More than 40 delegates and party members packed the Elizabeth Library meeting room on March 5 for the Democratic County Assembly.

Hoping to capitalize on a highly energetic March 1 caucus, Elbert County Democrats approved resolutions and nominated candidates for local races.

“Let's take advantage of the enthusiasm nationally to take care of business in this county,” said Susan Schick, secretary and treasurer. “This county is in dire straits financially. Now we have a better picture of where we are financially. That has come about through the hard work of Democrats who have gotten in there, spent their own money for open records to get proof of where we are.”

In the District 1 commissioner race, Marie Soderberg will represent democrats in November. Miller could face one of two current Republican candidates, Chris Richardson or Jim Whistler, who are competing for the seat being vacated by Robert Rowland at the end of the year.

Barbara Miller will challenge either Scott Wills or Grant Thayer for the District 3 seat currently held by Larry Ross, who also decided not to seek re-election, and Kathleen Conway was nominated as one possible challenger to Republican incumbent, Tim Dore, for the District 64 State House seat.

County Democrats acknowledge that winning local elections will be an uphill fight in a county as “red” as Elbert County. The last Democrat to win a local election in Elbert County was in 1990.

Delegates also voted on resolutions proposed at the precinct caucus.

The approved resolutions included support for increased funding for public schools while eliminating funding for charter schools; elimination of the cap on Social Security wages and the expansion of Medicaid to create a nationwide universal health care system; and support of government funding for Planned Parenthood as well as free higher education through the undergraduate level.

Of the 24 resolutions proposed, 23 will be forwarded to the state assembly for consideration in April. A proposal limiting elected officials to a two-term limit failed to achieve a majority vote.

The last order of business on the afternoon was selecting delegates for the state assembly. The delegates and alternates were chosen based on caucus results.

Eleven delegates and five alternates will represent Elbert County Democrats in Loveland, seven representing Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and five standing for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Democrats closed with a message of party unity and the importance of supporting the nominee regardless of who it is.

“I'm kind of a feminist at heart said Robert Thomasson,” vice chairman. “I honest to God believe that this election is, because of the importance of the Supreme Court, will impact women in ways that will last for decades if we go the wrong way.”