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Published Thursday, November 05, 2009 in Local

Staley back as Sharpsburg mayor

By Alex McRae

The Times-Herald

Former Sharpsburg Mayor Wendell Staley will be back in office in January 2010, after taking a two-vote victory in a nail-biter of an election Tuesday that featured a huge statistical turnout for the east Coweta hamlet.

"I can't help but be surprised and thankful about the great turnout," Staley said. "In a small town like Sharpsburg, it's highly unusual to get such a big statistical turnout. I bet our participation was as high as any place in the state."

Staley said he had talked to his opponent, former Sharpsburg Town Council member Polly Garlington, who agreed the huge turnout was a boost for the city.

"We both thought it great that so many people took part," he said.

Staley said one of his top priorities would be trying to attract new businesses to Sharpsburg. He said traffic improvements on Hwy. 54 and the completion of the city's downtown streetscapes program has put the city in a great position to attract and keep new businesses.

"We look better than we ever have and we've always been a great location," Staley said. "Now we just need to attract some businesses to town and then really give them our support. And we want to help our existing businesses thrive and expand. That's very important and I think we'll get it done."

Staley was appointed mayor of Sharpsburg in 2003 when then-Mayor David Mullins moved away.

Staley served as mayor until 2008, then stepped down to run for a seat on the Sharpsburg Town Council. He was defeated in that previous election by Garlington.