Friday, August 23, 2002
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Friday, August 23, 2002 |
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Dunn, Wells win another term By JOHN
THOMPSON
In one of the most bitterly contested sets of elections in years, both incumbent Fayette County Commissioners were returned to office Tuesday. With all 36 precincts reporting, Fayette County Commission Chairman Greg Dunn defeated Mike Wheat by a 55-45 percent margin. Dunn received 6,391 votes, while Wheat drew 5,326 votes. After the election Dunn said he was glad the voters of the county could see the truth. "There was so much misinformation put out there. I'm just glad the voters had sense enough to see through it," he said. The chairman said this was the first time in his knowledge that a candidate had used a professional consultant to try and present an image to the voters. "I guess this showed that it didn't work," he said. In the other commission race, incumbent Linda Wells defeated Thomas Stephens and Caroline Smith. Wells received 6,214 votes for 53 percent, while Stephens got 32 percent of the vote with 3,821 votes and Smith received 15 percent of the total with 1,756 votes. Candidates and curious voters started gathering at the Fayette County Administrative Complex early Tuesday evening to watch the results. Across the street at the Log Cabin, supporters of Dunn and Wells gathered to prepare fixings for either a party of celebration or defeat. Shortly after 8 p.m., the results started tricking in, with Dunn and Wells taking early leads. As the night wore on, the percentages stayed the some and supporters of Dunn and Wells grew more jubilant as early evening turned into night. Stephens showed up to also watch the returns and talked quietly with a number of supporters at the complex. Finally, just before 11 p.m., the last two precincts rolled in and Dunn and Wells were able to declare victory. Stephens graciously walked up to both candidates and congratulated them and then left the complex. As the victorious candidates walked across the street, they were greeted with enthusiastic shouts of "You Dunn Well" as they entered the cabin and began celebrating their victories.
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