Debra Wathen is an Atlanta native and a University of Georgia graduate. She began her career as a CPA at Ernst & Young, later founded her own accounting firm, and then served as Chief Financial Officer for a post-production company, helping it grow from 10 employees to more than 100. While raising four children, she also worked in her family’s mortgage business.

For the past 15 years, Debra has been a member of the Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods, serving as Chair for the last four years. As she steps down from the Council, she remains deeply committed to strengthening Atlanta’s communities by working collaboratively with City, County, and State leaders to preserve and enhance quality of life.

In 2022, Debra founded the Buckhead Public Safety Foundation in response to rising crime. With public and private support, the Foundation helped deploy three fully equipped police cruisers donated by the Atlanta Police Foundation and fund off-duty patrols in Buckhead’s commercial corridors, contributing to consecutive years of reduced crime in Zone 2.

Debra brings a results-driven, collaborative approach to community service, with a strong commitment to transparent governance, fiscal responsibility, and thoughtful planning that supports a safer, more vibrant, and truly livable Buckhead.