There are many outstanding women in this community. I would like to tell you about some of the remarkable contributions that have been made to the people of Fayette County.

First we have a young RN, the first of her family to graduate from high school, caring for critically-ill babies in a first-of-its-kind, intensive care unit.

The soldier’s wife who, like some many women now, sent her husband off to war and provided a warm and loving home for the family left behind. She provided a nurturing environment for her family, even while enduring the nomadic life of frequently moving to far-flung duty stations, around the world.

A mother, who persisted in continuing her education despite the responsibilities of being, at times, a single parent to her two sons, culminating in both bachelor’s and master’s degrees as an adult student.

A community activist, who taught herself American Sign Language so that she could help the deaf assimilate into the community in school, in the courtroom, even in the surgery suite of the hospital. A woman who became one of the few certified instructors in sign language in the state of Georgia in an effort to expand the reach and increase opportunities for the hearing impaired.

There is the wonderful woman, who for 10 years, made the community safer for thousands of men and women who were victims of violence in their own homes, at the hands, of those that professed to love them. Through her efforts, they had a safe place to live, received counseling and training, and an opportunity to start a new life.

A small business owner, who started from nothing but the recognition that there was a segment of the community whose needs were being neglected, and in less than five years became wonderfully successful. The same business owner, who recognized the benefit in promoting other small businesses in her community, so she started a free business leads referral group open to all.

Finally, a woman who was willing to become involved in the elective process and became recognized as an outstanding leader, dedicated to preserving the quality of life in the community in which she lives. A woman who has been willing to make difficult decisions with a single overarching criteria, what is fair and best for the all the people of Fayette County. A fiscal conservative who has kept taxes in the county down for five consecutive years, while providing the highest quality services to the citizens.

Someone who believes in controlled growth and development. Someone who believes that the rules should apply to everyone equally and that special interest groups and chosen individuals should not receive preferential treatment. In short, someone who shares the same ideals as you, the residents of Fayette County

This is indeed a remarkable group of women. However, it is even more remarkable when you consider that this is actually the story of only one woman in Fayette County: Commissioner Linda Wells.

People in this community know where Linda stands. She makes promises and she keeps them. She is not a politician. She is not the unsmiling, hard-hearted person that she has been portrayed as by some in this newspaper. She is a dedicated compassionate servant of the public who will continue to work for the good of the county, but needs your vote to continue.

The runoff election on Aug. 8 will determine the direction that the county will take for the next four years. The choice is clear. Do the citizens of this community want to continue on a path of smart growth, fiscal responsibility and the willingness to make the tough decisions as Linda has done, or risk the untried and unknown?

The turnout at the polls will be the deciding factor. I respectfully ask all of you who voted for Linda in the primary to return to the polls one more time. If you were unable to vote in the primary, you can still vote in the runoff. That is the only way that we can be sure that Linda will be able to continue her service for the benefit of all of Fayette County. Please vote Linda Wells on Aug. 8.

Pat Brannon
Fayetteville, Ga.