By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
For the past three years, James Lucas has served our city as the District 3 councilman, having been appointed by the Athens City Council in July of 2022 after the passing of Councilman Frank Travis. He is desiring to continue a lifetime of serving the city he loves, and is asking for your vote on August 26.
Mr. Lucas comes from a family of educators, and graduated from Trinity High School. His father was a teacher and a school principal, having graduated from Alabama A & M, and instilled in his children (several of whom went on to become teachers themselves) a deep love and respect for education. When it comes to serving the needs of teachers as well as students, James has his own history as the longest-sitting member of the Athens City School Board. Mr. Lucas served in that position for 27 years. He was elected as president as well as vice-president, and was also designated as a Master School Board member. In addition, in 2015 he was chosen as part of the All-State School Board. James understands the impact teachers can have on students, having been positively impacted by his English teacher, Mr. Johnson.
Mr. Lucas was drafted into the U.S. Army, served from 1963-1965, and was stationed in Hanau, Germany. “It was during the Berlin Crisis, and Vietnam was heating up,” James told me. He functioned as his artillery unit’s crew leader, and had to be “at the ready” due to the increased tensions of the Cold War that were the result of the building of the Berlin Wall. After honorably serving, he earned an A.A. degree from Alverson-Draughon Business College in business administration. James went on to work on Redstone Arsenal for Radio Corporation of America (RCA), and also worked for 31 years as a maintenance technician for Amoco Chemical.
During his time on the Athens City Council, James has worked to remedy the drainage problem that has been a part of East and West Strain Road, and especially wants to see that through to completion. The City has been able to secure a $4.5 million dollar grant to that end, and work is under way.
We talked about other progress that has been made, and James said, “We have been able to make sure that there is entertainment on the Square.” We both marveled at how now during Fridays After Five events, as well as others, you can hardly walk down the sidewalk. It’s a good problem to have.
Since 2022, the City of Athens has been able to make sure that members of the police department, as well as the fire department, get a competitive wage for putting themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe. Athens also just had the groundbreaking for Food City, a complex that is going to be even bigger than Buc-ee’s, and a Texas Roadhouse along with a new Publix are on their way.
Other projects that are on Councilman Lucas’s “radar” are improving traffic flow on Hwy 72 and Hwy 31, the desire to see the Athens Limestone Community Association create a museum that captures and displays the storied history of Trinity School, and to open a swimming pool in the general area of District 3. The closing of the pool at the Wellness Center has made it tougher especially for seniors to access low-impact ways to build and keep their health.
It is interesting to note that James’s father ran for the same District 3 council position in both 1972 as well as 1974. He didn’t win, but James told me that his dad “opened a door” for him to run, and James feels that he owes it to his father and the legacy that Mr. Lucas left to continue to serve in the same capacity his father sought. I asked James what he felt is the most important thing for a public servant to focus on, and with a thoughtful smile he said, “It’s not always easy, but I would say ‘working on myself.’”
He went on to say, “There is nothing like serving this district and my country. I am willing to help in any way I can.” A few days later I asked him, “OK, we have choices, why should I vote for you?” Here was his response: “The reason you should vote for me is that I am the best person to represent the district, have lived in it all my adult life, and can relate to the needs of the people.” If this is the type of leadership and experience you desire for District 3, then vote for James Lucas and return him to Athens City Council.
By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
June 20, 2025
