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<p>Community leaders are already standing with Stephanie Stephens-Lanham.</p>

<h2>STEPHANIE STEPHENS-LANHAM</h2>

<h6>PASTOR, Unionville Missionary Baptist Church</h6>

<h4>Dr. Ike E. Mack</h4>

<h6>FORMER PASTOR OF BEthel AME Church</h6>

<h4>Rev. Marvin Colbert</h4>

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<h1>Growth, Safety, and Opportunity — For District 5.</h1>

<p>Running for County Commission means listening to what matters to you. Whether you have questions about the campaign, want to volunteer, or just want to talk about what's happening in District 5—reach out.<br></p><p>Stephanie's <strong>committed</strong> to being accessible and responsive. That's what real representation looks like.</p>

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<p>These are some of the <strong>top priorities</strong> our campaign is focused on.</p>

<h2>Fighting for Our Community</h2>

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<p>Supporting our police with competitive pay, professional training, and community policing. Building a new jail facility that provides humane conditions and meets modern standards. Our community deserves both safety and dignity.</p>

<h2>Professional Public Safety Standards</h2>

<p>Creating real pathways to success through job training and trades education. Not every young person goes to college, and that's perfectly fine. Every student in District 5 deserves opportunities to build a meaningful career and a stable future.</p>

<h2>Youth Opportunity &amp; Career Pathways</h2>

<p>Thoughtful blight removal that preserves what makes our neighborhoods special. Affordable housing solutions that keep families rooted in our community. Development should strengthen District 5, not change its character.</p>

<h2>Responsible Neighborhood Development</h2>

<p>Regular town halls where your voice is heard. Transparent budgets so you know how your tax dollars work. A commissioner who shows up, listens, and follows through. You deserve leadership that's present and responsive.</p>

<h2>Accountable, Accessible Government</h2>

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<p>District 5 deserves a leader who shows up and does the work. Join our campaign for updates on volunteer opportunities, community events, and ways you can help bring dedicated, experienced leadership to our community. Together, we can make a difference.</p>

<p>For 36 years, I wore the uniform of the United States Army. When 9/11 happened and my term was up, I didn't walk away—I re-enlisted and gave America another 8 years. <strong>Now I want to serve District 5 with that same dedication, integrity, and commitment to every single person.</strong> This isn't about politics for me. This is about serving my home.</p>

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<h2>About Stephanie Stephens-Lanham</h2><span class="image image-framed image-left image-tilt-left" style="width: 30%;"><span class="image-inner-wrapper"><img src="https://run.imgix.net/0f24e626-ea19-4603-8caa-0cb5efbf3bc0/fb0f561b-9248-4aab-a7b9-42d90f8f87ed/fb0f561b-9248-4aab-a7b9-42d90f8f87ed.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C2731%2C3465&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="30" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"></span><span class="caption" style="display: none;"></span></span><h5 style="text-align: left;">"After 9/11, when my military term was up, I didn't walk away—I gave America another 8 years. Now I want to serve District 5 with that same dedication, integrity, and commitment to every single person."</h5><p><strong>Stephanie Stephens-Lanham </strong>isn't new to service. For 36 years, she wore the uniform of the United States military, serving through Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom. When the towers fell on September 11th, she made a choice that defined her character: she re-enlisted, giving eight more years to protect the country she loves.</p><p>Stephanie grew up right here in the neighborhoods she's running to serve. She lived in Pleasant Hill and attended Clisby Elementary School, then lived off Vineville near Payne City where she attended Bellevue Elementary and Miller A Middle School. She graduated from Central High School in 1987 before dedicating her life to service—first in uniform, and now as a healthcare professional.</p><p>Today, Stephanie lives in District 5 with her husband, a disabled veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. She worships at Union Missionary Baptist Church and remains deeply connected to the community that raised her.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p><strong>She's not running for political ambition or personal gain. She's running because District 5 deserves a leader who grew up here, understands this community, and will show up every day to fight for its future.</strong></p>

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<p>Join Stephanie's grassroots movement to bring dedicated leadership to District 5. Stay connected with campaign updates, volunteer opportunities, and ways to make a difference in our community.</p>

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<p>Stephanie Stephens-Lanham has spent 36 years serving this country in uniform. Now she's ready to serve District 5 with that same dedication. These are the issues she'll fight for as your commissioner.</p>

