by Ron Gregory
WILLIAMSON — A lifelong resident of Mingo County, Halcy Hatfield of Elk Creek, Delbarton, has been named county Democrat of the Year.
Hatfield will be honored, along with other county Democrats of the Year, at the annual Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner scheduled for October 8 at the Charleston Civic Center.
Louisiana Governor John Bell Edwards will be the keynote speaker for the annual affair.
Hatfield, the Democrat of the Year, is a retired United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) coal miner, a Vietnam veteran, race car owner and former Mingo County Commissioner. He served for 13 months with the rank of E-4 in Vietnam.
“He served on the commission with honor and distinction and did so much for so many during his elected term,” said Mingo County Democrat Chair H. Truman Chafin. “He has worked tirelessly for the people of Mingo County and the Democratic Party.”
Chafin said Hatfield is a Democrat precinct captain and organizer and has worked more than 40 years for the party at the national, state and county levels.
“He is a real Democrat,” said the chairman. “He is respected and loved by everyone in Mingo County. The Mingo County Democrat Executive Committee unanimously selected him as our 2016 Democrat of the Year.”