The Democratic Party county chairs of Gilmer, Fannin, Union and Towns counties gathered with Democrats from the four counties of the Quad County Coalition April 13, 2025, at Meeks Park in Blairsville.  The meeting included guest speaker June Krise, 9th District Chair.  From left are Gilmer County Chair David Ashley, 9th District Chair June Krise, Towns County Chair David Plunkett, Fannin County Chair Doug DeMoura, Fannin County Democratic Women Chair Ann Heikkila, and Union County Chair Dottie Harris.

Towns Democrats hosting Open House April 15

       Towns County Democrats invite the public to join them for an open house at their new and improved headquarters on Tuesday, April 15.

The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the headquarters office at 355 North Main Street, Suite C, in Hiawassee’s Lakeside Plaza, next to Bachus on the Lake.  

      The open house will be held in conjunction with the Hiawassee Downtown Development Authority. Light refreshments will be served.

“We want this office to be a resource for the community to learn about Democratic Party priorities and policies for making Towns County, Georgia, and the nation a place where people enjoy freedom in a just society with opportunity for everyone to prosper,”  said Towns County Democrats Chair David Plunkett. 

      Visitors to the office will find a number of resources, including voter registration information, copies of the U.S. Constitution,  information on Democratic policies, a lending library, and information on state and federal elections in 2025 and 2026.  In 2025, two seats on the state Public Service Commission will be up for election, and in 2026 elections will be held for the U.S. Senate seat presently held by Jon Ossoff as well as Georgia governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and attorney general, among others.  

      The office space includes a conference room where community groups can meet, such as the progressive women’s group which uses the facility on the first Thursday of the month, and a local writer’s group which will be holding writing workshops.

Following her commissioning by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Charlotte Sleczkowski took the oath of office April 10, 2025, as the newest member of the Towns County Board of Elections and Voter Registration.  Administering the oath is Towns County Probate Judge David Rogers.   Along with John Bennett, Ms. Sleczkowski serves as one of two Democratic members of the five-member board and was chosen for the position by the Towns County Democratic Executive Committee. 

 

Towns Democrats Tell Trump "HANDS OFF"

These Towns County Democrats from Hiawassee and Young Harris joined more than a thousand people who turned out Saturday, April 5, for the “Hands Off!” protest in Gainesville. The nationwide demonstration drew hundreds of thousands of people to highlight negative impacts on healthcare, safety, Social Security, medical research, veterans benefits, public education, voting rights, and environmental quality. 

Ossoff visits North Georgia, Speaks at Democratic Committee meeting

U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff and Towns County Chair David Plunkett attend the Georgia State Democratic Party Committee meeting March 28, 2025, in Lexington, GA.  Ossoff spoke to state Democrats and local leaders about his work serving Georgians in the Senate.  In addition to serving as Chair of the Towns County Committee, Plunkett is also a representative on the State Committee.

Towns Democrats donate to Young Harris Food Pantry

 

Towns County Democrats Dec. 20, 2024, donated $1,000 to the Towns County Food Bank.  Accepting the donation from Towns Democrats Chair and food pantry volunteer Charlotte Sleczkowski is Richard Thomas of Young Harris, coordinator of the food pantry volunteers. 

Stealing or Destroying Campaign Yard Signs Is Against the Law

 The signs are everywhere – except when they’re not!

 With the 2024 presidential election less than a month away, campaign yard signs seem to be everywhere, but Georgia law stipulates where campaign yard signs can and cannot be posted and protects them from theft and vandalism, notes Towns County Democratic Co-Chair John Bennett of Hiawassee. 

The theft of a campaign sign falls under Georgia Code § 16-8-2, or theft by taking, and is a misdemeanor as long as the combined value of the stolen property is $1,500 or less, Bennett said. Defacing a campaign sign falls under Georgia Code § 16-7-21, criminal trespass, if the damage is $500 or less. Both are misdemeanors punishable by a maximum of a year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

Violations should be reported to local law enforcement authorities, but Bennett urged anyone who witnesses a violation not to confront the offender.   A call to 911 is the best option, he said. Provide the 911 center with descriptions, and if safe to do so, wait for a responding officer to arrive.

 Georgia Code § 32-6-51 states campaign signs cannot be placed in the right-of-way of any public road.  Municipalities and counties may, however, adopt ordinances that allow campaign signs to be placed in the rights-of-way of municipal/county roads.

 City of Hiawassee ordinances prohibit the placement of any sign within the public right of way and any sign which interferes with a driver’s visibility, Bennett stated. The width of the right of way depends on the route, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). If there are power poles on the right of way, the edge is usually behind the poles. 

 Bennett also noted that any person wishing to place a campaign sign on private property must have the permission of the property owner if it is not on their own property.  That includes rental property, where stipulations in the lease apply.

  GDOT has officially stated it will remove “any and all signs” from the state right-of-way.  Failure to obey this law could result in a misdemeanor, so GDOT stated that candidates should make sure their signs are placed only in authorized areas. On Election Day, signs are prohibited within 150 feet of any building where voting is taking place as well as within 25 feet of any voter standing in line to vote (Georgia Code § 21-2-414).