Next Tuesday I'll be voting

for two Fayette County Commission candidates, plus a slug of other state

and federal offices. I'll tell you some of whom and then why.

For Post 5, Greg Dunn.

For Post 4, Linda Wells.

First of all, I don't perceive

any villains in this election scenario. Despite all the political heat

in these two races, what you have are well-intentioned folks who have

very different visions for the future of our county. For me, this election

is primarily a question of philosophies, rather than personalities.

At one time or another I have

met all five of the candidates in both races. I believe they all mean

well for Fayette and its people. The differences lie in what will motivate

them to vote in particular ways. So let's talk philosophies.

Greg Dunn has done what he

said he would: Slow rampant rezonings. Except for one mistake in rezoning

in the Starr's Mill area, he has scrupulously upheld the overall county

land use plan. The angry rezoning crowds of the 1994-1998 period are history.

Fewer folks are angry at the county government. More people trust their

elected county representatives than in that previous unlamented administration.

In the final analysis, zoning

along with water and sewer availability determines many elements we lump

together as "quality of life." Dunn has been a trustworthy warrior

on behalf of the majority of homeowners and property owners in Fayette

County.

Dunn is not my favorite politician;

he rubs a lot of people the wrong way with his brisk manner. He can be

imperious. I think he's wrong on open meetings issues. But he's the Fayette

homeowner's best hope for maintaining our current quality of life. And

for me, that comes first.

Linda Wells wears the same

label as Dunn: Protect the homeowners and the current Fayette quality

of life. She is a fiscal hawk. She did what she said she was going to

do when we elected her four years ago. The massive rezonings stopped.

And the decisions have held up in court. I expect she will do the same

for the next four years.

Why not Wheat? Maybe I'm afraid

that Mike will approach Fayette County as just an extension of Fayetteville,

where he managed an astounding expansion of territory and oversaw the

explosion of commercial rezoning. Maybe I'm afraid he will bargain away

what's left of Fayette's integrity as a political entity to the grasping

tentacles of regional, unelected agencies that seek to control our local

decisions.

His opponents have pointed

to Fayetteville as example number one why Fayette voters should beware

of Wheat. I won't dispute that. His philosophy may work well to increase

densities and welcome developers to a small and ambitious city. That same

philosophy likely will work to the detriment of most of Fayette's homeowners.

Thomas Stephens is my nomination

for "Stealth Candidate" 2002. He has few discernible positions,

and NONE on rezoning issues. He has a lot of money and has spent it freely,

more than any other candidate. And to what end?

Because he doesn't like the

method of funding for the new courthouse? Methinks I smell more here than

meets the eye.

I think he likely will be much

more rezoning-friendly than anyone now on the board, maybe even more than

Wheat would be.

Stephens is a personable guy.

But I don't trust him to do what the majority of homeowners in Fayette

expect from their commissioners.

Caroline Smith has served her

community of Brooks well. But I think this is not her time nor her race.

No extra charge: State school

superintendent, Mitch Kaye.

U.S. Senate, Bob Irvin. Governor,

GOP, Sonny Perdue.