Good News About Democrats - February 6, 2012
GOOD NEWS ABOUT DEMOCRATS - February 6, 2012
Elizabeth Redenbaugh - Governor Deval Patrick
New Hanover County School Board Member Elizabeth Redenbaugh is shown in the picture above greeting Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts at the Sanford Hunt Frye Banquet in Greensboro on January 28, 2012. She had first met Gov. Patrick last May when she was in Boston to receive the "PROFILES IN COURAGE AWARD" from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library because of her courageous votes against the resegregation of the Wilmington schools. In September Elizabeth and her husband, Jamie, changed their voter registration from Republican to Democratic.
FORSYTH COUNTY
County Chair Susan Campbell has announced that Congressman Keith Ellison of Minnesota will be the featured speaker at Forsyth County's big "Winter Ball" on February 11th. Congressman Ellison's brother Eric is an active Democratic leader in Forsyth. Congressman Ellison is Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Other guests who will be attending include State Party Chair David Parker, June Atkinson, Elaine Marshall, Janet Cowell, Mel Watt, and Wayne Goodwin.
WAYNE COUNTY
President Linda Wilkins-Daniels welcomed Congressman G. K. Butterfield as the Keynote Speaker at the Wayne County AAC Banquet in Goldsboro on February 4th. State Party First Vice Chair Gwen Wilkins introduced State Chair David Parker who addressed the crowd. State Rep. Bill Faison, State AAC President Willie Fleming, and First Congressional District Chair Don Davis joined Wayne County Chair Stephanie Kornegay at the dinner. Justin Davis, son of Don Davis, led the Pledge of Allegiance. The featured entertainer was Justine Wiggins from Playground Studios of Durham. Gwen Wilkins reports that Justine would be an outstanding attraction at any Democratic program.
HENDERSON COUNTY
County Chair Shelley Kingsley reports that Henderson County's "2012 Campaign Kickoff Party" drew over 40 enthusiastic volunteers to the County Headquarters on January 26th. During the Party they organized their first phone bank for February 4th and they will continue to phone bank every Saturday until November. On February 8th the county's Democratic Men's Group will gather for breakfast at Mike's On Main to hear retired banker James Phelps speak on "The Banking Crisis: An Insider's View." On February 8th the county's Democratic Men's Group will gather for breakfast at Mike's On Main to hear retired banker James Phelps speak on "The Banking Crisis: An Insider's View."
DAVID PARKER - JAY PARMLEY
State Chair David Parker and Executive Director Jay Parmley will be in Atlanta February 8th and 9th for a meeting of southern State Chairs and EDs. They will be developing a strategy to integrate state parties with the large independent expenditure groups which are arising. They will also be figuring how to win in the current environment in which the GOP is resegregating the South by congressional and legislative redistricting.
MOORE COUNTY
Democratic Women's President Wilma Laney has announced that Brenda Pollard of Durham will be the featured speaker at the DW meeting at the Holly Inn in Pinehurst on March 10th. Brenda will also conduct the installation ceremony for the incoming Officers.
TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY
Transylvania Democrats have designed and published a new color brochure which outlines the Party's mission statement, beliefs, contacts, and President Obama's accomplishments. It will be distributed at public events and in door-to-door campaigning. County Chair Norm Bossert reports they are also setting up a new and improved County Party web site at www.transcodems.com. It will be live soon.
BRUNSWICK COUNTY
Chair Leonard Jenkins led a ceremony during which a "Distinguished Service Award" was presented to immediate past County Chair Donna Silva during the January meeting of the Brunswick Democratic Party in Bolivia.
SANFORD HUNT FRYE PICTURES
Conen Morgan, our State Party's Director of New Media and Digital Strategy, has posted 280 pictures he made at the SEC and SHF Dinner in Greensboro onto the FaceBook Page "North Carolina Democratic Party." Look at the page and see how many people you can recognize!
STATEWIDE COUNTY CHAIRS ASSOCIATION
During the January 28th festivities in Greensboro, the County Chairs Association elected a strong slate of new Officers for 2012. They are:
President - Dick Crews, Avery County
First Vice President - Ken Humphrey, Carteret County
Second Vice President - Janie Benson, Haywood County
Third Vice President - Valeria Levy, Rowan County
Treasurer - Jim Meredith, Randolph County
The Association is starting its second year with $1,150 in the bank.
UNION COUNTY
First Vice Chair Diane Little reports that Union County led the state by having the most people at the fall training seminars which were conducted by the State Headquarters staff. 21 Union Democrats attended. Judge Linda McGee will speak at the February 16th County Executive Committee meeting at the Old Armory Community Center in Monroe. Elmer Elliott is heading up several Democratic voter registration sites across the county.
ASHE COUNTY
County Chair Melba Jones says that Ashe County Democrats are so eager to have a Democrat represent them in the state legislature that as soon as Cullie Tarleton announced he will run to regain his seat, the County Party gave him $5,000. Mr. Tarleton was elected State Representative in 2006 and served four years.
GUILFORD COUNTY
George Gilbert, Director of the County Board of Elections office, will be the speaker at the Democratic Luncheon Forum on February 15th at the Congregational United Church of Christ. He will talk on the effects of redistricting and about the Voter ID bill.
DARE COUNTY
Jay Parmley, Executive Director of the NC Democratic Party, was the featured speaker at the Dare County Democratic Party meeting on January 30th. County Chair Sherry Rollason says that "Jay got people fired up about the importance of getting more people registered and then getting them to the polls." Senator Stan White used the occasion to officially announce that he will run for a full Senate term in 2012.
CHATHAM COUNTY
County Party Secretary Chris Kaman says that the warmhearted Democrats of Chatham County enjoyed raising $1,964 to buy toys for foster children through the Social Services Department's "Christmas Wishes" program. Chatham Chair Randy Voller is still celebrating the fact that all four of Chatham's municipalities elected Democratic Mayors last November.
JEANNE LUCAS LUNCHEON
State Party First Vice Chair Gwen Wilkins has announced that Dr. Julianne Malveaux, President of Bennett College, will be the Keynote Speaker at the Jeanne Lucas Luncheon at the Radisson RDU on March 24th. This year lets have a lot more Democratic men attending this celebration!
Melvin Williams, Secretary
North Carolina Democratic Party
Send your "Good News" and "Milestones" to me at: melvin535@dishmail.net
