Delegates from Valley are eager to make history
YOUNGSTOWN
Many Mahoning Valley delegates to the Democratic National Convention say they’re eager to be part of history when Hillary Clinton is officially nominated as the first female candidate for president from a major political party.
“I’m especially excited about witnessing history,” said Kathryn DiCristofaro of Niles, a Clinton delegate and chairwoman of the Ohio Democratic Women’s Caucus. “I’ve been to three other conventions to work, but because of this historic year nominating a woman, I said, ‘I want to be a delegate.’ This will be a memorable convention.”
The DNC starts Monday in Philadelphia and runs for four days, culminating with Clinton’s acceptance speech Thursday night.
Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras, attending his second convention as a delegate, said the convention will be “fun and historic. You get to be part of history. It’s something you never forget. There’s going to be so much excitement in the air.”
Jaladah Aslam of Austintown, the head of the Youngstown Warren Black Caucus and a retired labor leader, is a Clinton delegate attending her third straight convention.
“That I get to nominate a woman after nominating a black man [Barack Obama] is going to be great,” she said. “We’re going to make history again.”
Former state Rep. Tom Letson of Warren, a Clinton delegate, is also attending his third consecutive convention.
“It’s fun, it’s exciting, it’s expensive,” he said.
Hotel rooms for the delegates are $425 a night for five nights in addition to travel expenses.
“It’s expensive to go with transportation, hotel and food,” said Betras of Boardman, a Clinton delegate. “I’ll also end up going to a lot of fundraisers. By the time it’s over, I’ll blow through a lot of money, but it’s worth it. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Clinton says Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine will join her as the candidate for vice president.
The keynote speakers will include first lady Michelle Obama and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who unsuccessfully ran for president but collected numerous delegates including those from Ohio, on Monday; ex-President Bill Clinton on Tuesday; President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday; and Hillary Clinton and her daughter, Chelsea, on Thursday.
Werner Lange of Newton Falls, a Sanders delegate, and state Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, D-33rd, a Clinton delegate, will both attend their first DNC.
“My expectations were a lot higher than they are now,” Lange said. “I was very hopeful that Bernie Sanders would be the nominee and the next president of the United States. It was a huge disappointment. But because of his candidacy, this is the most progressive platform the Democratic Party has ever had. We’ll make sure that Donald Trump will not be the next president.”
Schiavoni said he’ll be at the convention Wednesday and Thursday but doesn’t know what to expect.
“It’s something you go to without expectations,” he said. “You do the best you can and talk about the issues of our state. There are a lot of serious issues to discuss. The party needs to rally around [Clinton] and stay strong and stay organized.”
Robert F. Hagan, a former state legislator who now works as the director of political and legislative affairs for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, will attend the convention for the sixth time.
Hagan of Youngstown is a Sanders delegate.
“It won’t be the first time I’ll be on the losing ballot,” Hagan said. “The Hillary people are concerned about the Bernie delegates [not supporting her]. I’m going to talk to other Bernie delegates about supporting the Democratic nominee. It’s important we beat the racist and misogynist Donald Trump.”
Even though he’s been to five other conventions, Hagan said, “They’re always exciting and unpredictable. It gives us progressives an opportunity to push the liberal agenda and be part of history.”
U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, a delegate, will be in Philadelphia for his fourth convention. He’s one of Clinton’s most-active surrogates.
“This election is crazy, but the first woman Democratic presidential nominee on the heels of the first African-American nominee will be memorable,” Ryan said. “The last convention in Charlotte [in 2012] was festive. This will be a little more on the serious side because Democrats feel there’s a lot at stake in this election. A Donald Trump candidacy has Democrats concerned. The main message of the convention is this is a serious job, and there are serious issues and we need a serious person to address those concerns.”
State Sen. Capri Cafaro of Liberty, D-32nd, has attended every DNC since 1996, but won’t be a delegate this year.
“I intend to participate in a number of different events,” she said. “Also, a woman being nominated as a major party presidential candidate has incredible meaning for me. One thing I can say about conventions is you feel you’re part of history.”