Widow of slain chairman Bill Gwatney to take his place as convention delegate.

Source: AP News

The widow of slain state Democratic Party Chairman Bill Gwatney will fill his spot at the Democratic National Convention in Denver next week, the governor said Thursday.

Gov. Mike Beebe said Rebecca Gwatney accepted an invitation from party leaders to fill the vacancy left in the state's delegation when her husband was killed last week.

"I can't express how honored I am to represent Bill at the Democratic National Convention ...," she said. "Bill loved helping and serving people. He wanted to make Arkansas better for everyone."

While Rebecca Gwatney replaces her husband as one of the state's 47 delegates, the party's vice chairwoman, Karla Bradley, was chosen to chair the delegation in Denver in Bill Gwatney's place.