Fannin County Democratic Women Discuss Upcoming Election and Chapter Plans

Former Fannin County Democratic Women President Susan-Todd Raque passes (left) leadership to Newly-Elected President Roseanne Johnston (right).

Fannin County Democratic Women had a special reason to celebrate at their bi-monthly meeting on July 30^th. 240 years after the founding of the United States and 96 years after women won the right to vote, a woman may become President of the United States.  Chapter President Roseanne Johnston told FetchYourNews how much equal social treatment of women has changed in her lifetime.   Ms. Johnston said in 1978, after she started working as a nurse and needed a car to drive to work, she had to get either her father or brother to sign the loan for her because banks wouldn’t loan money to women at that time even though, in her case, she had a steady, professional job.  Past-President Susan Todd-Raque said what Clinton’s nomination means to girls in Fannin County.  “A woman can be anything she wants to be.  I don’t know if she (Clinton) is going to break the glass ceiling here.  It gives a girl hope.”

Much of the meeting was spent listening to Fannin County Commission Chair-Elect Stan Helton sharing his plans  for Fannin County government administration when he takes office in January 2017.  Members present asked Mr. Helton about some of their concerns. (FetchYourNews will give greater detail of Mr. Helton’s proposals in an upcoming article.)

A special topic was about the aging population in Fannin County.  Mr. Helton said that the population growth of seniors in the county far exceeds any other age group.  As such, he is interested in looking at activities that can help seniors keep healthy and fit.

Several members voiced concerns about TVA spraying Roundup right next to the Toccoa River and GDOT using Roundup on embankments.  Roundup is a weed-killer developed by Monsanto Corporation.   Besides stunting plant growth, Roundup is highly toxic for amphibians and potentially causes cancer in humans.  Members wanted to know action Mr. Helton could take on this.

Mr. Helton said that TVA has layers of environmental protection.  To get TVA to change spraying would mean that TVA has to agree that the herbicide does call problems.  Another member told Mr. Helton that he is the one who can bring TVA’s attention to the spraying.  Mr. Helton said that first he must agree that it is a problem and then be convinced whether it is good or bad for Fannin citizens. One member stated that her electric bill from TVA requires her to pay $2 per month for spraying the herbicide.

The group also talked about plans for the upcoming General Election.  Democratic Women chapters across the state are pooling resources to support getting Democrats to run in local offices like school board, State House and county and municipal governments.  They are also looking for a short-term rental to house Fannin County’s Hillary Clinton campaign headquarters.

Two members received awards for their service.  Cynthia Maude received the Bouquet award for arranging speakers and Roseanne Johnston received the True Blue award for becoming new Chapter President.

After the meeting, FetchYourNews spoke with Ms. Todd-Raque and Ms. Johnston about how Democrat’s candidates and platforms could affect Fannin residents. “The majority of people are socially-liberal and fiscally conservative,” said Ms. Todd-Raque.  The socially-liberal platforms show empathy with all groups in America.  One piece of Clinton’s platform that helps Fannin youth is the emphasis on building more trade schools to teach high-technology skills to blue-collar workers.

When asked about the divisive politics in the US, both had much to say.  Ms. Todd-Raque stated, “You cannot have a government that works if no one is willing to compromise.  There is just so much a President can do.  Obama has been constrained by people sent to Congress.  We need people going to Congress who are willing to compromise.”

The divisiveness in Fannin County is clear to the Democrats.  Some members have had their cars keyed in the parking lots around the county or their Democrat bumper-stickers being ripped off their car.  Ms. Todd-Raque stated, “There are bridges that exist here (Fannin County).  People don’t want to see the bridges because they think they are not being faithful to their party.” Ms. Todd-Raque gave the example of the over 300 entries from Fannin students that the Chapter received during its anti-litter campaign poster competition.  All types of people want to stop litter.

Ms. Johnston explained the Fannin County Women Democrats’ plan to get out the vote in Fannin.  Foremost will be voter registration and simply talking up the importance of the election among friends and community connections. A lot of women who are retired keep connected through volunteering; they see who the ignored people in the county are says Ms. Johnston.

The new Fannin County Democratic Women President, Rosanne Johnston moved to Fannin County in 2014 when she retired from her nursing career.  She previously lived in Murphy, North Carolina.  Ms. Johnston has a history of public service as a nurse and foster parent.  Her daughter is a public school teacher in North Carolina. In the 1970’s Ms. Johnston worked with Greenpeace.  If anyone wishes more information about the Chapter or would like to volunteer, they can contact Ms. Johnston at roseannejohnston@aol.com.

Fannin County Democrat Women meet bi-monthly.  Their next meeting is in October.  Fannin County Democrats meet monthly, the first Tuesday of each month, at 6:30 at the Comfort Inn off 515.