* 2nd incumbent loses county comm. race: Smith beats Wells 59% to 41%

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News

2nd incumbent loses county comm. race: Smith beats Wells 59% to 41%

Wed, 08/09/2006 - 7:54am

By: Cal Beverly

Political newcomer Jack Smith parlayed a second-place finish in last month's Republican Primary to a victory Tuesday night over 12-year veteran Fayette County Commissioner Linda Wells.

With 37 out of 38 precincts counted -- and only two absentee ballots still untabulated -- Smith tallied 3,651 votes to 2,512 for Wells.

Smith's victory margin was 59.24 percent to Wells' 40.76 percent.

The defeat of Wells marks a clean sweep of incumbents in commission races.

Last month, attorney Eric Maxwell beat incumbent Chairman Greg Dunn, a two-term commissioner, by two percentage points.

With newcomer Robert Horgan installed on the commission following a March special election, the board next January will likely have three new commissioners with less than one year's electoral experience between them.

The Smith victory came after the Fayette County Elections office had to start over from scratch with their tally Tuesday night, according to Citizen reporter John Munford.

All precincts had turned in the electronic cards to be tabulated by shortly after 8 p.m., Munford reported from the scene.

Then officials discovered they had failed to "zero out" the counting computers before inserting the first electronic precinct card.

The zeroing out to a printed report is designed to demonstrate that no numbers have been inserted into the counters before the official cards are tallied.

Wells, top vote getter in the July Republican Primary, was challenged by Smith, a certified public accountant who owns his own firm, for the Post 4, Fayette County Commission seat.

Wells came within 200 votes of an outright victory last month in the three-way race.

Wells was seeking her fourth term on the commission, following her current two back-to-back terms. She also served one four-year term during the 1990s.

This marks the first foray into elective politics for Smith, a longtime local businessman.

Only a little more than 6,000 votes were cast in the local runoff, a turnout of just under 10 percent.

Fayette County has 62,498 registered voters.

Ms. Linda

Submitted by NinaLynn on Thu, 08/10/2006 - 7:27am.

Ok all,now lets put those claws back in ! You can voice your opinions, either pro or con without being nasty.

Be careful who you hitch your wagon to.

Submitted by Vernon on Wed, 08/09/2006 - 9:47am.

Linda,
Good-bye and let this be a lesson in hitching your wagon to the wrong donkey. Hee-haw.

Looks as though

Submitted by eodnnaenaj1 on Wed, 08/09/2006 - 6:07am.

even ole Linda's husband couldn't get her elected! The unsolicited "friends" emails, email reminders, and letter extolling his wife to this blog didn't help. Perhaps politician's spouses need to realize that their actions reflect in the polls too. If you make a promise . . .you'd better keep it "friend".

Correction for Cal

Submitted by Robert W. Morgan on Wed, 08/09/2006 - 5:45am.

The 6th paragraph reads

"With newcomer Robert Horgan installed on the commission following a March special election, the board next January will likely have three new commissioners with less than one year's electoral experience between them"

It should read "..... will likely have three new commissioners with no hidden agendas, special interests or ego-driven personal attacks on other public oficials"

It is the policy of this poster to correct errors as quickly as possible as a public service.

I have to chime in here.

Submitted by McDonoughDawg on Wed, 08/09/2006 - 10:05am.

You state "..... will likely have three new commissioners with no hidden agendas, special interests or ego-driven personal attacks on other public oficials" You know this how? Cal stated facts, 3 new Commissioners, you are still slinging mud. It's over, let it go.

I think you and I need to get together, you seem to be able to predict the future. I could use some investing tips. Smiling

I wish the new Commissioners well, and hope they make Fayette proud, but the jury is still out for sure.

Blog Bully Going a Little Too Far on Editor

Submitted by Spear Road Guy on Wed, 08/09/2006 - 8:44pm.

I agree with McDonoughDawg. Robert W. Morgan seems a bit vindictive. I don't agree with everything that Cal says, but the comment that Robert W. Morgan (blog bully) is complaining about is, indeed, factual.

We got the new guys in and now let's see what they do. We said that in Peachtree City last year and it looks like we're going to get burned. I know nothing about Horgan or Smith. I know some vague details on Maxwell. They are certainly not Greg Dunn and Linda Wells which is a positive. Let's give them a chance to do the right thing.

Vote Republican

Hey Peter

Submitted by silent no more on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 9:51pm.

I hear wal-mart is looking for a door greeter. If you turn in your resignation now you can probably still get the job. You better hurry before Wells and Dunn beat you out. Dunn's got that impressive military record you know, and of course lets not forget Linda's bright smile.

I just woke up from a horrible nightmare.

Submitted by lifeinptc on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 11:04pm.

There was an evil green eyed monster roaming the territory terrorizing the citizenry. She was protected by an evil emperor who commanded her. There was a weasel who sat in the background and cheered them on.

Then a protector rolled into the forest and slayed the evil emperor. Followed shortly by a sidekick who slayed the green eyed monster and peace was restored to the land. Pitty the Pat who now sits beside that slain green eyed monster but the land will now be peaceful.

