Committee Information

MISSION STATEMENT:

The Washington County Virginia Democratic Committee believes all elected officials have an obligation to represent our rural community and citizens by:

Providing real economic opportunities for workers at all income levels
Ensuring equal rights to quality public education, employment, healthcare, and housing
Providing access to vote to all citizens, and to free and fairly elect their representatives
Protecting our natural resources and ensuring access for all citizens

BELIEFS:

Washington County Democrats Believe...

in democracy, the Rule of Law, and the Constitution of the United States of America.

that the rights conferred by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are co-equal to each other, and that one right is not more important than another.

that all US citizens are co-equal human beings and have equal access to a quality public education, to affordable healthcare, and to essential services of the government.
that every citizen shall have an equal opportunity to have their voice heard, and to freely elect representatives to our local, state, and national governments.

CODE OF CONDUCT:

We are a welcoming community. We strive to support people of all backgrounds and identities. We are considerate of others from different backgrounds and beliefs.
We are a respectful community. Disagreement is no excuse for poor behavior. We cannot be productive if people feel uncomfortable or threatened.

Discrimination, harassment, bullying, intimidation, and other exclusionary behavior is prohibited. We do not discriminate based on race, color, creed, sex, age, national origin, economic status, religion, ethnic identity, ancestry, marital status, family responsibilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, physical appearance, or disability.

We protect and safeguard our WCDC assets. Stealing, misappropriation, or diversion of WCDC funds, property, or other assets for personal benefit is prohibited.

The Washington County Democratic Committee is a subsidiary of the Democratic Party of Virginia

(DPVA) and adheres to state party guidelines and principles.

OUR LEADERSHIP.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

2026 - 2028

The Washington County Democratic Committee’s Executive Committee is the governing body of the party in between meetings of the full Committee. The Executive Committee meets once per month, one week prior to the full Committee meeting.

The Executive Committee is composed of the elected officers of the Committee, the Chairs of the Election District Committees, the Chairs of the Standing Committees, the elected Democratic public office holders who reside in Washington County, the elected members of the Democratic Party of Virginia’s Central Committee who reside in Washington County, and the immediate past Chair of the Committee.

Chair of the WCDC

Karl Busch

Karl Busch is the Chair of the Washington County Democratic Committee. Karl has been active in local politics for many years including the Economic Development Committee & Main Street Partnership Implementation Support Team in Simsbury, CT (1992 – 1996), Co-Chair of the Capital Improvement Committee for the Town of Oak Island, NC (2006 – 2019), & Ad Hoc Committee member and team leader for the WCDC Communications, Newsletter, Poll Greeter Training, Voter Engagement teams (2022 – Current). Karl has an MBA in Management and MS in Organizational Behavior / Organizational Development; he spent most of his career managing customer-facing teams in Fortune 500 companies, and 20+ years as an external Process Improvement consultant working with Senior Management & Sales/Marketing teams to improve performance in large corporate organizations.

Vice Chair for Operations

David Brooks

David Brooks is the Vice Chair for Operations for the Washington County Democratic Committee. David is 18 years old, a native of Bristol Virginia (the part in the county) and is currently pursing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a focus in Legal Studies At Virginia Tech. David interned for Senator Kaine in his D.C office where he focused on labor and defense issues. He was raised by his loving grandparents, with his grandmother being a small business owner and medical clerk, while his Grandfather was a Vietnam War Veteran and a retired coal miner.

Vice Chair for Finance

Mary Lynn Tate

Mary Lynn Tate is the principal of The Tate Law P.C., specializing in civil litigation in Abingdon, Virginia, including medical negligence, product liability, personal injury, estate, business disputes, labor, employment, and commercial cases. She is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL), former president of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (VTLA), a permanent member of the Fourth Circuit Federal Judicial Conference and serves on the Board of Governors and Executive Committee of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA).

Ms. Tate was Co-Director of the University of Virginia National College of Trial Advocacy and will join the Trial Advocacy College at William & Mary Law School in 2026.