<h2>Stephanies’s Top Issues</h2>

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<p>The neighborhoods of District 5 are what make this community home. They're where we raised our kids, where we know our neighbors, and where our families have invested for generations. Development should strengthen that — not erase it.</p><p>Macon-Bibb County has made real progress in the fight against blight. Since 2021, the county has demolished over 700 blighted structures, and the new blight tax and Land Bank Authority are creating tools to return neglected properties to productive use. That progress matters, and I respect the work that's been done.</p><p>But demolition is only the first step. Tearing down a dangerous house doesn't automatically build a stronger neighborhood. What happens to that vacant lot afterward — who builds on it, what they build, and whether the people who already live there can afford to stay — that's the part that requires real attention, and that's where I want to make sure District 5 has a strong voice at the table.</p><h4>Here's what I'll fight for as your Commissioner:</h4><p><strong>Thoughtful Blight Removal That Leads to Rebuilding.</strong> I support continuing the blight fight, but I want to make sure every demolition comes with a plan for what comes next. Vacant lots shouldn't sit empty for years. I will push the Land Bank Authority and our planning agencies to prioritize rebuilding on cleared properties — with input from the neighbors who live there, not just developers who don't.</p><p><strong>Affordable Housing That Keeps Families in their Community.</strong> As our county commissions its first comprehensive housing study in years, I will fight to ensure affordable housing is a central priority — not an afterthought. District 5 families shouldn't be priced out of the neighborhoods they've called home for decades. I support expanding partnerships with Habitat for Humanity, NewTown Macon, and other organizations that are building affordable homes for working families.</p><p><strong>Preserve Neighborhood Character.</strong> Development should fit the community, not replace it. I will advocate for zoning and land use decisions that respect the character of our established neighborhoods. When developers come to the table, residents should have a real seat — and a real say — in what gets built next door.</p><p><strong>Address Illegal Dumping and Environmental Neglect.</strong> Too many neighborhoods in District 5 are dealing with illegal dumping, overgrown lots, and environmental neglect that makes our streets feel forgotten. This isn't just an eyesore — it's a public health and safety issue. I will work with Code Enforcement, Public Works, and community organizations to increase cleanups, strengthen enforcement, and create reporting systems that actually lead to action.</p><p><strong>Smart Infrastructure Investment.</strong> Our roads, sidewalks, drainage, and lighting need attention. I will advocate for District 5's fair share of SPLOST and infrastructure funding to improve the basics that affect our quality of life every single day.</p><p>I've lived in this community my whole life. I raised my family here. I'm not running to change District 5 — I'm running to make sure it gets the investment and attention it deserves, on our terms.</p>

<p>Development should strengthen District 5 and create opportunity for the people who already live here. Stephanie will work to attract new businesses, remove blight with real redevelopment plans, protect affordable housing, and make sure our district gets its fair share of SPLOST investment.</p>

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<p>Not every young person in District 5 is going to college — and that's perfectly fine. What's not fine is leaving them without a path forward.</p><p>Every student in our community deserves the opportunity to build a meaningful career and a stable future, whether that's through a four-year degree, a technical certification, an apprenticeship, or learning a skilled trade. Right now, too many of our young people are falling through the cracks — not because they lack talent or drive, but because we haven't given them enough options.</p><p>Macon-Bibb County already has some strong foundations to build on. The Hutchings College and Career Academy is doing important work connecting students to career pathways, and the new Innovation and Technology Academy is expanding opportunities in advanced manufacturing and robotics. WorkSource Macon-Bibb provides job training for young adults ages 16 to 24. Central Georgia Technical College partners with the county on GED programs and industry certifications in welding, industrial maintenance, and early childhood education.</p><p>But here's the truth: these programs aren't reaching enough people, and they aren't connected enough to each other. We need a commissioner who will be a bridge between our schools, our workforce programs, and our employers — someone who will hold everyone accountable for results, not just plans.</p><h4>Here's what I'll fight for as your Commissioner:</h4><p><strong>Expand Access to Trades Education.</strong> I will advocate for more partnerships between our schools, Central Georgia Technical College, and local employers to create direct pipelines from the classroom to careers in healthcare, construction, manufacturing, logistics, and IT. Robins Air Force Base and our growing industrial sector need skilled workers — our young people should be first in line.</p><p><strong>Support Apprenticeship and Earn-While-You-Learn Programs.</strong> Young people shouldn't have to choose between a paycheck and an education. I will push for expanded apprenticeship programs that let our students earn a living while gaining real-world skills and industry certifications that employers actually value.</p><p><strong>Invest in Career Readiness Before Graduation.</strong> Career preparation should start long before a student walks across the stage. I support expanded career counseling, job shadowing, and internship opportunities in our middle and high schools so students can explore their options early and graduate with a plan — not just a diploma.</p><p><strong>Close the Gap for Out-of-School and Disconnected Youth.</strong> Not every young person in District 5 is currently in school or employed. I will champion programs that reach the young adults who are disconnected from both — connecting them to GED programs, job training, mentorship, and wraparound services like transportation and childcare that remove barriers to their success.</p><p>I was the first in my family to graduate college. I know what it means to find your path when no one has walked it before you. I also know that college isn't the only path, and it shouldn't be treated like it is. Every young person in District 5 deserves real options and real support to build the life they want.</p>

