Staff Reports
Alpine County Democratic Central Committee Chairman Irving Krauss of Woodfords, Secretary Jim Donald of Markleeville, and Members-at-Large Coreen Cole also of Markleeville and Dianna Mitzner from Woodfords journeyed to San Jose for the Democratic Party State Convention March 28-30.
As delegates they participated in several caucuses including the rural whose focus is the mountain counties. At that meeting emergency physician Bill Durston, a candidate for the U.S. House seat currently held by Rep. Dan Lungren commended Alpine for the strong vote it gave him during his 2006 run.
Alpine's delegates were among the 2,018 at the convention. Among its highlights were the reception for U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and speeches by Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, State Attorney Jerry Brown, and Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell and the newly elected Speaker of the State Assembly Karen Bass.
At the concluding General Session, Sunday, decisions were made on ballot propositions for the November election and the 2008 state party platform was adopted. Meanwhile the packed hall of delegates eagerly-awaited the speeches by the supporters of Democratic presidential contenders Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris urged support of Obama, and she was followed by former President Bill Clinton who spoke on behalf of former first lady Hillary Clinton.
As the Alpine members filed out of the packed convention center to return to the mountains they reflected on the large number of young delegates and the great enthusiasm of the participants. Krauss remarked that his ears were still ringing from the noise level of the cheering.