The weasel fled to the woods to await his fate.

I get nearly 10% for that

Submitted by snark on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 9:05pm.

I get nearly 10% for that turn-out percentage.

6165/62498 = 9.9%

How does that compare with other runoffs?

Hey Cal !

Submitted by Fayetteresident on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 9:02pm.

Go ahead and endorse Peter for us!!! That will be a sure end for the third amigo!!!

Richard Huff

Submitted by PTC Guy on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 8:56pm.

Just wondering what his opinions are on all of this?

-----------------------------
Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.

hmm

Submitted by snark on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 10:15pm.

I've been trying to figure out who Richard Huff is and can't do it. I wondered if maybe you meant Richard Hobbs? I know he said no one in Georgia has gotten 48% of the vote in the primary and then gone on to lose the election. I thought maybe you were curious about his thoughts on that.

Or maybe there is a Richard Huff and I'm just yammering.

Peter

Submitted by cmc865 on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 8:36pm.

Your next Mr. P. Read the writing on the wall. You seem to forget that you represent the cities as well as the county. THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN...step aside.

Unbelievable

Submitted by Dalmation195 on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 8:33pm.

You guys are still harping on the land use plan? Why do think that Commissioner Elect Maxwell (and hopefully Commissioner Elect Smith after November) will deviate from the land use plan. Sure it needs to be revised, but these guys have been here for decades. They understand (like all of us) that our little piece of heaven in this hell hole of Metro Atl is only going to stay the same by staying the course.

Next year, when the land use plan is revised, I do not want to hear a single one of you screaming that "I told you so".

That is a dead issue.

Get over it.

Spotted Puppy

Submitted by Git Real on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 8:56pm.

We're with you and we hope you're right. We "The Taxpayers" have been blind sided and shafted too many times to drop our guard. Eric, Jack and the boys have my full support until they show they no longer deserve it.

Congrats Jack & Eric.

I hope we did the right thing.

Submitted by McDonoughDawg on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 8:27pm.

I hope they continue voting along the current land use plan, we need all the protection in this area we can get. Pressure will be great from some to up the density.

Dawggy....It's Up To Us

Submitted by Git Real on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 8:47pm.

To hold the commission accountable. Time will tell real soon. At least we may be getting rid of the trouble making sixth commissioner.

Right, just because they are "new"

Submitted by McDonoughDawg on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 9:02pm.

does not make them better. I wish them both well. I'm a PTC resident, but what they do/vote on has a bearing on us all.

9 precincts in

Submitted by snark on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 7:51pm.

JACK SMITH 965 61.94%
LINDA WELLS 593 38.06%

PTC Guy Scores First

Submitted by PTC Guy on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 7:48pm.

They said, where I voted, that I was the first to have an electronic ballot that failed to work.

Push it in and it would pop back out.

They had to reset me and give me a new one.

-----------------------------
Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.

Call McKinney! Voter Irregularity!

Submitted by Reality Bytes on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 8:01pm.

It would figure to be you who would have the problem Smiling

I think we should get Cynthia McKinney, Al Sharpton and the uh, Reverend Jesse Jackson, to immediately investigate this blatant attempt by the opposition to egregiously subterfuge the electionissitude.

Oh Linda - don't you wish you were running against Sam Chapman?

Boycott

Submitted by bad_ptc on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 8:14pm.

So what are they going to boycott now, computer chips?

Wells results in

Submitted by mudcat on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 7:39pm.

Smith beat her 2:1
meow

Who came the closest?

Submitted by bad_ptc on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 7:49pm.

I predicted:

Smith 60%
Wells 40%

With low turnout.

Sorry Casey, but I just don’t see the 52/48 that you were hoping for.

Ouch

Submitted by allin on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 8:00pm.

Not looking to good

Closest? That would be mudcat 65/35

Submitted by mudcat on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 7:54pm.

I predicted Smith with 65% of the vote. I know we should wait until it is actually over, but 65/35 is the way it ends. Send me my prizes.
meow

I think I’m closer with the latest numbers.

Submitted by bad_ptc on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 8:00pm.

You can still have the prizes. From what I remember, they weren’t all that great to begin with.

Glitch

Submitted by Git Real on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 7:36pm.

I guess the election board insider for the FCRWW&CC lost it when she saw the first results roll in.

Congratulations Guys

Submitted by allin on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 8:18pm.

and Congratulations to Jack on his win -

Wishing him all the best

Casey

Glad It's Over

Submitted by Git Real on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 8:39pm.

Let's hope we get the representation we need. Thanks Casey. I wondered all day if I was going to have to congratulate you. Thanks for coming on tonight.

So Am I

Submitted by PTC Guy on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 8:43pm.

This primary and run off wore a lot of us out.

-----------------------------
Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.

Really?

Submitted by Fayetteresident on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 8:24pm.

Casey, You know you don't mean it!!!

Thanking you too

Submitted by bad_ptc on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 8:22pm.

Well said.

election

Submitted by the weasel on Tue, 08/08/2006 - 9:19pm.