Chatham County Democratic Committee elects Glynda Jones to fill vacancy on Board of Elections
Glynda Jones stood with teary eyes in front of her peers at the Chatham County Democratic Committee as one of her biggest dreams came true. On Wednesday night, Jones was elected by an 11-7 vote to fill the Democratic seat vacated by Malinda Hodge on the Chatham County Board of Elections.
Hodges resigned in June as vice chair of the Board of Elections. She subsequently launched her campaign to serve as Chatham County Commissioner for District 2, a seat held by the late Larry "Gator" Rivers, who died in April. Jones will fill the remaining three years left on Hodge's term.
Former Chatham County Commissioner Tony Center, who was not present during the vote, was also a finalist for the role.
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It was a bittersweet moment for Jones, whose mother, Ernestine J. Jones, served on the Board of Elections for 16 years. Ernestine Jones died in 2018. Although her mother did not get a chance to pass the torch physically, Glynda Jones said it was surreal to have her goal come to fruition.
“I’m elated, but on the flip side, I’m a bit sad,” said Jones. “It would just be such a great thing if she was right here by my side to enjoy this moment of opportunity that I have been afforded. Other than that, I'm very happy to step into my mother’s shoes.”
The Board of Elections of Chatham County is comprised a chairperson and four elected members, two each from the Chatham County Democratic Committee and the Chatham County Republican Party.
The Board of Elections is tasked with running primary and general elections according to Georgia state law, which includes establishing voting precinct boundaries, securing facilities for polling, recruiting and training poll officials, and qualifying candidates, among other measure to ensure the integrity of the election process.
Jones does not take this role lightly. She said she felt a moral obligation to apply for the position.
“I believe in the election process and maintaining the integrity of elections,” said Jones. “I believe they should be fair and that communities need to be educated about elections.”
Candidates to fill Hodge's seat were screened and qualified prior to Wednesday's election through virtual interviews and resume submissions along with other application requirements. LaTricia Brown, chairwoman for the CCDC subcommittee tasked with filling the vacancy, said the process was not about who has done the most in the community, but rather, who is the best fit.
“We look for who has the best qualifications for the role,” said Brown, who is also a member of the Board of Elections. “We started with 11 and then we got it down to 10. Then, the subcommittee members and I selected our top five and from there, the voting subcommittee members submitted rubrics for their scoring of those five. Those interview rubrics are how we got down to the final two.”
Jones, who volunteers for the American Red Cross, said she votes Democrat because they are the “party that is for the people.” Now, she is having a little party of her own, celebrating an unexpected and emotional victory.
“Democrats want to see people advance,” said Jones. “As we look at what's going on in today's world, the Republican Party has had a tendency to set things back 50 plus years. We don't need to be set back. We need to continue the work of freedom that has already been in place and we don't need to lose those freedoms. I think by being Democrat, we work hard so those freedoms can stay in place. I want to do a great job in this role and finish what my mother and Melinda started.”
Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Chatham County Ga Democrats select Glynda Jones for Board of Elections
