Democrats in each Congressional District of Georgia recently held caucuses to elect delegates to attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Aug. 25-28. Because the 2008 convention promises to be significantly historic, voter turnout was quite high. Democrats in the 1st Congressional District, comprised of 25 counties from Valdosta to Savannah, caucused at the Ware County Courthouse in Waycross. The 1st CD Caucus was organized by 1st CD First Vice Chair Jaki Johnson of Ware County.

Dr. Dennis Marks, 1st Congressional District Chair, explained that the number of delegates in each Congressional District was allocated on the basis of Democratic turnout in past elections and the apportionment of delegates to the Presidential candidates was allocated on the basis of their performance in the Presidential Preference Primary on Feb. 5.

“Since twice as many voters in the 1st Congressional District chose Barack Obama as chose Hillary Clinton, the delegates were apportioned 2 for Obama (1 female and 1 male) and 1 for Clinton (female), with the alternate delegate (male) elected by the Obama caucus,” Marks said. Democrats who turned out for the caucus were divided into two separate caucuses with 62 supporters of Hillary Clinton in the Clinton Caucus, conducted by 1st CD Vice Chair Danita Knowles of Coffee County, and 117 supporters of Barack Obama in the Obama Caucus, conducted by 1st CD Vice Chair Jerome Tucker of Lowndes County.

Prior to the caucus, candidates for delegate positions were required to submit their applications and be approved by the Presidential candidates to whom they are pledged. Five delegate candidates out of ten across the congressional district were from Lowndes County. The winners were Beverly Leaphart, of Wayne County, delegate pledged to Hillary Clinton; Rep. Al Williams, of Liberty County, delegate pledged to Barack Obama; Laverne Lewis Gaskins, of Lowndes County, delegate pledged to Barack Obama; and Dennis Marks, of Lowndes County, alternate delegate pledged to Barack Obama.

Gaskins stated that “The delegate selection process was an exhilarating experience and I am appreciative of all who participated in the caucus. I considered it an honor and a privilege to serve as a member of Georgia’s Democratic delegation. I am excited about the opportunity to participate in this part of our nation’s political history.”