Local & State Headlines

Second District Democratic caucus moved

• A complaint prompts Democratic caucuses to be moved toward the center of the Second Congressional District.

Susan McCord

AMERICUS — Three days before Georgia Democrats elect delegates to the Democratic National Convention, the location of the Second Congressional District caucus has been moved — from Columbus to Americus.

In response to a complaint filed Friday with the state Democratic party that the caucus’ scheduled location in Columbus was “not centrally located,” a panel of state and national party representatives determined its location must be changed, and notified the district Monday, district party chairwoman Margaret Tyson said.

On Tuesday, district party officials were notified of the caucus’ move to Americus.

Democrats in all 13 Congressional Districts elect delegates for presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama Saturday, to attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colo., Aug. 25-28.

Moving toward the center of the Second District, which stretches from southern parts of Columbus south to the Florida line and east to I-75, the caucus will be held at Americus’ Windsor Hotel, with registration starting at 9 a.m. Saturday.

The move inconvenienced Clinton supporter Shannon Marietta, who is running against Vivian Creighton Bishop for the one female delegate slot available in support of Clinton.

“You’re calling all these people and telling them a place to come, and they switch it up on you 3 days before the caucus,” said Marietta, who is the daughter of Albany City Commissioner Roger Marietta.

“I’m running against Sanford Bishop’s wife — I need all the support I could get.”

The Bishops, who reside in Columbus, are divided, with the Second District Congressman serving as co-chair of Obama’s Georgia campaign while his wife supports Clinton.

Vivian Bishop and Marietta are the only two candidates for the Clinton slot, and only one male, Eben E. Barnett III, is running for a single male position.

Vying for two available male delegate slots to represent Obama at the convention include Albany’s mayor Willie Adams, Americus Sen. George Hooks, George Brown Jr., Lynmore James, Ed Harbison, Albert O’Bryant and Corey Wimberly.

Competing for a single female Obama delegate position are Juliana Roth, Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital and Albany Tomorrow board member Mary Helen Dykes and public relations consultant Pamela Jackson.

Georgia delegate candidates are vetted before the Saturday caucuses for party and candidate loyalty, state Democratic party spokesman Martin Metheny said.

The party took the complaint, a petition signed by 17 voters from the Second District, “pretty seriously,” Metheny said.

Anyone who is a registered voter in the district and signs a loyalty oath to the Georgia Democratic party can vote in the caucuses, he said.

Marietta, who has campaigned for Clinton in South Carolina and Ohio, said she wants to be a delegate, even in a state that favored Obama in the primary, because she shares Clinton’s spirit.

“I feel like this is her chance,” she said. “I’m not ready to give up the fight; I don’t think Hillary is either. She needs delegates to match that spirit.”

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