In one of the

most bitterly contested sets of elections in years, both incumbent Fayette

County Commissioners were returned to office Tuesday.

With all 36

precincts reporting, Fayette County Commission Chairman Greg Dunn defeated

Mike Wheat by a 55-45 percent margin. Dunn received 6,391 votes, while

Wheat drew 5,326 votes.

After the election

Dunn said he was glad the voters of the county could see the truth.

"There

was so much misinformation put out there. I'm just glad the voters had

sense enough to see through it," he said.

The chairman

said this was the first time in his knowledge that a candidate had used

a professional consultant to try and present an image to the voters.

"I guess

this showed that it didn't work," he said.

In the other

commission race, incumbent Linda Wells defeated Thomas Stephens and Caroline

Smith. Wells received 6,214 votes for 53 percent, while Stephens got 32

percent of the vote with 3,821 votes and Smith received 15 percent of

the total with 1,756 votes.

Candidates

and curious voters started gathering at the Fayette County Administrative

Complex early Tuesday evening to watch the results.

Across the

street at the Log Cabin, supporters of Dunn and Wells gathered to prepare

fixings for either a party of celebration or defeat.

Shortly after

8 p.m., the results started tricking in, with Dunn and Wells taking early

leads.

As the night

wore on, the percentages stayed the some and supporters of Dunn and Wells

grew more jubilant as early evening turned into night.

Stephens showed

up to also watch the returns and talked quietly with a number of supporters

at the complex.

Finally, just

before 11 p.m., the last two precincts rolled in and Dunn and Wells were

able to declare victory.

Stephens graciously

walked up to both candidates and congratulated them and then left the

complex.

As the victorious

candidates walked across the street, they were greeted with enthusiastic

shouts of "You Dunn Well" as they entered the cabin and began

celebrating their victories.

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