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County Dems second in state for caucus attendance
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| Bulletin photo by Steve Rzasa — A record 102 registered voters showed up at the Johnson County Democratic caucus on Saturday, March 8, at the Buffalo Senior Center. |
Choose two delegates for Clinton, two for Obama
By Steve Rzasa
At the beginning of the Johnson County Democrats’ caucus on Saturday afternoon, party treasurer June Shambaugh reported on the poor attendance from the July picnic.
She noted that besides herself and party chairman Orville Fries, only one other person showed up … accidentally. A young bicyclist stopped by the picnic table and the two party members invited him to join them.
The 102 registered Democrats filling the Buffalo Senior Center’s main room on March 8 laughed and applauded at this account.
They had reason to be happy, as the number of people who are registered as Democrats in Johnson County is up 8 percent, from 357 in February to 386 in March, and 26 percent of all the Democrats in the county came to the caucus.
“We were second in the state in terms of percent of registered Democrats who came,” said Woody Lawson, the county committeeman who chaired the caucus. He noted only Teton County had a greater percent.
Out of the 102 voters, 98 cast their votes for U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, the two front-runners for the Democratic nomination for president. Obama received 60 votes and Clinton, 38, but because of how the party rules dictate apportioning of delegates, each candidate got two of Johnson County’s four delegates to the May 22 state convention in Jackson.
Statewide, Obama took 187.5 delegates and Clinton, 129.5, with 8,689 Democrats voting.
The delegate count for Johnson County might have turned out differently if the crowd had chosen to have delegates with half votes rather than whole votes. Some other counties did do half votes, as is evident by the delegate split.
John Egan called for half votes, saying, ”With only four delegates, we can better represent the attendance with half votes.”
Rob Davidson argued against splitting the votes, noting voters would have to find eight delegates and eight alternates willing to serve if they did so.
During the presidential preference vote, Barbara Massengill stood and nominated Clinton. “I think she has the most experience,” she said, adding, “I think she would be there in a fight.”
M.L. Vogel seconded that nomination, pointing out that Hillary is the only centrist candidate. “We need someone who is experienced and pragmatic.”
Margi Schroth nominated Obama. “I believe we can no longer wait to get our voices heard.
Lori Lyle seconded the nomination, pointing out issues where Clinton differed from Obama, such as the former’s vote on the war in Iraq. She drew some grumbling from the audience and a few people tried to speak out while she was talking, but Lawson interrupted and asked them to let Lyle continue.
Clinton supporters picked Vogel and Bill McIntyre to be their delegates to the state convention, with Nancy Lick and Chris Wenn as alternates. Obama supporters chose Schroth and Paul Beels as their delegates, with Tracy Carlin and John Tinnin as alternates.
At the state convention in May, Clinton and Obama will vie for the 12 pledged national delegates. Those 12 will be determined by the March 8 caucus results statewide and votes cast by the district delegates at the state convention.
Wyoming also has six unpledged superdelegates, one of whom will be elected at the May state convention and the other five of whom are Gov. Dave Freudenthal, state party Chairman John Millin, state party Vice Chair Nancy Drummond of Sheridan, National Committeeman Pete Jorgensen and National Committeewoman Cynthia Nunley.
All 18 will attend the National Democratic Convention Aug. 25 to 28 in Denver where, in this close race, they could determine the Democratic nominee for president.
She noted that besides herself and party chairman Orville Fries, only one other person showed up … accidentally. A young bicyclist stopped by the picnic table and the two party members invited him to join them.
The 102 registered Democrats filling the Buffalo Senior Center’s main room on March 8 laughed and applauded at this account.
They had reason to be happy, as the number of people who are registered as Democrats in Johnson County is up 8 percent, from 357 in February to 386 in March, and 26 percent of all the Democrats in the county came to the caucus.
“We were second in the state in terms of percent of registered Democrats who came,” said Woody Lawson, the county committeeman who chaired the caucus. He noted only Teton County had a greater percent.
