Savannah, Georgia: Democratic Party of Georgia opens office in Savannah - one year after opening Augusta office - with plans to take back state and national offices and re-elect President Obama
(Savannah, Georgia) - About 200 people attended the February 4, 2012 grand opening ceremony for the Democratic Party of Georgia's satellite office in Savannah.
Those present included Democrats from Atlanta, Augusta and other cities across Georgia and South Carolina.
Augustans in attendance for the Savannah event included
Richmond County Democratic Party (RCDP) chair
Dr. Lowell Greenbaum and
Rev. Terence A. Dicks, a member of the RCDP who serves on the DPG
state committee and is the
Southern Regional Organizer for the
Progessive Democrats of America (
PDA) and PDA
State of
Georgia Coordinator.
The opening of the Savannah office "is part of our 5% strategy," said Mike Berlon, DPG Chairman.
"We believe that we can raise Democratic turnout this election cycle and win many of the races in November," Berlon said. "Having a headquarters in this part of the state allows us to strengthen our grassroots network close to home.”
Savannah residents will staff the office, located at 406 East Bay Street, after undergoing intensive training with the DPG.
Georgia Democrats’ ultimate goal will be to provide a hub to organize, canvass and register new voters in Chatham County and beyond.
WSAV-TV Coverage of the Grand Opening of the Democratic Party of Georgia Satellite Office in Savannah on Feb. 4, 2012:
By Meredith Ley, WSAV-TV reporter
February 04, 2012
(SAVANNAH, GA) - It was a big day for the Blue Party in Savannah.
Democratic leaders from all over the region came into town to celebrate Savannah's first official Democratic Office.
The space will provide a strategic location for Georgia democrats to organize campaign and register new voters.
Before, the party worked from Atlanta - down.
Party leaders, like Representative Mickey Stephens say a Savannah office just makes sense given the amount of support in the south.
"Savannah has always been a Democratic city and Savannah went for
Pres. Obama in the last election so we are making strides down here in the south and in the south end of the state and I think that’s why they opened the headquarters here."
Democratic officials say this space will continue to bring future political success to southern and eastern Georgia along with strengthening grassroots efforts.
WTOC-TV photo/written story about the the DPG office in Savannah:
SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - Some more popular politicians were also in the hostess city on Saturday to help open the Democratic party's office in Savannah.
Congressman James Clyburn, plus local leaders, like Mayor Edna Jackson were on hand for the grand opening.
Many believe the new office will have a big impact in this part of the state.
Chairman Mike Berlon of the Democratic party of Georgia says, "the idea is we've got to get back to our roots. We have not really been actively involved in areas outside of Atlanta in a long time, and I think this is the first step to reclaim Georgia for the Democrats."
Folks will staff the office after undergoing intensive training by the Democratic party of Georgia.
Copyright 2012 WTOC. All rights reserved.
The opening of the Democrats' Savannah office brings back memories of the opening of the party's Augusta Office:
Below is a video with a serious message delivered with humor from Augusta Democrats that includes the creativity and music by Kevin MacLeod
Below is a video from the March 2011 opening of the Democratic Party of Georgia office in Augusta that is the Augusta-Richmond County Democratic Party Headquarters:
Democratic Party of Georgia Opened Augusta Office in March 2011
The first satellite office of the Democratic Party of Georgia opened in Augusta (Garden City) on Saturday, March 26, 201.
The Augusta event was the first state committee meeting under DPG Chairman Mike Berlon.
The Augusta-Richmond County Democratic Party meets on the second Wednesday of every month at its headquarters on 11th and Greene Streets at 7:30PM.
The party sponsors a breakfast the third Saturday of each month at a different site at 9 am.
The Augusta-Richmond County Democratic Party Headquarters
1101 Greene Street
Augusta, GA
30901 Phone: 706-722-8111
Fax: 706-722-8111email the RCDC
**Important reminder for Augusta Democrats:
ADVANCED VOTING FOR MARCH 6 PRIMARY runs from Monday, Feb. 6 to Friday, March 2, 2012 from 9 am to 5 pm at the Municipal Building in Augusta.
The polling place is at the Municipal Building on Greene St.
You must be a registered voter and have a photo ID
From the Augusta Chronicle – March 26, 2011
The Democratic Party of Georgia has a plan to take the red out of the state, and they started it in Augusta on Saturday.
“We stand ready to turn this state back to its true, blue color,” State Rep. Wayne Howard, D-Augusta, said.