<p>Not every young person goes to college, and that's perfectly fine. What's not fine is leaving them without a path forward. Stephanie will push for trades education, job training, mentorship programs, and summer employment so every young person in District 5 has a real shot at a stable future.</p>

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<p>After 36 years of military service, I understand what it takes to keep people safe — and I know that real safety starts with the right standards, the right training, and the right people.</p><p>Macon-Bibb County deserves a public safety system that our families can count on. Right now, our Sheriff's Office has roughly half the patrol deputies it needs, and the deputies we do have are stretched thin — working double and triple shifts just to cover their routes. Meanwhile, our starting salaries for certified officers lag behind smaller neighboring counties like Jones and Monroe. That's not a recipe for safety. That's a recipe for burnout and turnover.</p><p>And I have serious concerns about lowering the minimum age for deputies to 18 years old. Policing is one of the most complex, high-stakes jobs there is. It requires maturity, judgment, and the ability to de-escalate life-and-death situations in a split second. We shouldn't be asking teenagers to carry that weight. Our community deserves officers with the experience and training to do the job right.</p><h5>Here's what I'll fight for as your Commissioner:</h5><p><strong>Competitive Pay That Attracts and Retains Quality Officers.</strong> If Jones County and Monroe County can pay their deputies more than we do, we need to fix that. Macon-Bibb allocates nearly half its budget to public safety — we should be using those resources to offer salaries that attract experienced, professional law enforcement, not scrambling to fill seats.</p><p><strong>Raise Professional Standards.</strong> I will advocate for restoring the minimum age requirement for deputies to 21 and ensuring every officer who patrols our streets has the maturity, training, and judgment the job demands. I also support requiring ongoing professional development, de-escalation training, and community policing practices so that every interaction between law enforcement and residents is based in respect and accountability.</p><p><strong>A Jail Facility That Meets Modern Standards.</strong> Our county jail is overcrowded — housing over 1,000 people in a facility with a capacity of 966. People have died in that facility. We cannot look away from that. I support the planned jail expansion and medical annex, and I will push to ensure this project stays on track, on budget, and includes the mental health beds and medical infrastructure our incarcerated population needs. Safety and dignity are not mutually exclusive.</p><p><strong>Community Policing That Builds Trust.</strong> Public safety isn't just about responding to emergencies — it's about building relationships before the crisis happens. I want to see deputies who know our neighborhoods, attend our community meetings, and are invested in the people they serve. That's how you reduce crime for the long term.</p><p>I served in Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom. My husband is a disabled veteran. I understand service, sacrifice, and the discipline it takes to do a hard job well. I'll bring that same standard to public safety in District 5.</p>

<p>Our officers deserve competitive pay, professional training, and the resources to do their jobs right. Stephanie supports exploring a municipal police department, major jail renovations with a path to a new facility, and dedicated mental health response in policing. After 36 years in uniform, she knows what professional standards look like.</p>

