HuffPost's OffTheBus members produced these superdelegate profiles as part of its Superdelegate Investigation. You can find all profiles here.
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Wayne Dowdy
Mississippi
Basic Bio
* Charles Wayne Dowdy was born July 27, 1943. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Dowdy
* Dowdy was born in Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Georgia, United States.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Dowdy
* Dowdy attended the public schools; graduating from Gulfport High School, Gulfport, Miss. in 1961
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000466
* He received his B.A from Millsaps College, Jackson, Miss. In 1965
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000466
* He received his LL.B. from Jackson School of Law, Jackson, Miss. in 1968
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000466
* He is a graduate of Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi.
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000466
* He is currently the chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party. http://www.msdemocrats.net/
* He currently practices law in Magnolia, Mississippi. (He was admitted to the Mississippi bar in 1969.)
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000466
* Dowdy is a former staff announcer for television station WJTV-TV in Jackson, Mississippi.
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000466
* He is United Methodist in faith.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Dowdy
Involvement in Democratic Party
* Dowdy is currently the chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Dowdy
* He was a city judge in McComb, Mississippi from 1970 to 1974. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000466
* Dowdy was Mayor of McComb, Mississippi from 1978 - 1981 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Dowdy
* On July 7, 1981, Dowdy was elected to the in the House of Representatives as a Democrat from Mississippi in a special election for the 4th District.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Dowdy
* Following his election in 1981, Dowdy reelected to the three succeeding Congresses (July 7, 1981-January 3, 1989). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Dowdy
* In 1988, Dowdy won the Democratic nomination for Senate. His opponent was Republican Congressman Trent Lott. Lott defeated Dowdy by a 54%-45% margin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Dowdy
* Dowdy attempted to stage a comeback against Governor Ray Mabus in the 1991 Democratic primaries but lost with 41% of the vote.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Dowdy
Personal political interests and issues
* Dowdy was notable for being a rather progressive Democrat in a district with a 37% African American population. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Dowdy
* He voted for renewal of the Voting Rights Act in 1982. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Dowdy
* Dowdy's trademark slogan as the chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party has been "It's a great time to be a Democrat." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Dowdy
* Democrats cannot mimic the Republicans. They have the corner on their issues. We've got to separate ourselves; Democrats are different. We sympathize with people's needs for health care, the elderly, the disabled. We're the party that supports public education, and gives it more than lip service. We've got to be different from Republicans. One of the failures of the Democratic Party is that we've tried to out-Republican the Republicans. Never will we be successful with that anywhere at anytime.
http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/comments.php?id=3650_0_9_0_C (July, 2004)
* As a spokesperson for the party, I am not going to be timid about speaking out about the failures in Iraq, the budget deficit, the need to provide decent jobs with decent wages.
http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/comments.php?id=3650_0_9_0_C (July, 2004)
* In my political life over the years, I've been called many things. I used to be called "liberal." I'm not offended by the term populist. Much of the social progress in our nation can be attributed to programs that were called, sometimes derisively, populist programs. I welcome that label.
http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/comments.php?id=3650_0_9_0_C (July, 2004)
* We as Democrats should work for the day when color of someone's skin doesn't amount to anything. We make too much of race in Mississippi... I feel sorry for people who for racial reasons use that as criteria for leaving the Democratic Party. They don't believe in the same God I do. We've got to get beyond race; we won't if we as Democrats act embarrassed by the fact that we have support of African Americans. http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/comments.php?id=3650_0_9_0_C (July, 2004)
* This is a press release of Dowdy from June 2007 re: Hurricane Katrina (speaking in his role as Democratic Party Chairman:
Every Mississippian - especially those on the Coast still trying hard to recover from Hurricane Katrina - should be appalled by the apparent questionable use of money that could have gone directly to people suffering from the worst natural disaster in our nation's history. Haley Barbour must be held responsible for this reprehensible action. As the state's chief executive officer, he has direct control over the Mississippi Development Authority by appointing its executive director and, therefore, is responsible for the pathetic way the Homeowners Grant Program has been managed.
http://groups.google.com/group/Mississippi-Democrats/browse_thread/thread/a73a75e87ef73983
Involvement in 2008 election - campaign appearances, statements
* Mr. Dowdy is currently uncommitted as a superdelegate http://www.politico.com/superdelegates/
Contributions to Candidates
* According to , Dowdy contributed money to:
John Kerry, John Kerry for President Inc, 3/10/2004 1000.00
Obama, Barack, Via Obama For Illinois Inc 09/07/2004 250.00
Thompson, Bennie G, Via Friends Of Bennie Thompson 10/25/2004 1000.00
Family's Involvement in Politics, the Democratic Party
* It does not seem that Dowdy came from a political family:
* Dowdy's family owns several radio stations in Mississippi and Louisiana. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000466
Previous Campaign Work
* Howard Dean received a boost from Mississippi for his bid for DNC Chairman when Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Dowdy endorsed Dean's candidacy. http://www.magnoliareport.com/Report61.htm
This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please join the Superdelegate Transparency Project and update the profile there.
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Carnelia Pettis Fondren
Vice-Chair of the Mississippi Democratic Party
Basic Bio
* Carnelia Pettis Fondren opened the Fondren Law Firm in Oxford, Mississippi in 1993.
* Pettis Fondren was admitted to the Mississippi Bar on 09/30/1993
Mississippi Bar
* Pettis Fondren was assistant District Attorney for Lafayette County (dates unknown)
Ole Miss
* Pettis Fondren is currently Vice chair of the Mississippi Democratic Party.
Mississippi Democrats
Involvement in 2008 election - campaign appearances, statements
* Pettis Fondren is currently uncommitted as a superdelegate
Politico
* "I'm not looking forward to a fight in Denver," at the convention, said Fondren.
