Just weeks after the Carter County Republican Party held their reorganization meeting, the local Democratic Party held their Biennial Reorganization Convention Saturday morning in the county courthouse and elected new officers, Executive Committee members and looked ahead to the coming years.
Ramon Sanchez-Vinas, who served as the chair for a term, led Saturday’s event during the election of officers.
As the party looked at bringing in “new blood,” Kristi Carr was elected to spearhead the party for the next two-year term.
Carr, president of the Carter County Women’s Democratic Party, added she is excited for the future and the growth of the local party.
“I’m ready to make Tennessee blue again,” Carr told attendees. “What we have to do is grow the party, double our momentum and continue to reach out to people.”
Carr also thanked Sanchez-Vinas for his time as chair, as he stepped down from the upcoming term but will still assist with activities for the party.
The party also saw new additions to the vice chair and treasurer positions with Jessica and Ryan Bitner being elected to the positions.
The previous officers, Mike Lane and Ken Treadway, also pledged their support to work with the new officers.
Lane, who addressed attendees during the vice chair vote, added he was willing to take his name off the table with someone new wanting to come in and help with the party.
Jessica added the party’s goals moving forward need to focus less on being negative and more about spreading the values of the party while hoping to bring in more of a younger group to help make a difference within the community.
Marilyn Boeker was reelected to her post as secretary while Pat Buck will serve as the communications director for the party.
Along with the election, the various members spoke throughout the morning adding it was imperative the party gets to work in various ways. Carr and Sanchez-Vinas both stressed the importance of having viable candidates run in local elections. The next local election comes up in 2018 and will feature the mayoral race of Carter County.
The newly elected chair added that the party will work closely with the Women’s Democratic Party to help create ideas and issues to get involved within the community.
One of the initiatives includes the speaker series addressing national topics at a local level. The next speaker series is scheduled for April 15 from 2 to 4 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church. The topic of discussion will be health care.
For more information or how to get involved, contact Carr via email at kcarr59@yahoo.com or visit the Carter County Democratic Party Facebook page online.