The biggest secret this election season may be found at the bottom of the

July 20 ballot.

Fayette County voters will decide next Tuesday if liquor by the drink should

be served in the unincorporated county.

"I'm really surprised nobody on either side has done anything," said

Fayette County Commission Chairman Greg Dunn.

In March, the commission voted 3-1-1 to add liquor by the drink to the July

primary election.

Commissioners Greg Dunn, Linda Wells and Peter Pfeifer supported the issue,

while A.G. VanLandingham voted against it, and Herb Frady abstained.

March's vote was the second time the issue had been discussed by the

commission, and Pfeifer proved to be the swing vote. In January, the commission

took no action on the request from John Boykin, who is the CEO at The Palmer

Course at Starr's Mill, the former Whitewater Country Club.

The proposal came back before the board because Boykin, along with representatives

from The Italian Oven and Olde Mill Steakhouse, had sent letters to the commission

asking them to make a decision.

"We're just putting it before the voters and staying out of the

process," Dunn said.

Voters in unincorporated Coweta County voted March 2 to allow liquor by

the drink, and Tyrone voters approved the issue last fall. All of Fayette's

largest cities currently sell liquor by the drink in restaurants.

Beer and wine sales currently are permitted in the unincorporated areas

of Fayette.