Wallhttp://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173354640313&path=!localnews&s=1037645509099 Street Journal
* Fondren got calls from Chelsea Clinton and Terry McAuliffe, Clinton's campaign chairman.
Wall Street Journal
This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please join the Superdelegate Transparency Project and update the profile there.
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Johnnie Patton
Jackson, Mississippi
Basic Bio
* Graduate of Xavier University School of Pharmacy, New Orleans, Louisiana, and is a practicing pharmacist with Walmart/Sams Club organization
* A native Jacksonian, is Vice President of Hap Enterprise, a real estate consultant company in purchasing and selling properties.
* Secretary, Board Member of Safe City Initiative, Jackson, MS. Commissioner Patton is a Member of the Jackson Chapter of LeFleur Bluff Links, Incorporated. Advisor to family fast food restaurant business, the Big Apple Inn, established in 1937. www.jmaa.com/Contact/board.cfm
* Married to Houston J. Patton, attorney www.co.hinds.ms.us/pgs/county/patton.htm
Involvement in the Democratic Party
* Serves as the National Committee Woman for Mississippi for the Mississippi Democratic Party, and Secretary of the Black Caucus of DNC, Washington, DC http://www.jmaa.com/Contact/board.cfm
* Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Mississippi, 1996, 2004;
* Member of Democratic National Committee from Mississippi, 2004
Involvement in 2008 Election - Campaign Appearances, Statements
* Ardent Obama supporter for the past two years. Clinton supporters have lobbied her to switch teams - with little luck. http://www.mgwashington.com/.../news/article/mississipi-superdelegates-could-hold-key-to-democratic-nominee/564/
* Obama Throw-Down Tonight In Jackson , Barack Obama state campaign vice chair (and SUUUUUUUUUPERDELEGATE!!) Johnnie Patton is hosting a campaign organizing event tonight at Hal and Mal's in Jackson. The party goes down at 7 p.m., during which Patton will speak briefly, presumably about Obama's involvement in Mississippi before the March 11 primary. http://willbardwell.blogspot.com/2008/02/obama-throwd-down-tonight-in-jackson.html The new group "Northern Mississippi for Obama 2008" - Mississippi Campaign Coordinator is Patton http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/MagnoliaStateBlog/CGjlQ
* A gathering of state elected officials that included State Senator Tyrone Ellis, State Senator John Hohrn, State Representative Alyce Clark and the mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, Mr. Frank Melton was all made possible by Patton. Is the point person for the Obama campaign in Mississippi. "I asked her how the fund raiser went and she informed my that it was beyond their expectations! The goal was to raise $100,000 and the total so far was over $120,000 with more coming in all the time!" http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/MagnoliaStateBlog/Ct9G
Previous Campaign Work
* Was a John Kerry campaign co-chairman for the state http://www.mhanet.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=533
This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please join the Superdelegate Transparency Project and update the profile there.
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Everett Sanders
National Committeeman for the state of Mississippi for the Democratic National Committee
Mississippi
Basic Bio
* Sanders is Natchez, Mississippi's City Attorney. He was sworn in on July 11, 2006. He has two daughters, Aisha and Keisha. All information for this section comes from the minutes of the July 11, 2006 Regular Meeting of the City of Natchez (PDF) http://www.naw.lib.ms.us/Minutes.2006.0711.pdf
Political interests and issues
* Sanders is a member of the Mississippi Democratic Party.
* The party's platform includes fair pay, equal justice under the law, conservation, health care, and second amendment rights. All information in this section comes from the Mississippi Democratic Party's website. http://www.msdemocrats.net/platform.htm
Involvement in the Democratic Party
* Sanders was elected to the position of national committeeman for the state of Mississippi for the Democratic National Committee in 2004. http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/2008/mar/07/natchez-superdelegate-leaning-toward-obama/
* Sanders was interviewed by the Natchez Democrat, a Mississippi Community Paper on March 7th, before he announced his support for Obama. http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/2008/mar/07/natchez-superdelegate-leaning-toward-obama/
* Sanders was also interviewed by the Natchez Democrat in 2007 following his trip to a DNC national conference, where he got to meet the presidential candidates. In the article Sanders states, "We have some good candidates, and whoever ends up winning I think will have a very good shot at winning the presidency." http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/2007/feb/10/natchez-attorney-attends-conference/
* Sanders was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1996. http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/sanders.html
Pledged Status
* Sanders endorsed Barack Obama on March 10, 2008. According to the press release, Obama's health care plan, education plan, and leadership during Hurricane Katrina were all factors. http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/gGBqY2
Involvement in the 2008 Election
* Sanders has not been involved in the election as of yet. He's only recently (March 10th 2008) declared his support for Sen. Obama.
Contributions to Candidates
* While Sanders has not made any contributions yet to a 2008 presidential candidate, he has made contributions in the past to Congressman Ronnie Shows (2000 and 2002) and Congressman Bennie Thompson (2000, 2002, 2004). All information for this section came from the FEC's campaign finance disclosure site. http://www.fec.gov/finance/disclosure/norindsea.shtml
Family's Involvement in Politics, the Democratic Party
* Sanders has a politically active family. His nephew, Keelan Sanders, is the Mississippi Democratic Party Executive Director. Keelan Sanders has been working for the Mississippi Democratic Party since 1999. Democratic Party Website http://www.democrats.org/a/2005/08/50_state_strate_4.php
* Sanders' wife, the Honorable Lillie Blackmon-Sanders, is the District Two Circuit Court Judge. Natchez Democrat Article http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/1999/dec/02/judge-cited-by-court-for-misconduct/
This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please join the Superdelegate Transparency Project and update the profile there.
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