and JOHN THOMPSON

[email protected]

Tuesday's election brought

a few surprises to the residents of South Fulton County.

One of the biggest shockers

saw long-time City Councilman Harvey Melear booted from the council. With

100 percent of the precincts reporting, Melear finished fifth with 285

votes. Returning to their council posts are Marian Johnson, who led the

race with 387 votes, and Frankie Arnold, who finished second with 366

voters.

"I've enjoyed my

time very much on the council. I hope I've done some good things

for the city of Fairburn. I've tried my best over the years,"

Melear said Thursday.

Political newcomer Ron Alderman

finished third with 358 votes and will be sworn into office in January.

Mario Avery finished fourth with 313 votes, while Sue Lyons placed sixth

with 100 votes.

Just up the road in Union City,

newcomer Alisa King led all the candidates with 365 votes. King will be

joined on the City Council by incumbent Helen Turner, who finished with

253 votes.

Incumbent Joan Steward finished

third with 249 votes, while Vertisha Hardrick got 172 votes and Odell

Mashburn received 161 votes.

In the race for Fulton County

Commission chairman, former chief of staff for Governor Sonny Purdue,

Karen Handel won the race handily. Handel received 34,517 votes to former

Commissioner Karen Webster's 11,697. Mitzi Bickers finished a distant

third with 9,844 votes, while Milton Farris finished last with 3,375 votes.

In a radio interview, Handel

pledged to be at work Monday and start working on the county's budget.