Athens-Clarke County Mayor Heidi Davison spoke on campus about the difficulties of implementing policy as a woman and the efforts the town is taking to combat the drought.

Davison’s lecture began the weekly Friday Women Speakers Series, hosted by the Institute for Women Studies.

She offered a few anecdotes to illustrate the situations she sometimes faces as a female politician.

“I’m surrounded most of the time by men. It’s a fact of my work,” Davison said.

The mayor recalled an instance in which she attended a ribbon cutting ceremony for a building. She said a fellow politician passed by her, greeting the other male politicians, and later returned to greet her.

“I honestly don’t think it occurred to him,” Davison said. “You walk into all these types of environments, so when I walk in I stick out like a sore thumb.”

Davison said she believes men and women approach policy-making from different angles and with different styles of leadership, but both work together to evoke change. Pointing to the 2008 presidential race, she cited candidate Hillary Clinton as an example of how the country is maturing in its acceptance of female leadership.

“It is a daunting feeling sometimes, but women need to be at the table to make policy,” Davison said. “Women bring a different tone and it is one that should be sought after, respected and used.”

Prompted by the audience, Davison also addressed concerns about the drought and the possibility of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility coming to Athens.

The facility would create more jobs in Athens and would help address the poverty in the community, she said.

“What NBAF is bringing is work already being done here,” Davison said. “We have a lot of people in Athens who are underemployed. I am underemployed. We can’t keep relying on the University for jobs.”

Davison spoke on measures being taken for water conversation and changes for the near future.

“The community did an incredible job of responding in lots of creative ways, so we met our goal,” she said.

A new water policy could increase the water bills for those who use more water. Davison and a committee are discussing a rate structure in addition to re-examining outdoor watering and low-flow toilets.

She ended with words of encouragement.

“Never underestimate the impact you can have. It may seem miniscule until you get out there and do it,” Davison said.