|
|
| |
| Tue, Sep. 23, 2008 |  |
 |
|
||
| |
Gwatney's widow to serve as superdelegate at Democratic convention Friday, Aug 22, 2008 By Rob Moritz Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - The widow of slain state Democratic Party chairman Bill Gwatney will take his spot as a superdelegate to next week's Democratic National Convention in Denver, Gov. Mike Beebe said Thursday. At Beebe's request, the state party's 47 delegates and six alternates voted Wednesday night to ask Rebecca Gwatney to fill the vacancy, party spokeswoman Darinda Sharp said. "I think it's wonderful," Sharp said. "I think the chairman would be proud and think there is nothing better than having Rebecca represent him." In a statement released by the state Democratic Party, Rebecca Gwatney said she was honored to represent her husband at the convention. "I'm happy to do this in memory of my husband and his love of people," she said. "Bill loved helping and serving people. He wanted to make Arkansas better for everyone." Bill Gwatney, who would have turned 49 during the convention, was a superdelegate who had supported New York Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential bid but switched to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama after Clinton dropped out of the Democratic race. The state party chairman, who previously served in the state senate, was shot and killed in his office at the party's headquarters on Aug. 13. The gunman, 50-year-old Timothy Dale Johnson of Searcy, was later shot and killed by police after leading them on a 30-mile car chase to near Sheridan in Grant County. Police continue to search for a motive in the slaying. Beebe said Thursday that Gwatney, a longtime friend, will be missed at next week's convention. "I suspect there will be a pall that hangs over the Arkansas delegation because of the very fact of the kind of meeting it is and who should have been leading and who would have been leading versus the fact that there will be an empty chair," the governor said. Also Wednesday night, the convention delegates elected Karla Bradley, first vice chairman of the state party, to serve as chairman of the delegation at the convention. Beebe said he had no plans to recommend a new state Democratic chairman before the national convention, which begins Monday. Under party rules, the vice chairman must call a meeting of the state committee within 60 days after the office of chairman is vacated for the purpose of electing a new chair. No meeting has been set. |
