The Mingo County Democratic Executive Committee is attempting to avoid poll problems in upcoming primary election by becoming proactive and by organizing workers earlier.

The January meeting was the first to be conducted by the committee’s new chairman, Mingo County Sheriff Lonnie Hannah. Sen. H. Truman Chafin had chaired the committee for a number of years, but resigned in December.

“I want each of the committee members to know how much I have enjoyed serving as your chairman for the last several years,” Chafin said.

Because of commitments as the state’s Senate majority leader and his upcoming re-election campaign, he said he was compelled step down.

Hannah had been serving as second vice-chairman before the committee voted to make him chairman. Chafin, in turn, was chosen to assume Hannah’s position as second vice-chair.

Hannah’s said his primary objective for the meeting was preparation for the upcoming primary election on May 11.

“We need to make sure the polls are staffed and opened on time,” Hannah said. He told committee members to they should be sure pollworkers, as well as any alternates, received the required training.

The meeting schedule for 2010 was also discussed. The committee decided to rotate the location of the meetings throughout the county’s seven districts.

Hannah said he hopes the Mingo committee, under his chairmanship, would be able to breathe new life into the Democratic party in the county.

“The Democratic Party in Mingo County has gone stale,” he said. “The GOP is going to be knocking at our door, and we need to work together. Everything doesn’t come about at a local level.”