Sense of community felt at convention

Jane Heenan, Las Vegas

Friday, Feb. 29, 2008 | 2:03 a.m.

I attended Saturday’s Clark County Democratic Convention as a delegate for Barack Obama, and I want to share what I believe is the convention’s most important story: community. Thousands of us were together from early morning until late afternoon, talking, laughing, cheering and, yes, sometimes screaming.

Many relationships were born Saturday among people brought together and nurtured by the energy of the convention. I have been here almost 14 years, and I have never experienced the feeling of community present Saturday. This is even more significant in a city that has grown as Las Vegas has for many years finally, it seems, we may be growing up as a community.

The official business of the convention remains unfinished, and party leaders did not provide adequate support for this work to be done. I trust that they will do what is necessary and that we will get to this important work when the convention reconvenes.

And I think that the more important work of getting up, going out and working together to build community will continue when the convention reconvenes. I am excited and proud to be a part of such change, and I met many, many people Saturday who will join me.

The deeper truth is that this convention was and is a historic opportunity and clearly we have work left to do.