<h5>When a 7-year-old gets shot in our community, that's not a statistic. That's somebody's child. That's a failure we all have to own — and a fight we all have to be in. I didn't serve 36 years in uniform to come home and watch our neighborhoods live in fear.</h5><p>Let's be honest about where we are. Macon-Bibb County has one of the highest violent crime rates in the state of Georgia. In 2022, our community recorded over 70 homicides — a devastating number that put us in national headlines for the wrong reasons. Property crime remains stubbornly high, with residents facing a 1-in-40 chance of becoming a victim. Car thefts, burglaries, and armed robberies continue to shake the sense of security that every family in District 5 deserves.</p><p>But here's what's also true: Macon-Bibb has made real progress. Since 2022, homicides have dropped by 60%, falling from over 70 to 29 in 2025. Youth homicides have plummeted by 87%. The county's Macon Violence Prevention program, which has invested more than $21 million in community intervention, technology, and prevention programs, has been recognized statewide and nationally for its results. That progress is real, and it matters.</p><p>The problem is that progress isn't enough when our neighborhoods are still under siege. Just this past weekend, Macon saw eight separate shootings in less than 48 hours — four people killed, nine wounded, including a 7-year-old boy. A triple homicide on Moseley Avenue. A family destroyed when an eviction notice turned fatal on Ridgeview Circle. These aren't things that happen somewhere else. They happen here. They happen to us.</p><p><span style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);"><strong style="color: var(--color-text); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text);">Stephanie believes that reducing crime requires honesty about both the progress and the problems — and a commissioner who will fight on every front, not just the ones that make for easy talking points.</strong></span></p><p><strong>Continue What's Working</strong></p><p>The Macon Violence Prevention program is saving lives. Since 2021, the program has awarded nearly $3 million to more than 50 local organizations doing the on-the-ground work of mentoring young people, providing mental health services, and interrupting cycles of violence before they turn deadly. Programs like 100 Black Men of Macon, Next Level Community Development Center, and the Girls Dig Deeper Initiative are reaching hundreds of young people who might otherwise fall through the cracks. Stephanie will fight to sustain and expand this funding because cutting what's working would be irresponsible.</p><p>Technology is giving law enforcement better tools. The county has invested $4.5 million in ShotSpotter gunfire detection, 150 Flock Safety license plate reader cameras, and approximately 500 Verkada surveillance cameras in downtown and public housing areas. These systems are helping the sheriff's office recover roughly 20 stolen vehicles per month and intercept more than 100 wanted persons per month. ShotSpotter data has been used to solve homicide cases by linking shell casings across incidents. Stephanie supports the responsible use of these technologies with proper oversight and privacy protections.</p><p>The DA's R.I.S.E. program is growing. The District Attorney's Restoring Inspiration by Success in Education program saw its graduate count increase from 26 to 122, steering young people away from the criminal justice system and toward productive futures. Programs like this reduce recidivism and break cycles of violence. Stephanie supports expanding these intervention pathways.</p><h4>Address What Isn't</h4><p>We need more officers on the street. Since consolidation in 2014, Bibb County has gone from over 200 patrol officers to roughly 83 — less than half. That means longer 911 response times, less traffic enforcement, and fewer deputies available when neighborhoods need them most. The sheriff's office is approximately 80 deputies short of its budgeted strength. Stephanie will push for competitive compensation packages that attract and retain experienced law enforcement professionals, not just widen the age range of applicants.</p><p>We need to address the root causes. Crime doesn't happen in a vacuum. Poverty, unemployment, lack of youth programming, untreated mental illness, housing instability — these are the conditions that breed violence. Stephanie will advocate for job training programs, expanded afterschool and summer programs, and accessible mental health services that reach District 5 residents where they are. Opportunity is one of the most powerful crime prevention tools we have.</p><p>We need more streetlights and safer infrastructure. Dark streets and neglected public spaces invite criminal activity. Something as straightforward as functioning streetlights in every District 5 neighborhood can make a measurable difference in both the reality and the perception of safety. Stephanie will push for infrastructure investments that make our streets safer to walk, drive, and live on.</p><p>We need dedicated mental health crisis response. Not every 911 call requires a deputy with a badge and a gun. When someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, they need a trained professional who can de-escalate the situation and connect them with services — not an armed response that can turn a health emergency into a tragedy. Stephanie supports dedicated mental health crisis teams that work alongside law enforcement to respond to the right calls with the right people.</p><p>We need to hold property owners accountable. Apartment complexes with repeated violent incidents, like the Autumn Trace Apartments — where multiple shootings have occurred in less than a year — cannot be allowed to operate as crime magnets. Stephanie supports aggressive enforcement of code and safety standards for landlords and property managers, and will advocate for the county to use every tool available to hold negligent property owners accountable for the safety of their tenants and surrounding neighborhoods.</p><h4>A Commissioner Who Shows Up</h4><p>Reducing crime in District 5 isn't just about policy positions. It's about having a commissioner who is present, engaged, and willing to do the hard work of advocating for our neighborhoods at the county level. That means fighting for District 5's fair share of public safety resources. That means sitting down with the sheriff, the DA, community organizations, and residents to coordinate efforts. That means showing up after a shooting — not to make a speech, but to listen, and to follow through.</p><p>Stephanie spent 36 years serving this country in uniform. She knows that protecting a community takes discipline, investment, coordination, and a refusal to accept the unacceptable. She's not running to play politics with public safety. She's running to work — every single day — to make District 5 a place where families feel safe in their homes, children can play outside, and no parent has to wonder if their kid is going to make it home.</p>

