Cox planning daylong campaign trip to Gainesville

GAINESVILLE - Cathy Cox is the first of the announced Georgia gubernatorial candidates planning a major campaign foray into Hall County.

Cox, the incumbent Secretary of State who is running for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, plans a daylong swing through Gainesville Sunday.

She plans to visit with groups at St. Paul United Methodist Church on Summit Street, Gainesville High School and Hall County Democratic Party Headquarters.

Local Democratic officials say this is the beginning of what they hope will be a successful series of visits by statewide Democratic officials and candidates to Hall County as next year's elections approach.

"The Georgia Democratic Party is gaining momentum ahead of the '06 election cycle and we intend to make sure that this momentum extends to Hall County," said Ashley Bell, Chairman of the Hall County Democratic Party.

"This is our chance to promote our message as Georgia Democrats without competing with 'out of state' politics as we were forced to do in 2004."

Cox's day in Gainesville will begin at St. Paul for United Methodist Women Leadership Sunday. She will address women's leadership at the 11:00 service.

Afterwards, Cox will travel to Gainesville High School at 1:00 for remarks at a reception for local students joining the youth leadership society Generation Inspiration.

At 2:00, she will be at Democratic Party Headquarters for a meeting with local party leaders and members of the public.