Meet Michael Stapor
I come from a working-class family in Canton, GA. As the son of Polish immigrants, I have experienced both the difficulties of hard times and the power of hard work. My parents had very little growing up. Through self-determination, they were able to start their own small businesses that help put me through school at UGA.
When I moved to district 4, however, I couldn’t stop seeing the failures of local politicians to address the needs of their most vulnerable constituents. Blind eyes were being turned to racial discrimination, affordable housing and public transportation. As I walked to class, each day, I realized not only how pressing these issues were, but how obvious the need for change was.
District 4 needs a Commissioner that understands how clear the choice is: to vote yes on racial issues such as the Linnentown Project; to vote yes on fare-free public transportation; to vote no on ANY further developments without affordable housing provisions; and to propose a tenant bill of rights.
When I realized these common-sense reforms were being so callously overlooked by local politicians who seemed out-of-touch, or even apathetic, I got angry. I am running for Commissioner of District 4 because I don’t want to be angry, I want to help Athens make progress.