Fayette County has a commission-administrative

form of government. The commission is responsible for both legislative

(policy making) and executive functions of government.

The statements from Mike Wheat's

campaign did a great disservice to all of our commissioners. We have a

community of almost 100,000 people and just based on the time they have

spent answering my questions, talking with citizens is time-consuming.

I was told the county chairman

serves on seven or eight different committees and boards as part of his

or her job, some requiring monthly meetings in Atlanta to represent the

county. Some of the other commissioners also serve on local committees

and boards as part of their job. The commissioners have to attend conferences

and overnight meetings on occasion, too.

Prior to going to one of those

"three or four meetings," the commissioners visit properties,

talk with individuals and companies coming before the board, do research

on various issues and address legal matters. I would have a serious problem

if our commissioners showed up at a meeting and voted without doing some

research on issues involving the future of our county, not to mention

huge sums of taxpayer's money.

Based on what is involved in

helping with my company's budget, the county's budget process alone must

take a phenomenal amount of time. I simply don't remember all the things

I learned they do on a daily basis.

I hate to do this to our already

busy part-time commissioners, but I would encourage anyone who wonders

about the job to call and talk with them before swallowing the view of

the job presented by Mike Wheat's campaign lock, stock and barrel.

I would again encourage Mr.

Wheat to look into the job a little closer and learn a bit more about

how it works and what is involved, unless he already knows and is just

trying to dupe the pubic into thinking that's all the job entails to create

an issue. If I'm not mistaken, the pay raise system was put into place

way back when to avoid just what Mr. Wheat is trying to do, which is to

politicize the issue.

Apologies to the Mike Wheat

campaign if stating my opinion is construed as an "attack."

I perceived your campaign's statements inferring that Commissioner Dunn

and the commissioners didn't earn their salaries as an attack and felt

the need to learn a little and respond.

Lisa Brown

[email protected]