Boone County Democrats select delegates

By Mary Daly

Published Feb. 29, 2008

Democrats of Boone County, including many MU students, experienced democracy firsthand when they assembled at Rock Bridge High School on Thursday to vote for delegates to represent their party.

In attendance were 54 participants who voted for delegates to represent Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and 88 participants who voted for delegates of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

To be considered to become a delegate, a nominee must be 18 years old, a Democrat and have voted in the Boone County Democratic primary. The same requirements apply to those voting for delegates.

Presiding over the election were party vice chairman Scott Christianson and Phyllis Fugit, chairwoman of the Boone County Democratic Central Committee.

Roles of the delegates are to establish policy procedures for the Democratic Party and vote on planks for the party, according to Christianson. Also, the delegates elected in Boone County are part of those who decide which delegates get to go to the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

“It’s a chance to reward some of the volunteers who have been working tirelessly with the chance to represent this county,” Christianson said.

Based on the Congressional district vote in Missouri’s primary on Feb. 5, 16 delegates were voted on for Clinton and 15 for Obama. Clinton delegates were divided into eight men and eight women, whereas Obama delegates could either include eight men and seven women or vice versa.

Also elected were alternates in direct proportion to the delegates. The alternates’ job is to take the place of a delegate if the delegate is disqualified from the position for whatever reason.

State Auditor spokesman Sean Spence served as chairman of the Obama election.

“I’ve been with Obama from the beginning and I’ll be with him all the way to the White House,” Spence said.

Spence, along with his appointed secretary and College Democrats President Caitlin Ellis, took nominations for Obama delegates.

Each nominee gave a short speech explaining why he or she was qualified to be a delegate.

Mizzou for Obama Director Glenn Rehn ran for a delegate position on the platform that more young people should be involved in the election process.

“The student turnout at these events in 2004 was very low, reflecting a low level of activity among the College Democrats and candidate groups at the time,” Rehn said. “We want to elect young people this time around to bring back the interest in youth.”

Rehn was selected as a delegate.

All those elected as delegates will attend a meeting on March 27 in Mexico, Mo., as well as the Missouri State Democratic Convention on May 10 in Columbia.

For a complete list of Boone County delegates, click here.