Out of the 102 voters, 98 cast their votes for U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, the two front-runners for the Democratic nomination for president. Obama received 60 votes and Clinton, 38, but because of how the party rules dictate apportioning of delegates, each candidate got two of Johnson County’s four delegates to the May 22 state convention in Jackson.
Statewide, Obama took 187.5 delegates and Clinton, 129.5, with 8,689 Democrats voting.
The delegate count for Johnson County might have turned out differently if the crowd had chosen to have delegates with half votes rather than whole votes. Some other counties did do half votes, as is evident by the delegate split.
John Egan called for half votes, saying, ”With only four delegates, we can better represent the attendance with half votes.”
Rob Davidson argued against splitting the votes, noting voters would have to find eight delegates and eight alternates willing to serve if they did so.
During the presidential preference vote, Barbara Massengill stood and nominated Clinton. “I think she has the most experience,” she said, adding, “I think she would be there in a fight.”
M.L. Vogel seconded that nomination, pointing out that Hillary is the only centrist candidate. “We need someone who is experienced and pragmatic.”
Margi Schroth nominated Obama. “I believe we can no longer wait to get our voices heard.
Lori Lyle seconded the nomination, pointing out issues where Clinton differed from Obama, such as the former’s vote on the war in Iraq. She drew some grumbling from the audience and a few people tried to speak out while she was talking, but Lawson interrupted and asked them to let Lyle continue.
Clinton supporters picked Vogel and Bill McIntyre to be their delegates to the state convention, with Nancy Lick and Chris Wenn as alternates. Obama supporters chose Schroth and Paul Beels as their delegates, with Tracy Carlin and John Tinnin as alternates.
At the state convention in May, Clinton and Obama will vie for the 12 pledged national delegates. Those 12 will be determined by the March 8 caucus results statewide and votes cast by the district delegates at the state convention.
Wyoming also has six unpledged superdelegates, one of whom will be elected at the May state convention and the other five of whom are Gov. Dave Freudenthal, state party Chairman John Millin, state party Vice Chair Nancy Drummond of Sheridan, National Committeeman Pete Jorgensen and National Committeewoman Cynthia Nunley.
All 18 will attend the National Democratic Convention Aug. 25 to 28 in Denver where, in this close race, they could determine the Democratic nominee for president.
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of buffalobulletin.com.
rangewalker wrote on Mar 15, 2008 10:25 AM:
" All of the Johnson County Democrats owe a debt to County Chair Orville Freis and Secretary June Shambaugh for keeping an organization together these many bare years. We also owe a special thanks to the volunteers who stepped forward to fill offices and duties son that we could participate in this election.
The Buffalo Bulletin has my nod as well for covering new events like this election year with eyes open reporting. This coverage would not have happened fifteen and twenty years ago from our local paper.
Our greatest strength comes from any Democrat can participate directly in the process through a caucus. This contrasts with a hand full of selected party regulars and the county chair, with top down guidance from the state organization, that really don’t want to hear from rank and file Wyoming GOP members. The straw vote from participants in the January GOP county conventions were irrelevant in the process, the delegates for Mitt Romney had already been selected. The total number of Wyoming’s GOP delegation had been halved as result of the state GOP leadership electing to break party rules and hold a convention ahead of the New Hampshire primary.
"
The Buffalo Bulletin has my nod as well for covering new events like this election year with eyes open reporting. This coverage would not have happened fifteen and twenty years ago from our local paper.
Our greatest strength comes from any Democrat can participate directly in the process through a caucus. This contrasts with a hand full of selected party regulars and the county chair, with top down guidance from the state organization, that really don’t want to hear from rank and file Wyoming GOP members. The straw vote from participants in the January GOP county conventions were irrelevant in the process, the delegates for Mitt Romney had already been selected. The total number of Wyoming’s GOP delegation had been halved as result of the state GOP leadership electing to break party rules and hold a convention ahead of the New Hampshire primary.
"
Republican wrote on Mar 11, 2008 7:50 PM:
"