On Thursday, June 29, the Metro Fayette Kiwanis Club sponsored a forum for the candidates for Fayette County commissioner. I think anyone who attended this forum will agree that the clear choices are Linda Wells and Greg Dunn.

Their opponents tried , unsuccessfully, to attack them on all fronts, but they were victorious each and every time. There wasn’t one issue raised that they could not address, justify, and explain in a rational, logical manner. These two incumbents clearly have one goal in mind, and that is to continue to do the excellent job for our county and the citizens that they have been doing over the past several years.

Fayette County is at a crucial point and upcoming decisions could make or break the quality of life that we currently enjoy. It is imperative that we have competent, informed leaders representing us.

We must put personal likes and dislikes aside and select the candidates we believe will best represent us.

As mentioned above, Linda Wells and Greg Dunn demonstrated their ability on Thursday evening. We know that they care deeply about this county and the citizens. They are not going to sit back while others steamroll through the county with billboards, special interests, and uncontrolled building.

After hearing the facts, I do not think anyone would refer to any of the lawsuits as “frivolous.” They are anything but. It must be remembered that not all of the lawsuits being discussed were initiated by the county. When the commissioners felt that there was no recourse but to sue, that is what they did. Win or lose, they felt it was their obligation as part of the commitment to do what is best for the citizens.

It is interesting that the one candidate (Eric Maxwell) who refers to the lawsuits as “frivolous,” sued the county over political signs when he knew the commissioners were already working on amending the ordinance.

Fayette County is surrounded by counties that are examples of what we do not want to become. Greg Dunn, Linda Wells, and the other commissioners are doing everything they can to maintain our quality of life. It is not always as easy as it may seem. There are federal and state laws and regulations they must follow, and they must accept and work with some decisions made by the cities of the county.

The county is not perfect and never will be. It is impossible to please every individual; however, I believe the current commissioners are doing an exceptional job in their efforts to meet the expectations of the citizens.

Linda Wells and Greg Dunn want to do what is right. They want cooperative relationships between the county and the cities, and they want a cooperative relationship with the Sheriff’s Department.

They cannot ignore their responsibilities and refrain from doing what they must just to keep a relationship pleasant. It seems that some think that the commissioners should just roll over and agree with whatever a particular entity desires. It is a two-way street.

The Commission does not want Peachtree City residents to be double-taxed for anything, but a solution must be researched and studied. It is not something that can be resolved in one meeting. The commissioners support the Sheriff’s Department completely in relation to law enforcement. Their concerns involve the manner in which “business” is being conducted and conformance with laws and regulations.

Whatever is decided in this matter will be respected and followed by the commissioners. It is hoped that a mutually respectful relationship will ensue when the issues have been resolved.

As for attacks claiming that Greg Dunn and Linda Wells are seeking power or personal gain, nothing could be further from the truth. Think about it. What can they possibly gain, personally, in all of this?

All of the commissioner’s votes carry the same weight — each one is an individual vote out of five.

Linda Wells and Greg Dunn have succeeded in building positive relationships with state entities which has helped our county immensely. Fayette County is no longer a county to be overlooked or moved to the bottom of the list. We are known and respected throughout the state. Fayette County is a positive example to others.

Do you really think it is “time for a change”? Change for the sake of change is not always a good thing. There is also a saying: Don’t fix what isn’t broken. We know that we have proven, productive, effective leaders in place. We should keep it that way.

The forum I referred to will be televised on a local Comcast station. I urge everyone to see this program. I also encourage all to try to attend one of the upcoming forums. Most importantly, be sure to vote on July 18.

Carolyn Pfeifer
Peachtree City, Ga.