Bill Gwatney

Bill Gwatney, a former state senator for Arkansas, was a superdelegate in the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination and the chairman of the Arkansas Democratic Party.

Bio
Bill Gwatney, who owned three car dealerships in the Little Rock area, became the chairman of the Arkansas Democratic Party in 2007. He had represented the Jacksonville area for more than 10 years as a state senator, and in 2006 he was Gov. Mike Beebe's finance chair.

Death
Gwatney was shot in his office in Little Rock on the morning of August 13, 2008. According to reports, the gunman, Timothy Dale Johnson, asked to speak with Gwatney but was refused entrance by Democratic Party staff. Police said Johnson forced his way past Gwatney's assistant, introduced himself to the chairman, and then shot Gwatney several times. Gwatney died a few hours later of his wounds.

Johnson fled to a nearby convention and then led police on a 30-minute pursuit. Officers fatally shot him following the chase.

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Portal:Superdelegate Transparency Project
 * Superdelegates in the 2008 presidential primaries
 * U.S. presidential election, 2008
 * U.S. presidential election, 2008/Congressional endorsements
 * Portal:2008 U.S. Congressional Elections