Hall Democrats tap two veterans for Elections Board

GAINESVILLE - In a Monday night meeting, the Hall County Democratic Committee selected an armed services veteran and a veteran of the Elections Board to serve on the board. <br /> <br /> A press statement from committee officials said Gabe Shippy of Lula, a 28-year-old U.S. Army veteran, and Kim Copeland of Gainesville, who has experience serving on the Elections Board, were elected by the Hall County Democratic Committee to fill two of the seats on the five-member Elections Board. <br /> <br /> Shippy also was selected by the committee to fill the remaining two years on an at-large seat on the 17-member Hall County Democratic Committee.<br /> <br /> "We are fortunate to have a young man who has worked for months in voter registration and education locally to agree to fill a Democratic seat on the Elections Board and to have Copeland with his experience to continue serving in this important position," said Frank Lock, Chairman of the Hall County Democratic Committee. <br /> <br /> Committee leaders also announced during the meeting the Bi-Annual Open Caucus elections for committee seats. The election will be held January 26, 2015 for four-year terms in County Commission District 1, a seat currently held by Joan Grafstein; two seats in District 2 held by Lock and Fran Watkins; andthe remaining two years for a District 4 seat vacated by resignation. Grafstein, Lock, and Watkins intend to seek re-election. <br /> <br /> The Open Caucus Caucus is scheduled to be held at the Hall Democratic Headquarters on Athens Street in Gainesville.