Residents in Coweta and Fayette counties head to the polls Tuesday to determine

a number of local races.

In Coweta County, voters will decide who will fill the big shoes of County

Commissioner Vernon "Mutt" Hunter. Political newcomers Ricky Ragan

and Paul Poole were the top two vote-getters in the July 20 primary, and

both have emphasized their Coweta County roots during the campaign.

Coweta voters will also decide a school board race. Incumbent Allan Payton

faces Frank Farmer for the District 2 at-large seat. If Payton wins, he would

be the only incumbent school board member to win re-election. Board members

Marihope Troutman and Rick Melville lost during the July primaries.

Both Fayette and Coweta voters will help decide who will be the Republican

nominee for the Eighth Congressional District seat.

Long-time state legislator Lynn Westmoreland is facing off against Dylan

Glenn. The race has become increasingly negative with Westmoreland accusing

Glenn of being an outsider to the area.

In Fayette, voters will also choose three new legislators. In the Senate

District 16 race, political newcomer Ronnie Chance is facing former Fayette

County Commissioner Bill Bonner. In the House District 72 race, former legislator

Dan Lakly faces Alison Chambers. Roberta Abdul-Salaam faces George Jeburk

in the District 74 House race, which covers part of northern Fayette County.

The polls are open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. As it was the week before the primary,

early voting is available this week, concluding at the end of business today

at each county's election office.