Hill County Represented at Democratic Convention

Democrats from Hill County joined nearly 15,000 other Texans in the Democratic State Convention in June 5-7 in Austin.   The attendance set records for recent conventions, and alternates and guests viewed the proceedings from an overflow room with two large screens. 

Serving as delegates from Hill County were Barbara Aydlett, Aquilla; Elsa Scott, Blum; Kerry Horn, Covington; Ernest Brister, Greg Bodovsky, David Dill, Aaron McGregor, Hillsboro; Karon Farquhar and Robin Plumlee, Itasca; Sherry Bugg, Doris Hollingsworth, Linda Robinette and Matthew Suomi, Whitney.  Delegation Chair was Will Lowrance from Hillsboro, Chair of the Hill County Democratic Party.  Also attending as guests of the convention from Hillsboro were Jo Dill, Betty Lowrance, and Judge Bob and Brenda McGregor.

Hill County Democratic Chair Will Lowrance works the Senatorial District 22 registration desk at the State Convention in Austin. Lowrance presents delegate credentials to Linda Robinette of Whitney. Over 7,000 delegates were seated and approximately 15,000 attended the convention.

Senator Kirk Watson of Austin served as Permanent Chair of the Convention, and Boyd Richie was elected to a second term as Chair of the Texas Democratic Party.  JoAnn Jenkins and Danny Trull were re-elected to serve from Senatorial District 22 on the State Democratic Executive Committee.

Chelsea Clinton addressed the convention on behalf of her mother, Senator Hillary Clinton, and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine represented Senator Barach Obama.  Both speakers received enthusiastic response from the audience. In a moving speech Senator Royce West encouraged Clinton and Obama delegates to join hands and begin a united effort to elect Democrats from the courthouse to the White House in 2008. 

All Democratic House members and candidates for House seats were introduced.  Dean of the Democratic House Caucus Jim Dunnam from McLennan County energized the convention by reminding delegates that the Democratic Party is only five seats away from control of the Texas House.

State Rep. Rick Noriega, candidate for the U. S. Senate seat held by Sen. John Cornyn, challenged delegates to work together to build a nation of promise for all people.

Noriega said that American “needs a NASA-like project to make America energy independent.  President Kennedy called for such a project when he said America would put a man on the moon by the end of the decade.

Lowrance, whose first Democratic State Convention was in 1968, said that “ unity was the prevailing sentiment of the convention.  Delegates from all backgrounds and preferences seem ready to work together to elect Democrats willing to address the hard issues of the economy and foreign affairs.”