Born in Lake City, Tennessee, she moved to Roanoke, Virginia early in life. Ms. Tate is admitted to practice before the Virginia Supreme Court, several federal courts, and regulatory agencies.

Political involvement includes fundraising committees for Clinton-Kaine, Jim Webb, Tim Kaine, Mark Warner, chairing the Washington County Democratic Committee, and participating in the University of Virginia Sorenson Institute’s Inaugural Leadership Class.

Secretary

Lagwenna Patton

The Secretary is to keep an accurate and permanent record of all the proceedings of the Committee, and make available to the Committee this record within two weeks of each meeting for timely review. To serve as custodian of the records of the Committee, except those financial records retained by the Treasurer. To keep a roster of the names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, fax numbers (if available), and voting precincts of the members and a list of the Committee’s officers which shall be forwarded to the Chair for transmittal within ten days of the election to the state headquarters of the Democratic Party of Virginia. To assist the Chair in preparing agendas and providing a copy for each member.

Treasurer

Fred Hebard

Fred Hebard currently serves as Treasurer of the Washington County Democratic Committee. He previously served as Chair of the Committee from 2020-2022. Fred has been active in Virginia politics for many years. He has spent most of his adult life working with chestnuts. Fred has a M.S. degree in botany and a Ph.D. in plant pathology.

DISTRICT CHAIRS & PRECINCT CAPTAINS

Upon election of the new Committee, members of the Committee shall caucus by Election District to elect a District Chair and Vice-Chair, as well as a Precinct Captain for each precinct, and report the results of those elections to the Secretary.

Please use the "Contact Us" form to get in touch with a District Chair or Precinct Captain!

Michael Jackson
(A-21) Harrison District Chair

Precinct Captains

Christine Bostick

Lori Freeman

(1o1) East Abingdon Precinct

Nancy Metcalf

(102) West Abingdon Precinct

Ed Davis
(D-21) Monroe District Chair

Precinct Captains

Fred Newman

(4o1) Glade Spring Precinct

Tom Taylor

(402) Meadowview Precinct

Chris Lester
(G-21) Wilson District Chair

Precinct Captains

Linda Davidson

Stephanie Johnson

(701) High Point Precinct

Elva Lester

(702) Wallace Precinct

Dane Ratliff

(703) John Battle Precinct

VACANT
(B-21) Jefferson District Chair

Precinct Captains

Vacant

(201) Clinchburg Precinct

Vacant

(202) Greendale Precinct

Vacant

(203) Hayter's Gap Precinct

Vacant

(204) Woodland Hills Precinct

Tommie Waters
(E-21) Taylor District Chair

Precinct Captains

Neva Johnson

(501) Rhea Valley Precinct

Ed Greer

(502) Damascus Precinct

Karl Busch

(504) Green Cove Precinct

Cathy Abernathy
(C-21) Madison District Chair

Precinct Captains

Julianne Miles

(3o1) Watauga Precinct

Rudy Flora

(302) South Abingdon Precinct

VACANT
(F-21) Tyler District Chair

Precinct Captains

Vacant

(601) Burson Place Precinct

Vacant

(602) Mendota Precinct

Vacant

(603) Valley Institute Precinct

Vacant

STANDING COMMITTEES

The Chair of each Standing Committee shall be appointed by the Chair of the WCDC. Members of each committee shall be appointed by the Chair and may be suggested by the Standing or Special Committee Chair and approved by the Chair of the WCDC. The Chair may establish Ad Hoc Committees as the need arises. All Ad Hoc Committees shall be approved by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.

Newsletter

Committee

Newsletter Committee
Ad-Hoc Committee

Karl Busch
Chair

Get Involved:
newsletter@washcovadems.org

Poll Training

Committee

Poll Training Committee
Ad-Hoc Committee

Newsletter Committee
Ad-Hoc Committee

Lynn Bennett
Chair

Contact:
chiplady@gmail.com

Budget

Committee

Finance Committee
Standing Committee

Newsletter Committee
Ad-Hoc Committee

Julianne Miles
Chair

Contact:
finance@washcovadems.org

Events

Committee