Democrats in Harrison County kicked off the final leg of the 2000 campaign season at the Harrison County Courthouse Thursday.
Although only one county race is contested in the fall election, local Democratic leaders emphasized the need for their party members to vote on Nov. 7.
"We're going to win the courthouse, the state house and the White House," said Bill Reynolds, Harrison County Democratic Executive Committee chairman.
Reynolds was joined on the courthouse steps by other executive committee members and county Democratic elected officials for the occasion.
That group, called the Victory 2000 Committee, will organize all Democratic campaigns in Harrison County, according to information from the state Democratic Executive Committee.
The event also was designed to excite Democrats about the coming election, Reynolds said.
"This is a kickoff for the election, to get people together and enthused about this election," he said.
Called the Victory 2000 Committee, the group will work to elect Democrats at all governmental levels, including gubernatorial candidate Bob Wise, and presidential nominee Al Gore.
The only county race that is contested this year is for assessor. Incumbent Democrat Cheryl Romano will face Republican Frank H. Smith in that race.
No Republicans filed for other county offices this year. Reynolds would like to see more GOP candidates run locally, he said. That could help energize local rank and file Democrats for the election.
Also present for the event was Kenny Perdue, who recently was named Harrison County Democrat of the Year, Reynolds said. He will be honored during the Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner, Oct. 21 in Charleston.
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) will be keynote speaker for that event, Reynolds said.
Staff writer Paul Darst can be reached at 626-1404 or by e-mail at pdarst@exponent-telegram.com.
