Mayor Kelly Girtz has appointed former planning director Brad Griffin as the interim manager of Athens-Clarke County. Griffin will oversee the county government’s daily operations and manage more than 1,800 employees during a national search for a permanent manager.

“In his role as planning director, Brad was always graceful in engaging with people outside the organization,” Girtz said. “That’s part of what you need in a city-county manager is somebody who can have conversations about in-house and then out in public that is successful and professional.”

After retiring in June 2024, following 24 years of service as the planning department director, Griffin brings extensive knowledge of local government operations, having been deeply involved in county affairs.

Collaboration with the manager’s office, the mayor and commission, and the broader community marked his time as planning director. His familiarity with the county’s technical systems, laws and ordinances has been emphasized as a significant asset in his new role.

“Brad Griffin was the planning director for almost 30 years with being in the organization for almost 35 years, so he knew things in and out, and he knows the technical system,” Girtz said. “He knows how the law and ordinances work specifically in his role as planning director.”

Griffin’s appointment follows the departure of former Acting Manager Niki Jones, who accepted a position in Raleigh, North Carolina. A comprehensive search for a permanent manager will commence this year, subject to Mayor Girtz’s approval.

De’Ondre Harris is a senior majoring in journalism at the University of Georgia.