Wednesday, August 14, 2002
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Wednesday, August 14, 2002 |
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Political picks: Nice guys vs. what's best for all of Fayette By
CAL BEVERLY Next Tuesday I'll be voting for two Fayette County Commission candidates, plus a slug of other state and federal offices. I'll tell you some of whom and then why.
For Post 5, Greg Dunn.
For Post 4, Linda Wells.
First of all, I don't perceive any villains in this election scenario. Despite all the political heat in these two races, what you have are well-intentioned folks who have very different visions for the future of our county. For me, this election is primarily a question of philosophies, rather than personalities. At one time or another I have met all five of the candidates in both races. I believe they all mean well for Fayette and its people. The differences lie in what will motivate them to vote in particular ways. So let's talk philosophies. Greg Dunn has done what he said he would: Slow rampant rezonings. Except for one mistake in rezoning in the Starr's Mill area, he has scrupulously upheld the overall county land use plan. The angry rezoning crowds of the 1994-1998 period are history. Fewer folks are angry at the county government. More people trust their elected county representatives than in that previous unlamented administration. In the final analysis, zoning along with water and sewer availability determines many elements we lump together as "quality of life." Dunn has been a trustworthy warrior on behalf of the majority of homeowners and property owners in Fayette County. Dunn is not my favorite politician; he rubs a lot of people the wrong way with his brisk manner. He can be imperious. I think he's wrong on open meetings issues. But he's the Fayette homeowner's best hope for maintaining our current quality of life. And for me, that comes first. Linda Wells wears the same label as Dunn: Protect the homeowners and the current Fayette quality of life. She is a fiscal hawk. She did what she said she was going to do when we elected her four years ago. The massive rezonings stopped. And the decisions have held up in court. I expect she will do the same for the next four years. Why not Wheat? Maybe I'm afraid that Mike will approach Fayette County as just an extension of Fayetteville, where he managed an astounding expansion of territory and oversaw the explosion of commercial rezoning. Maybe I'm afraid he will bargain away what's left of Fayette's integrity as a political entity to the grasping tentacles of regional, unelected agencies that seek to control our local decisions. His opponents have pointed to Fayetteville as example number one why Fayette voters should beware of Wheat. I won't dispute that. His philosophy may work well to increase densities and welcome developers to a small and ambitious city. That same philosophy likely will work to the detriment of most of Fayette's homeowners. Thomas Stephens is my nomination for "Stealth Candidate" 2002. He has few discernible positions, and NONE on rezoning issues. He has a lot of money and has spent it freely, more than any other candidate. And to what end? Because he doesn't like the method of funding for the new courthouse? Methinks I smell more here than meets the eye. I think he likely will be much more rezoning-friendly than anyone now on the board, maybe even more than Wheat would be. Stephens is a personable guy. But I don't trust him to do what the majority of homeowners in Fayette expect from their commissioners. Caroline Smith has served her community of Brooks well. But I think this is not her time nor her race. No extra charge: State school superintendent, Mitch Kaye. U.S. Senate, Bob Irvin. Governor, GOP, Sonny Perdue.
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