Howard introduced the state party’s new chairman, Mike Berlon, who received a standing ovation from the crowd of about 250 Democratic leaders.
During a three-hour state committee meeting at Augusta’s Marriott Hotel & Suites, party officers gave reports and Berlon described his plan to keep the party active on the local level throughout the year, including opening regional field offices.
At the end of the meeting, a grand opening reception was held at the state’s first satellite office at 1101 Greene St.
“The journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step, and that’s what we are starting here today,” Berlon said. “We are starting at the county party level, precinct by precinct, and we are going to build this party up.”
Treasurer Russell Edwards said Augusta is ideal for a satellite office because it is the second largest city in Georgia and has a large population of “under-served constituents,” including Korean-Americans and Latinos.
Augusta also has research institutions, which is “a big priority in the Democratic Party.”
State party spokesman Eric Gray said that, although the satellite office is in the same location as the county headquarters, it will better serve voters because it will be staffed daily.
“We are expanding out from central Atlanta to where the voters are,” said L.C. Myles, the first vice chairman of the Richmond County Georgia Democratic Party. “It’s the first part of our new philosophy of being the Democratic Party of Georgia rather than the Democratic Party of Atlanta.”
The meeting also focused on legal matters such as redistricting, voter IDs issues, the state party’s by-laws, finances and funding.
Official website for the re-election of President Obama and Vice Pres. Biden Democratic Party of Georgia (Mike Berlon, chair):http://www.georgiademocrat.orghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_of_Georgiahttp://www.linkedin.com/company/democratic-party-of-georgiahttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Democratic-Party-of-Georgia/105791402802932
Officers of the Democratic Party of Georgia:Chair: Former Gwinnett County Democratic Party chairman Mike BerlonFirst Vice-Chair: Nikema WilliamsCongressional District/County Liaison Vice Chair: R.J. HadleyConstituency Group Vice Chair: State Representative Pedro "Pete" MarinCandidate Recruitment Vice Chair: Miguel CamachoSecretary: Laverne GaskinsTreasurer: Russell Edwards---Representing Georgia on the Democratic National Committee:Chairman Mike BerlonFirst Vice Chair Nikema WilliamsPage GleasonDan HalpernState Senator Lester JacksonState AFL-CIO President Richard RaySally RosserFormer state Democratic Party Chairman David Worley---Contact info about GA Dems:Eric GrayCommunications DirectorDemocratic Party of Georgiaoffice: 678-278-2012 x304cell: 404-992-8699eric@georgiademocrat.org---Organizations affiliated with the Democratic Party of Georgia:RunForOffice.org (Democratic Youth Strategy Council project)Georgia Association of Democratic County ChairsGeorgia Federation of Democratic WomenGeorgia House Democratic CaucusYoung Democrats of Georgia National:The Democratic National CommitteeThe Democratic Senate Campaign Committee (DSCC)The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) International:Democrats Abroad Chatham County Democratic Party links: Chatham County Democratic Party:http://chathamdems-ga.com/ccdc Facebook group page for the Chatham County Democratic Party:http://www.facebook.com/groups/chathamdemocrats email Chatham County Democratic Party:admin@chathamdems-ga.com Chatham County Democratic Party contact page:http://chathamdems-ga.com/ccdc/contact Link to info about the Chatham County Democratic Party:http://chathamdems-ga.com/ccdc/about/about-us Georgia elected officials (Democrats) attending the DPG Savannah office opening: Georgia State Senator Lester Jackson:http://www.senate.ga.gov/senators/en-US/member.aspx?Member=134 Georgia State Rep. Mickey Stephens:http://www1.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/house/bios/stephensMickey/stephensMickey.htm Georgia State Rep. Al Williamshttp://www1.legis.ga.gov/legis/2011_12/house/bios/williamsAl.htmhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/State-Rep-Al-Williams-D-165/91263221674 Georgia State Rep. Bob Bryanthttp://www1.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/house/bios/bryantBob.htmhttp://repbobbryant.com Georgia State Rep. Craig Gordonhttp://www1.legis.ga.gov/legis/2011_12/house/bios/gordonCraig.htm Savannah City Councilman John Hallhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/John-Hall-3rd-District-Councilman-Elect/107541872658004 Democratic National Committee Feb. 3, 2012 update on re-electing President Obama and harmful Republican Legislation:Democratic National Committee 2-03-2012 Weekly Update
From Maine to Arizona we have watched the erosion of workers' rights; we are now witnessing some of the most blatant voter suppression laws since the old Jim Crow south come out of state legislatures.
