FORSYTH COUNTY — A Forsyth County woman will represent Georgia’s 9th Congressional District at the Democratic National Convention.

“I wasn’t really sure how it was going to happen,” said Melissa Clink, a member of the local Democratic Party. “I’d never been through the process or seen it in action, so it was pretty exciting and I was pretty overjoyed.”

Clink was selected last month during a party meeting at the Sautee Nacoochee Center in White County. The 9th District covers north Forsyth and some or all of 19 other counties.

Once at the party’s national convention, which is set for July 25-28 in Philadelphia, Clink is pledged to candidate and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.

“I think Bernie Sanders is serious about criminal justice reform, as well as comprehensive immigration reform,” she said. “That is why I am closely aligned with [him].

“The political climate, as it is right now, I think we have an opportunity to shape the Democratic Party platform a lot more closely to represent the people.”

Clink is the second county resident chosen as a delegate for a national convention. Republican Carolyn Hall Fisher was selected from the 7th Congressional District and will attend the Republicans’ gathering from July 18-21 in Cleveland, Ohio.

The 7th district includes south Forsyth and a portion of Gwinnett County.