By Angel Perkins News-Mirror Editor
It was a close call in the 2007 Bourbon Town Council race. Bourbon Police Officer Gary Collins won by the largest margin with 39 percent, or 201 votes.
Incumbent, and Triton Jr.-Sr. High School teacher, Larry Wattenbarger came in second with 31 percent, or 158 votes. Wattenbarger beat out newcomer Chet Irvine by only 1 percent, as Irvine had 153 votes.
“I felt pretty good about it (the election),” said Collins. “I had a lot of people call and say they were voting for me. I had a lot of support.”
He said when he got to the Republican headquarters (at Christos in Plymouth) votes were at 50 percent.
When the results came in, he was pleased.

“I was ecstatic with how much I won by,” he said. “I’m just a hometown boy and it felt good that the community felt that way about me.”
For Wattenbarger, it was “just another day.”
“I was anxious to know the results but you have to wait until the votes come in anyway,” he said. “I was pleased with the results. I was hoping for a little stronger showing though.”
Wattenbarger said he thought the close wins were because, as some voters had mentioned to him afterward, they were confused about the voting process in that they thought they were required to vote for two nominees rather than having the option to only pick their favorite.
“I know we had some people a little upset about the things going on with the Center Street Project so that might have had something to do with it too.”
Regardless of what precipitated the outcome, the voters were heard and their council chosen. Collins will take his seat on the council in January.