Editing Athens, Ohio (section)

==Government==
[[File:2020 United States Presidential Election in Athens, Ohio.svg|thumb|'''2020 Presidential Election by Precinct''' <br/> '''Biden:''' {{legend0|#86b6f2ff|50–60%}} {{legend0|#1666cbff|70–80%}} {{legend0|#0645b4ff|80–90%}} {{legend0|#002b84ff|90–100%}}]]
[[File:County Courthouse Athens OH USA.JPG|thumb|left|150px|The [[Athens Governmental Buildings|Athens County Courthouse]]]]
[[File:Athens City Hall.jpg|thumb|Athens City Hall]]
Athens is governed by a mayoral-council form of government. Elected officials include mayor, auditor, treasurer, seven council members, and council president. The mayor, auditor, and treasurer are elected for four-year terms. Council members and council president are elected for two-year terms. Four council members represent each of the city's four wards. Three council members are elected at-large. Council president only votes in case of a tie vote. City Hall is located in uptown on Washington Street.

Athens is also covered by the Athens County Department of Health, the Athens County Planning Office, and Athens County Job and Family Services. The city of Athens has a strict parking policy. The city has a Police Department since 1911 working 24/7 year round. Today the force is made up of about 30 Officers plus a like number of reserve officers and support staff.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ci.athens.oh.us/index.aspx?NID=120 |title=Athens, OH - Official Website - Police Department |publisher=Ci.athens.oh.us |access-date=2013-03-30}}</ref> According to [[Officer Down Memorial Page|ODMP]], 2 officers of the Athens Police Department have been police department.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Athens Police Department, OH |url=https://www.odmp.org/agency/174-athens-police-department-ohio |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP)}}</ref> Ohio University also has a police force with about 25 officers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohio.edu/police/|title=Ohio University Police Department - Ohio University|website=www.ohio.edu}}</ref> According to [[Officer Down Memorial Page|ODMP]], 1 officer of the Ohio University Police Department was killed in the line of duty.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ohio University Police Department, OH |url=https://www.odmp.org/agency/6781-ohio-university-police-department-ohio |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP)}}</ref> Each of these departments work well together and support each other. Both have additional help when needed by the county sheriff department. Athens Fire department founded in 1830 and became full-time in the 1930s has two stations, a staff of about 30. They work 24 on 48 hours off. The department not only covers the cities fire department needs but also that of Ohio University.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ci.athens.oh.us/index.aspx?NID=116 |title=Athens, OH - Official Website - Fire Department |publisher=Ci.athens.oh.us |access-date=2013-03-30}}</ref> The city is part of the county-wide [[Enhanced 911]] system. This system is able to locate landline or registered cell phone users, and send a text or phone call message of alert to those who sign up.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.athens911.com/|title=Athens County Ohio 911 Emergency Communications|first=Judith Winner, Athens Co. Emergency Communications & Athens Computer & Multimedia Enterprises|last=LLC.|website=www.athens911.com}}</ref>

The city has a large number of rental homes/apartments which are inspected by the Housing Code Office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ci.athens.oh.us/index.aspx?nid=114|title=Code Enforcement / Community Development - Athens, OH - Official Website|website=www.ci.athens.oh.us}}</ref>
The city of Athens is the county seat making it the home of many county government offices and the county courthouse at the corner of Court and Washington streets. Each of Athens County's three commissioners are usually from the city of Athens. Athens is a stronghold of the [[Ohio Democratic Party|Democratic Party]]. President [[Barack Obama]] visited the city and [[Ohio University]] late during the 2012 re-election campaign. The city and [[Athens County, Ohio|Athens County]] have voted [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] during all presidential elections since 1972 except for 1984.

The current mayor is Steve Patterson. A Democrat, Patterson would be elected to his third term as mayor in 2023.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://athensindependent.com/steve-patterson-wins-third-term/|title=Athens mayor Steve Patterson easily wins third term|first=Dani|last=Kington|publisher=Athens County Independent|date=November 7, 2023|accessdate=January 2, 2025}}</ref> As of January 2, 2025, Patterson also serves as President of the [[National League of Cities]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nlc.org/people/president/|title=President|publisher=National League of Cities|accessdate=January 2, 2025}}</ref>