The chairwoman of the Hall County Democratic Committee said neither local Democrats nor the Democratic candidate for Hall County Commission Post 4 had anything to do with a political robo-call that potential voters received Thursday night.
Sheila Nicholas contacted AccessWDUN Friday to release a statement about the phone call, which encouraged Democrats to vote in Hall County's upcoming Republican Primary.
"On May 5, 2016, many of you may have received an automated call which suggested that Angela Middleton and the Hall County Democratic Party are encouraging you to vote in the Republican Primary on May 24. Please note that this message was not from either Angela Middleton's campaign or the Hall County Democratic Party," said Nicholas, reading from the statement.
Nicholas went on to state that the local party never encourages Democrats to vote for candidates in opposing parties.
"Any vote that is not cast for a Democrat works against our bid to elect a Democrat for commissioner of Hall County District 4," Nicholas said. "If you want to support Angela Middleton, you need to ask for a Democratic ballot whether you vote early or on May 24."
The robo-call suggested that Democrats cast their ballots for incumbent GOP commissioner Jeff Stowe, saying he would be an easier candidate for Middleton to defeat in the General Election in November.
Middleton said she received the call Thursday night and played the call for AccessWDUN.
"Proud progressives are asking that all Democrats vote in the Republican Primary for Jeff Stowe. If he wins the Primary, he will likely lose in the General," the call said. "This is our best hope for winning back a seat for our party in Hall County."
The message never directly identified who was responsible for issuing the automated call.
Nicholas said she had knowledge of who initiated the call, but she declined to say who was responsible, saying only that it was "a Republican."
