Democrats host state convention

More than 400 delegates are expected to attend a Nevada State Democratic Party convention at Caesars Palace this weekend that will solidify support for presumptive presidential nominee Al Gore.

State party chairman Rory Reid said he does not expect the convention, which begins Friday and ends Sunday, to produce any surprises.

Democrats will reiterate their opposition to proposed high-level nuclear waste dumping in Nevada as well as their support for Social Security, education and prescription drug coverage for Medicare recipients.

"I don't think there will be any big fights over the platform," Reid said. "There are no issues with which there are significant disputes."

Highlights of the convention are expected to include the Saturday morning keynote address from Rep. Janice Schakowsky, D-Ill., and a Saturday evening speech from Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. Both members of Congress have opposed proposals to ship nuclear waste to Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, and were described by Reid as "dynamic" speakers.

Schakowsky, a House freshman, said she will address the importance of grass-roots campaigning, which she said made the difference in her 1998 victory.

She also will stress that Nevadans have a vested interest in causes championed by Democrats because the state has the fastest growing school-age and senior citizen populations in the country.

"It is Democrats who will make the difference in education, protecting Social Security and lowering the cost of prescription drugs," Schakowsky said. "It is the people in that (convention) room, grass-roots Democrats, who are going to make a difference in the election."

Boxer spokesman David Sandretti said the senator will address issues such as equal pay for women, the patients' bill of rights and the environment.

"She's going to talk about the importance of electing Democrats to Congress in order to move forward on issues important to Americans," Sandretti said. "We are stalled on hiring new teachers and building schools. We are stalled on the patients' bill of rights. We are stalled on federal gun control."

The schedule Friday will be dominated by platform meetings, and workshops on campaigns, precinct work and media communications. Also planned are receptions that will be attended by such party leaders as Sens. Harry Reid and Richard Bryan and Rep. Shelley Berkley.

Aside from speeches, the Saturday agenda will feature election of state delegates to the Democratic National Convention, which will be held in Los Angeles in August. State Democrats will elect 20 delegates and four alternates, who will accompany nine super delegates to the national convention. The super delegates will include the state's congressional members and top party leaders.

Rory Reid said Vice President Al Gore is expected to have the support of all 29 of Nevada's delegates to the national convention. Also running unopposed for four-year terms as Democratic national committeeman and committeewoman respectively are former Las Vegas Rep. James Bilbray and former Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones.

Bilbrary is the incumbent committeeman. Jones was appointed earlier this year to the vacant committeewoman's position.

The state party's first ever lifetime achievement award, named for former Nevada Sen. Howard Cannon, will be presented Saturday night to Cannon and to Washoe County resident Gertrude Gottschalk, a former Democratic national committeewoman.

The convention will wrap up Sunday with discussion and approval of the state party platform.

Steve Kanigher

is a staff writer for the Sun. He can be reached at (702)-259-4075 or by e-mail at [email protected]

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