Oconee County Democratic Party's new officers, from left, are: Marilyn Hemingway, Seneca, chair; Suzanne Earle, Walhalla, first vice chair; Al Gaines, Seneca, second vice chair; Derek Lampe, Salem, third vice chair; Mike Evatt, Seneca, executive committeeman; Ellis Hughes, Mountain Rest, secretary; Pam Fjeld, West Union, alternate executive committeewoman and Linda Holt, Seneca, executive committeewoman. Not pictured: Ron Gutek, Seneca, treasurer and Ned Lovell, Salem, alternate executive committeeman.
WALHALLA — Almost 70 enthusiastic Oconee Democrats gathered Saturday and, in an historic move, the group elected Marilyn Hemingway of Seneca as the first African-American woman to hold the post of chairwoman of the county party.
Hemingway has 30 years experience in South Carolina politics. She is also the Upstate Coordinator for Vic Rawls for US Senate campaign.
Candidates and candidate representatives spoke about their respective campaigns at the biennial event, held at the Oconee County Courthouse.
Speakers were: Jane Dyer, candidate for the Third District Congressional seat; Tom Dobbins, candidate for state house in District 8; Amy Sheheen, wife of gubernatorial candidate Vincent Sheheen; Adam Rex, son of gubernatorial candidate Jim Rex and E. Riley of Seneca, speaking for South Carolina Superintendent of Education candidate Frank Holleman.
Keynote speaker was John Tynan, co-director of Upstate Forever's Clean Air & Water Program, and newly elected as the only Democrat to the Greenville Water Commission in the Democratic sweep of the City of Greenville elections. Tynan challenged everyone to find their cause and to take a stand in support of it because individuals truly can make a difference.
Additional activities included electing delegates to the April South Carolina Democratic Party Convention in Columbia as well as reviewing and amending resolutions to deliver to that event.