LIMA — While the upcoming presidential election has been on the minds of Americans for a while, the July party conventions will see the campaign truly take off. With the Republican National Convention taking place July 18 to 21 in Cleveland, delegates and alternates from the area are excited to be part of such an important national event so close to home.
“It’s certainly an exciting opportunity, especially with the political landscape of this year,” delegate and Allen County Republican Party Chairman Keith Cheney said. “I guess one of the greatest things will be having the opportunity to actually be at ground zero of Republican politics for 2016 at the convention with the oppotunity to meet with and talk with basically the who’s who of Republican politics in the United States.”
With Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich suspending their campaigns last week, leaving businessman Donald Trump as the presumptive nominee, the drama of a contested convention may be gone, but there still promises to be a lot going on for local delegates, including Cheney and Lima Pallet Co. owner Tracie Sanchez. Former State Rep. Matt Huffman, state Sen. Keith Faber, R-Celina, Allen County Republican Party Executive Administrator Lynn Vernik and Auglaize County resident and state Board of Education member Teresa Elshoff will attend the convention as alternates.
“Ohio requires all of their delegates and alternates to attend,” Vernik, a first-time attendee, said. “I’m looking forward to actually seeing the convention itself firsthand. I think every convention is history in the making. When you look back in history at the different conventions, that is the real beginning of the campaign.”
Along with the convention itself, there will be several events for delegates taking place throughout the city, giving both the city of Cleveland and the state of Ohio the chance to show the rest of the nation what it has to offer.
“There are delegation events literally almost every morning, noon and evening,” Faber said. “They range from the education to the social. Usually, you have evening activities inside the convention, hearing from rising stars and experiencing the diversity that is the Republican Party.”
