Five familiar faces in Charlotte County served as delegates during the Virginia 5th Congressional District Democratic Committee Nominating Convention May 5 at the Firemen’s Sports Arena in Prince Edward County.

John Hughes, Patrick Barber, Jerry Robinson, Carolyn Overstreet and Juanita Giles joined representatives and delegates from 23 counties to cast their votes for the Democratic nominee for the 5th Congressional District.

The event reflected that the majority of those who participated in the convention do not just commit a Saturday afternoon to causes they believe in, but participate throughout the year.

Regardless of party, Charlotte County sees committed individuals who attend county and town meetings and work to encourage leaders and hold them accountable for their decisions. Some serve as leaders themselves.

The Charlotte County caucus held in April brought 75 voters and representatives from seven counties who participated in the event.

Leslie Cockburn, nominee for the 5th Congressional District, addressed the audience during the convention and relayed a message that serves for anyone involved in their communities.

“I say to every single one of you, when you go back home, you get out there and lead,” Cockburn said after describing a similar encouragement she received from Civil Rights Activist John Lewis. “You have what it takes to do this.”

Emily Hollingsworth is a staff writer for The Charlotte Gazette and Farmville Newsmedia LLC. Her email address is Emily.Hollingsworth@ TheCharlotteGazette. com.