Nearly 200

Fayette County Republicans gave up their Saturday morning to elect officers

for the Fayette County Republican Party. Elected officers serve two-year

terms.

This year's

race was hotly contended with long-time political activist and community

volunteer Reid Spearman challenging incumbent Lane Watts for the chairman's

post.

Both candidates

pledged early to keep the race above board and congenial, a commitment

they kept. However, supporters on each side at times tossed some spice

into the election as they worked hard to garner votes for their candidates.

As a result

of the mildly contentious search for support, many new faces joined the

ranks of the faithful for the Saturday morning convention.

David Studdard,

son of Republican District Chair Jean Studdard and husband of Sheila Studdard,

Clerk of the Superior Court, was elected to chair the convention. The

Rules committee made a few minor changes to the standing Party rules,

the main change being that elected Republican Officials will be allowed

to vote as a member of the Board with certain exceptions. In the past

elected Republican officials have been invited to attend Board meetings,

but have not had a vote.

The convention

went fairly swiftly despite numerous procedural challenges. The final

vote, for the Chairman, ended in a fairly close victory for the incumbent.

Spearman immediately came to the podium to shake Watts hand and to seal

his commitment to continue to work with Watts and to support the Party.

The final vote was 100 for Watts to 89 for Spearman with two abstentions.