Athens Dems to dump Denson?

The Athens-Clarke County Democratic Committee says it will vote next week on a motion to remove Athens Mayor Nancy Denson from Committee membership. The local party’s Executive Committee says Denson, a lifelong Democrat, violated party rules when she hosted a fundraiser for Republican legislative candidate Houston Gaines. Gaines, who managed Denson’s 2014 reelection campaign, is running in a November 7 special election against Democrat Deborah Gonzalez. The winner fills the state House District 117 seat that opened with the departure of former state Rep Regina Quick, who left the legislature to become a Superior Court judge.

From the Athens-Clarke County Democratic Committee...

Greetings Friend,

On September 7th, the Executive Committee of the Athens-Clarke Democratic Committee voted to begin removal proceedings against Nancy Denson. Therefore, at this month's meeting of the full Committee (to be held Thursday, September 28th, at 6 pm, at the Athens Library), a vote will be held to revoke Nancy Denson's Democratic Committee membership. Frankly, Denson's actions leave the Committee no choice.

On August 31st, Nancy Denson hosted a fundraiser for the Republican candidate in the House District 117 special election this November 7th. The invitation is above. Denson's Republican fundraising violates our By-laws that prohibit any member from publicly supporting a Republican over a Democrat in a contested election. Democrat Deborah Gonzalez is running for this seat and, in fact, is going to win. Trump won this District by 3.38%. The groundswell of opposition to Donald Trump's Republicans nationwide makes this race imminently winnable.

When confidentially asked to resign earlier this week, Denson refused. She then told the Flagpole "I've probably been more active than many of the people who are on the committee now." It is unfortunate that this issue is now airing publicly. We thank Nancy Denson for her service in the past and wish her well.

The Republican Fundraiser Event Committee (pictured below) is also disturbing. Note the Commissioners Mike Hamby, Sharyn Dickerson, Jerry Nesmith, Andy Herod, and Diane Bell. To top it off, the Republican candidate has allied with Doug McKillip, the ​former elected-Democrat-turned-Republican legislator. That these local leaders have allied with the Republican Party, led by Donald Trump, is a sad statement and shows the importance of local elections.

We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting on Thursday the 28th,

The Executive Committee of the Athens-Clarke Democratic Committee