Allen County Democrats have selected John Court to chair the local party into the May primary election.
Court defeated former pastor Mike Latham 74-1 at this evening's caucus.
Court says he looks forward to challenging Republicans in the November general election.
He admits Democrats have an uphill climb in taking on local Republicans-- with no Democrats in the County Commissioners, and a six-to-three outnumbering on the City Council.
But he cites the past 13 years in Fort Wayne under Democratic mayors, and strong 2008 support for President Obama, as reasons why the party can be optimistic about this year.
When the newly-elected Court took the podium tonight, he got to work on his message to excite voters.
Party members elected him almost unanimously to replace former Chair Mike Bynum, who stepped down March 10th.
He defeated former pastor and local NAACP Chairman Latham.
And now with the primary election just two months away, he says Democrats have a lot of work to do.
"This is a simple business. You got to touch people, talk to people, and let them know who you are and where you stand on the issues," Court says.
Party leaders say Court has the energy the party needs.
"He knows that we're ready for a change, that the state of Indiana has swung too far to the right in every sense, and he's thinking of ways and found ways to get us back," says Win Moses.
Court and County Vice Chair Deb Marrone serve on the 2012 State Democratic Convention planning board, which is in Fort Wayne in mid-June.
As county chair, Court now plays a bigger role in planning the event.
"We're hoping to bring close to 3000 Democrats to Fort Wayne. It is the first time it's been held outside of Indianapolis," Marrone says.
"I've been working with the convention folks probably for a year and a half now, trying to prepare for it. So I think I got a good handle on that, it's just a matter of execution," Court says.
Tonight he told Democrats they need to make an extra effort to unseat Republicans in November.
He called for them to knock on one more door, make one more call, and shake one more hand.
Court says he moved to Fort Wayne from South Bend five years ago.
He says his hope with the June convention is to convince other Democrats from across the state to also move to Allen County to help the party's cause.
Court defeated former pastor Mike Latham 74-1 at this evening's caucus.
Court says he looks forward to challenging Republicans in the November general election.
He admits Democrats have an uphill climb in taking on local Republicans-- with no Democrats in the County Commissioners, and a six-to-three outnumbering on the City Council.
But he cites the past 13 years in Fort Wayne under Democratic mayors, and strong 2008 support for President Obama, as reasons why the party can be optimistic about this year.
When the newly-elected Court took the podium tonight, he got to work on his message to excite voters.
Party members elected him almost unanimously to replace former Chair Mike Bynum, who stepped down March 10th.
He defeated former pastor and local NAACP Chairman Latham.
And now with the primary election just two months away, he says Democrats have a lot of work to do.
"This is a simple business. You got to touch people, talk to people, and let them know who you are and where you stand on the issues," Court says.
Party leaders say Court has the energy the party needs.
"He knows that we're ready for a change, that the state of Indiana has swung too far to the right in every sense, and he's thinking of ways and found ways to get us back," says Win Moses.
Court and County Vice Chair Deb Marrone serve on the 2012 State Democratic Convention planning board, which is in Fort Wayne in mid-June.
As county chair, Court now plays a bigger role in planning the event.
"We're hoping to bring close to 3000 Democrats to Fort Wayne. It is the first time it's been held outside of Indianapolis," Marrone says.
"I've been working with the convention folks probably for a year and a half now, trying to prepare for it. So I think I got a good handle on that, it's just a matter of execution," Court says.
Tonight he told Democrats they need to make an extra effort to unseat Republicans in November.
He called for them to knock on one more door, make one more call, and shake one more hand.
Court says he moved to Fort Wayne from South Bend five years ago.
He says his hope with the June convention is to convince other Democrats from across the state to also move to Allen County to help the party's cause.
