For Immediate Release
8/16/2023, 2:30 p.m.
Attention and Call to Action!

The local Forsyth County GOP has recently decided to attempt to block the previously approved and duly appointed Republican member of the county board of elections that has already served the county for over 8 years.  It appears that the local county GOP party leadership is still expressing the belief of what has been proven to be “The Big Lie” and wants to replace the current appointment with an individual to the board who appears to be an election denier.  

Appointments in Forsyth County are designed to originate from intraparty politics, and we believe removing the previously approved and duly appointed Republican board member would set a negative precedent for the Board of Commissioners to throw out an appointment and start the process anew for future appointments.

We are asking you to call and email your County Commissioners and ask that they follow procedures that are already in place.  Procedures that they have followed through with every previous appointment.  Governor Kemp just this week maintained what Democrats have said all along that the 2020 election was not stolen and even asked why no one has stepped forward if they have evidence that it was.

Our board of commissioners should not allow the appointment of anyone who believes the election was stolen for the greater good of our Forsyth County Board of Registrars and Elections Office, Forsyth County Voters, and the state of Georgia as a whole.

There will be a Forsyth County Board of Commissioners meeting tomorrow night, August 17th, 2023 at 5:00 pm at the  Administration Building located at 110 E Main Street,
Cumming, GA 30040. The item is NOT currently on the agenda; however, it can be added last minute in some circumstances.

Please act right now, to make your voice heard before we are faced with fielding more negative and false implications about our county elections processes, procedures, and integrity for years to come. You can find your commissioner below.

404-927-5769 | kmhill@forsythco.com Commissioner Kerry Hill D1
770-888-8878 |  ajohn@forsythco.com Commissioner Alfred John D2
678-513-5883 |  tlevent@forsythco.com Commissioner Todd Levent D3
678-513-5884 |  cjmills@forsythco.com Commissioner Cindy Mills D4
 678-513-5885 |  losemanson@forsythco.com Commissioner Laura Semanson D5

Thank You,
Forsyth County Democrats 

"I didn't have to log many miles on my Georgia politics road trip this week to find a big political story.  And one of the biggest in the state is happening just north of Atlanta in Forsyth County, where the politics of the once rural county are changing as rapidly as the faces there...
Nobody may embody the changing politics of Forsyth better than Kannan Udayarajan, who immigrated from India in 2007, became a citizen in 2017, and is now the chair of the Forsyth County Democratic Party.
" - Patricia Murphy Reporter for AJC

"I still remember telling my father back home in India that hey, this is why American democracy is so great...I always tell people that it wouldn't happen in India and that it happened in Forsyth County of all places is a huge thing.  It just shows how great this country is." -Kannan Udayarajan Chairman of the Forsyth County Democrats

​https://www.ajc.com/politics/opinion-immigrant-population-fueling-democratic-rise-in-forsyth-county/CCADLDKAAVHOHKBM5475VMVMYM/

Forsyth County Democrats statement on drag shows in Forsyth county, and the recent calls for the classification of drag as a adults-only form of entertainment, at the expense of freedom and expression in our community:

Drag shows already existed in Forsyth prior to this most recent controversy over the use of a county facility, and have been enjoyed by many. More importantly, Forsyth County has good policies in place for its facilities, policies that respect everyone’s rights and freedoms; these policies do not need to be changed to pacify the manufactured outrage of a noisy few. Drag, just like dance or any other type of theatrical performance, comes in many forms and is not innately sexual or adult in nature. Insisting that it harms children is simply not based in reality. Further, the repeated assertion that drag performance “targets” children is a thinly-veiled attack on our LGBTQ community members.

We reject this culture-war fear mongering. Just as we have recently seen with the efforts to ban certain books from our local school libraries, this is nothing but a wedge issue. It has little to do with Forsyth and everything to do with the social and political agendas of outside groups trying to create false moral panics.
Above all, the Forsyth County Democrats support everyone's freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, and freedom of and from religion. Forsyth County Democrats respect everyone's freedom to practice and follow any religion or no religion at all and that every individual be afforded these same rights evenly across the board. The beliefs of one particular religious congregation have no place in county governance.

Our US Constitution agrees:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

We recommend and expect that Forsyth County Government will see through this attempt to propagate a culture war and leave its non-discriminatory policies in place, in the name of freedom.
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State Committee Elections will be held February 28th at 7 p.m. at 1045 Dahlonega Hwy, Cumming, GA 30040.

​Forsyth County is allotted 5 seats. If you would like to run for a seat please email forsythcountydp@gmail.com or you can declare your intent at the meeting in person or on zoom.

About the State Committee

The State Committee is the highest authority of the State Party. The State Committee has general responsibility for the affairs of the State Party. The State Committee must meet once a year as established in the bylaws but can meet more often as meetings are called.

The State Party, through the State Committee, assists in the election of Democratic candidates, adopts and promotes statements of policy, provide voter education, and raises and disburses moneys needed for State Party operation. The State Committee also promotes fair adjudication of disputes, fair campaign practices, encourage and support codes of political ethics that embody substantive rules of ethical guidance for all public officials and Party members, and assure that public officials shall at all times conduct themselves in a manner that reflects credibility upon the offices they serve.

In carrying out its duties, the State Party, through the State Committee, affords all persons full, timely, and equal opportunities to participate without prejudice on the basis of gender, race, age, color, creed, national origin, religion, economic status, sexual orientation, ethnic identity, or physical disability. Participation in the State Party shall not be denied for failure to pay fees.

Members elected by County Committees should be divided as equally as possible according to gender. State Committee members shall serve terms of four (4) years. A person does NOT have to be a County Committee member to be elected to the State Committee. Any Forsyth Democrat (registered voter and resides in Forsyth County as well as declaring him or herself a Democrat) can apply to run. Only members of the Forsyth Dems County Committee are allowed to vote for State Committee seat holders.
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All State Committee members must be approved by the Credentials Committee at least five (5) business days prior to their first state committee meeting of their terms.

Who is eligible to cast votes for new Committee Members?
Only members of the current County Committee are allowed to vote for State Committee members.

What does an Executive Committee Post Seat Holder do?
• Attends all regularly scheduled and special State Committee Meetings
• Votes on matters brought before the State Committee
• Donates time, skills, and money to the State Committee to help achieve DPG strategic goals
• Participates on one or more State subcommittees

If you are interested in running, prepare to speak at the February Meeting!