Though it sounds

like a cliche', every vote does count. Just look at Tuesday's election

for a spot on the Tyrone Town Council. Mike Smola challenged incumbent

Ronnie Cannon and won by 16 votes, 544-528.

"Wow,

that was close," said Smola after the votes were tallied and he learned

that he had edged out Cannon for the seat. Though his campaign was quiet,

the entire town of Tyrone may have been able to hear his sigh of relief.

"I intentionally

ran a quiet campaign because my opponent is very vocal and demonstrative,"

Smola said. "I perceived that the town wanted a change and I'm looking

forward to being some new blood on the council."

Smola, a finance

manager for ASA/Delta Air Lines, has been following the goings-on in Tyrone

He sees Tyrone as a pressure point in the coming years because it is between

development in Peachtree City and development coming down Ga. Highway

74 from I-85.

"I'm a

pragmatist. I realize there will be some development," explained

Smola. "I would like to see strong adherence to the Land Use Map,

though."

Smola also

felt that Tyrone was becoming rather isolationist and having trouble getting

along with other entities, including Fayette County government. He wants

to be more practical and less emotional, while working with the consensus

of the council.

Smola is now

part of a husband-wife team in county politics, as his wife, Janet, is

a member of the Fayette County Board of Education. Both he and Janet feel

that service to the community is important and they are illustrating this

to their three sons by example.

As for a possible

recount, town manager Barry Amos and assistant manager Valerie Fowler

could not be reached until after the paper went to press. Cannon could

also not be reached for comment.

Back

to News Home Page | Back

to the top of the page