<p>Homicides are down 60% since 2022, but our community is still losing too many lives to gun violence. Stephanie will fight to continue what's working — like the MVP program — while pushing for more officers on the street, better-lit neighborhoods, and accountability for property owners who let crime fester.</p>

<h2>Reducing Crime &amp; Building Safer Neighborhoods</h2>

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<p>You shouldn't have to wonder what your county commissioner is doing or whether they're listening. You deserve a representative who shows up, tells you the truth, and follows through.</p><p>Too often in local government, decisions get made behind closed doors, budgets get passed without real public input, and commissioners disappear between elections. District 5 deserves better than that. You deserve a commissioner who treats this seat as what it is — a responsibility to serve, not a title to hold.</p><p>That's the standard I held myself to for 36 years in the United States Army, and it's the standard I'll bring to the Macon-Bibb County Commission.</p><h4>Here's what I'll commit to as your Commissioner:</h4><p><strong>Regular Town Halls Where Your Voice Is Heard.</strong> I will hold regular, publicly announced town hall meetings across District 5 — not once a year, not just when something goes wrong, but consistently. These won't be staged events. They'll be open forums where you can ask questions, raise concerns, and get honest answers. If I don't have an answer, I'll find one and get back to you.</p><p><strong>Transparent Budgets So You Know How Your Tax Dollars Work.</strong> Macon-Bibb County's budget is over $300 million a year. You have every right to know where that money goes and whether District 5 is getting its fair share. I will push for clear, accessible budget reporting and fight to make sure our district's roads, schools, public safety, and services reflect the taxes our residents pay.</p><p><strong>A Commissioner Who Shows Up.</strong> This isn't a part-time commitment for me. I will attend commission meetings, serve on committees, visit neighborhoods, return phone calls, and be present in the community. If there's a problem on your street, I want to hear about it — and I want to help fix it.</p><p><strong>Responsive Constituent Services.</strong> When you call your commissioner's office with a problem — a pothole, a code violation, a question about services — you should get a response. I will establish a clear, reliable system for tracking and responding to resident concerns so that nothing falls through the cracks.</p><p><strong>Hold the County Accountable on Its Promises.</strong> From the jail expansion to blight removal to workforce programs, Macon-Bibb County has made a lot of commitments. I will be a commissioner who tracks those promises and holds the county accountable for delivering results — not just announcements.</p><p>I've spent my career in service — to my country, to my family, and to this community. I'm not running for office to climb a ladder. I'm running because District 5 deserves leadership that is present, honest, and accountable. That's what I'll deliver.</p>

<p>District 5 deserves a commissioner who shows up, listens, and follows through. Stephanie will hold regular town halls, fight for transparent budgets, and make herself available to the residents she serves. That's not extraordinary — that's the job.</p>

Stephanie Stephens-Lanham is running for Macon-Bibb County Commission District 5 in the March 17, 2026 special election. A 36-year military veteran who re-enlisted after 9/11, Stephanie brings a lifetime of service to District 5. Born and raised in Macon, she attended Central High School and now works as a healthcare professional. Stephanie is committed to professional public safety, youth opportunities, responsible development, and accountable government for all District 5 residents.