The future of Fayette County literally hangs in the balance with the primary election to be held on July 18, 2006. We the voters must choose between making a complete U-turn and return to the out-of-control growth days of the 1990s when developers and other special interests dictated policy for Fayette County. Especially like we experienced during the time Robert Sprayberry and Scott Burrell were in charge.

Or, we can choose to stay on a controlled growth path and a fiscal restraint spending policy by keeping the strong leadership of Greg Dunn and Linda Wells at the helm of the Fayette County Commission.

Let’s examine recent history:

In 1996, Kane and Associates of Fayetteville, a research firm, was retained by the County Commission to survey the citizens of Fayette County to find out how Fayette Countians felt about the job being done by the commissioners in the areas of quality of life, managing growth and providing effective customer service to the citizens of Fayette County.

Surveys were mailed to 21,589 households out of the 23,766 households in the county. Completed surveys were received from approximately 25 percent of these households.

A quote from the report: “The top concerns expressed in written statements on the survey was, number one – growth. Overwhelmingly, comments concerning growth were expressed most frequently. These comments included those about controlling, managing and halting what was viewed as ‘out of control growth,’ making wise decisions regarding growths biggest control factor, rezoning petitions and zoning land use ordinances and about Fayette’s quality of life which was viewed as diminishing rapidly. Respondents were passionate about fiscal concerns. According to remarks made, the public was sick of paying for government was a huge understatement. Imposing impact fees on new construction and development was repeatedly suggested.”

I was elected to the Fayette County Board of Commissioners during the 1996 election, and I took office Jan. 1, 1997. I ran on a controlled growth and fiscal responsibility platform. Immediately after taking office, I set out to fulfill my campaign statements. I hate so very much to say it, but all I was able to do during 1997 and 1998 was to fight to stop run-away growth because the special interest group held a tight grip on three of the five votes on the commission. Therefore, I was on the losing end of virtually every rezoning vote.

However, I was able to expose many conflicts of interest that occurred during that time which had a positive effect on the 1998 elections. During these 1998 elections is when Greg Dunn and Linda Wells were elected.

I am happy to report that Greg and Linda viewed population growth and spending taxpayers’ money the same way I did. That meant that Greg, Linda and I then had the three votes needed on rezoning petitions, etc., to make the necessary decisions to properly manage growth in Fayette County.

So then what happened? In 1999, building permits in the unincorporated area of Fayette County fell by 8.7 percent compared to 1998, the year before Greg and Linda took office. In 2000, building permits fell by an additional 21.4 percent. The number of building permits for the five-year period 2001 through 2005 have averaged 44.8 percent less per year than in 1998. The great job we started in 1999 has been continued to this day.

Since Greg Dunn and Linda Wells have been on the Board of Commissioners, they have been able to stabilize county spending over the past two years. The county budget has grown by an annual average of only 3.27 percent year over year, which is less than the rate of inflation.

What all this means is that Greg and Linda have done a great job at what we ask them to do. They have made the hard choices that were made for the betterment of all citizens, not special interests.

They have stood up to the special interest groups and as a result, they have made certain people angry with them. So naturally, those special interest people are working very hard and spending many dollars to defeat Greg and Linda in the July 18 primary election. You and I cannot let that happen.

Now let’s look at the developer-friendly and heavy spending mortgage banker, Sam Chapman’s, and the big growth lawyer, Eric Maxwell’s, way of thinking. Based on what they have written in letters to the editor of The Citizen, they have been very open in their views on explosive growth and free spending of your tax dollars.

In addition, based on their expressed views and the fact Maxwell has a number of his signs piggybacked on Chapman’s signs indicate they are well-connected to each other. In other words, two peas in a pod that are all set to take us back to where we were with the runaway growth and reckless spending of the 1990s when Robert Sprayberry and Scott Burrell were in charge.

Let’s look at what they have said:

In the Feb. 8, 2006 edition of The Citizen, Eric Maxwell took the County Commission to task for denying a petition for approximately 3,000 homes on 1,100 acres near the hospital. He also criticized the commissioners for denying Peachtree City sewer to Heritage Christian Church, which is in the unincorporated area of the county.

The indication is that Mr. Maxwell would have voted for both of these petitions which would have set a precedent opening up high density growth in Fayette County.

In the May 3, 2006 edition of The Citizen, Sam Chapman said, “Less fighting, more growth needed. The current commission has prevented growth. Times have changed. We do deserve facilities comparable to Cobb and Gwinnett. You are at a time of critical change for Fayette County. We can quit fighting and start building.”

In the May 10, 2006 edition of The Citizen, Sam Chapman said, (paraphrased quote) “It’s about the money. Greg Dunn, Linda Wells, and Peter Pfeifer have been driving the money bus for far too long. They have the power to tighten the screws on every department in this county. We as taxpayers turn all of our money over to them. We hope that they identify with our needs and see to it that they are met.”

I say thank goodness Greg, Linda and Peter are managing growth and keeping tight controls on government spending and our tax dollars. I’m getting all the county service I can stand or want to pay for. How about you?

If Sam Chapman and Eric Maxwell get elected, can you imagine how much our taxes will increase? Maybe, Mr. Chapman and Mr. Maxwell are so smart they know how to spend, spend and spend without collecting tax money to pay for it. I really don’t think so.

Could Sam Chapman’s and Eric Maxwell’s enthusiasm for explosive growth be rooted in the fact that they own so much land themselves? According to their financial disclosure statements filed in May 2006, Chapman and his wife have an interest in 30 properties totaling over 775 acres plus he is a mortgage banker, and Maxwell owns an interest in 37 acres of land plus an interest in two land and property management businesses.

Sam Chapman and Eric Maxwell have accused Greg Dunn and Linda Wells of not supporting the sheriff so he can continue his good job of keeping crime low in Fayette County.

Let’s examine the facts:

The county’s maintenance and operating budget excluding the sheriff has increased by only 30.97 percent over the past six years.

At the same time the sheriff’s budget has increased by 63.2 percent. (This does not include the dollars spent for the new jail, courthouse and the sheriff’s offices renovation.)

The sheriff’s personnel have increased 46 percent (from 149 to 217 people)

The sheriff’s 2007 budget of $14,689,717 as approved by the commissioners represents 27.3 percent of the total Fayette County budget. (Greg and Linda voted “yes” for this budget)

By comparison, the Clayton County sheriff’s budget is only 18.77 percent of the Clayton County budget.

I ask you the question, “Just how much more support do you feel the sheriff needs?”

The voters of Fayette County will decide on July 18 which of the two very different roads we want Fayette County to take.

Do we really want explosive, out of control population growth with developers and other special interest groups back in control? Do we want to put our tax dollars spending in jeopardy? If you are sure that is what you really want, then clearly your choice would be Chapman and Maxwell. If you vote them in, you will surely get your wish.

On the other hand, if you want two commissioners who have the backbone to stand up to developers and special interests, that will continue to manage population growth like it has been for the last seven years, who will continue to be tight-fisted when spending your tax dollars, and, yes, will continue to support the sheriff using fiscal responsibility, then you have a clear choice in Greg Dunn and Linda Wells.

For me and my house, we will be voting for Greg Dunn and Linda Wells, the proven true public servants of the people of Fayette County.

Harold Bost
Former Fayette County Commissioner (1997 to 2001)
Fayetteville, Ga.