Until now, the 1998 election talk in Fayette County has

all been about Republicans.

Now that the General Primary is out of the way, the

Democrats in the race, who have been waiting in the wings, are making

their entrance. Their candidacy has been quiet so far, because

there was no opposition within the party.

Five Democrats will offer as candidates in the local

General Election Nov. 3:

Carolyn K. Fludd is running for Post 5 on the Fayette

County Board of Education, facing Mickey Littlefield, who had

no opposition for the Republican nomination.

Roger B. Marietta is offering for Post 4 on the school

board, facing Greg Powers, who defeated incumbent Dr. Bob

Todd for the GOP nomination.

Greg Hecht faces Republican Bill Bonner for state

Senate District 34. Bonner won the Republican nomination in a field

of four candidates.

Bruce L. Bannister will take on Linda Wells, who

emerged from a field of three to win the GOP nomination in County

Commission Post 4.

Stuart F. Barnes is seeking County Commission Post 5.

Greg Dunn won the Republican nomination in a field of three.

Here's a little information about the Democrats.

Carolyn Fludd

Fludd is a four-year resident of Fayette, a local

businesswoman, and leads the parent organization

at North Fayette Elementary School. She is a

member of the Fayette PTA/PTO Presidents Council, and says her

perspective as a parent volunteer has helped her develop insight

and ideas "to build bridges for the county's future growth."

"As parents, those concerns that we have for our very

own children are the same ones that I will be entrusted with while

serving as the children's representative on the Board of

Education," she said. "I feel honored

running because so many parents asked me to do so," she added.

"They know that I have a genuine interest in the children and the

parents felt that I knew and understood their needs too."

Fludd was born in Chester, Pa., and holds a BS degree in

business from Hampton University, Hampton, Va.

Roger Marietta

Marietta is an associate professor at Darton College, a

two-year college in the University System of Georgia, and has 15 years

of teaching experience.

He also works as a real estate agent for Pacesetter Realty

in Fayetteville.

A resident of Fayetteville, he previously served as the

city's mayor.

In 1997-98, he was named to "Who's Who Among

American Community College Teachers" and was selected for the

1998 NISOD Award of Excellence. He also was nominated for

Darton's Teacher of the Year award.

Marietta said he will emphasize three points in his

campaign: "open meetings, fair hearings for all, and making students count."

Greg Hecht

Hecht is currently a member of the state House of

Representatives and said he has authored safe schools legislation, laws

to protect children from abuse, ethics legislation, laws to

reduce voter fraud and laws to protect senior citizens' property

interests; sponsored laws to protect the Hope Scholarship and

sponsored tough DUI legislation, and has carried legislation for other

interested parties, strengthening the state's crime laboratory,

strengthening sexual predator registration requirements, and

decreasing frivolous lawsuits and defenses.

A native Georgian, Hecht is a graduate of the University

of Georgia Law School and was an assistant district attorney

for Clayton County and ad hoc prosecutor for the city of Fayetteville.

He owns a law practice, Fincher and Hecht LLC, is a leader in

Boy scouts and is involved in Habitat for Humanity, Kiwanis,

the Alzheimers Support Group, Partners in Education and the

First United Methodist Church.

Bruce Bannister

A former city councilman (eight years) and mayor

(four years) in East Point, Ga., Bannister said he believes in

conservative spending, holding the line on taxes, controlling growth with

a well-thought-out land use plan, protecting property rights, and

the citizens' right to speak out at commission meetings.

"I want to get rid of government against the people and bring

back government for the people," said Bannister.

He also proposes a fine of $4,000 for any

commissioner who votes on a rezoning petition in which he or she has a

financial interest, "either through an undisclosed business relationship or

a personal friendship," he said. And he would reduce

commissioners' salaries by $3,000. "These

dollars saved could be better spent on projects to benefit senior

citizens and youth activities," he said.

Bannister received the Atlanta Journal/Constitution

South Fulton Extra Community Service Award in 1984, and was

appointed by Gov. Jimmy Carter to the advisory council for the

Georgia Crime Information Center.

An Army veteran, he is a resident of Tyrone.

Suart Barnes

A resident of Fayetteville and owner of The Book Worm on

Ga. Highway 85, Barnes worked for Eastern Airlines for 21 years

after serving in the U.S. Navy.

Saying he prefers to run "an old-fashioned, grass roots

campaign," Barnes has vowed to accept no campaign

contributions, "to preclude any conflict of

interest and to insure that when elected [my] only allegiance will be to

the people of our county and what is in the best interest both now

and in the future for Fayette County."

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