducted a national search, reviewed applications, interviewed candidates, and ultimately recommended Howard for the position at the October meeting.
The Clerk of Commission serves as a charter officer appointed by the commission, with responsibilities outlined in ACCGov’s founding charter. The office maintains records related to commission operations and activities, certifies ordinances, attests signatures from the mayor, and provides support services for city officials. The two-person office is based in City Hall.
More details about the role are available at www.accgov.com/clerkofcommission or by calling 706-613-3031.
