Candidates For Local And Federal Offices Step Forward At Oconee County Democratic Party Meeting

Jennifer Gude told Oconee County Democrats gathered in the Watkinsville Library on Tuesday night that she has decided to run for a seat on the Watkinsville Council to make a good city even better.

Richard Dien Winfield of Athens followed Gude to the front of the room, stating that he plans to announce in January that he is a candidate for U.S. House of Representatives from the 10th Congressional District to put forward what he called a “new social bill of rights.”

Gude, who lives at 1240 Stone Shoals Terrace in Watkinsville, said she thinks she will run for Post 2 on the Council.

That seat is open now that Connie Massey has been sworn in as mayor to replace Charles Ivie, who stepped down on Monday for health reasons. Massey could decide to run again for her old Post 2 position.

Winfield said he will try to unseat Republican Jody Hice in the 10th Congressional District, which runs from the Atlanta suburbs to the Savannah River and from Athens nearly to I-16 on the south.

Chalis Montgomery from Bethlehem also has declared she will seek the Democratic nomination to oppose Hice, so Winfield and Montgomery would face off in a Democratic primary in May.

For more on the story, with a video of the Democratic Party Meeting, go to Oconee County Observations.

Pictured: Gude and Winfield.