The DeKalb County Democratic Party convened Tuesday evening to choose a nominee to run for a recently vacated 1st District county commission seat.

Party members approved the selection of Julie Williams Young of Alexandria to run for the seat left open by the resignation of fellow Democrat Elmer Ellis, Jr. in February.

Young will face Republican nominee Tom Chandler in the August election. Voters will choose a commissioners to fill the remaining two years of Ellis’ term. Ellis, a Democrat, resigned from the county commission last month. The DeKalb County Republican Party nominated Chandler at their own convention on March 12.

In addressing party members, Young said that she looked forward to carrying on a family tradition.

"I was born and raised in the 1st District," she said. "My parents are Patsy Williams and Charles Williams. I come from a family who has always been in service of some kind. Mom and dad were members of the Jaycees for many years. I grew up watching them in service to the community. They helped build a ballpark in Alexandria. They have always been involved in the community. I want to be a champion for the 1st district. I want to help the community. I want to help the county in any way I can. I want to work with the other commissioners. If you will help get me elected to this seat I will do whatever I can to help make DeKalb County Commissioners what we need to be for our community. I am very interested in education. I look forward to working with all the commissioners on the board. I come with no agenda. I want us to have a strong Democratic voice. I want to be a champion for the 1st district."