Dems convene, show support

11 headed to Boise convention

by KATHERINE WUTZ

Sen. Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum, leads Blaine County Democrats in the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of the Democratic caucus Saturday at Wood River High School in Hailey. Photo by Willy Cook

Blaine County Democrats gathered Saturday to choose the county's delegates to the State Democratic Convention and reiterate their support for President Barack Obama.

Blaine County Democrats Chair Gini Ballou said the caucus drew 28 Blaine County Democrats and two from Camas County, who cast their votes separately. All but one, who remained uncommitted, cast their votes for Obama. After the vote, participants were asked to nominate local Democrats to head to the state convention in Boise this summer.

Eleven Blaine County delegates were elected and will join delegates from Idaho's 43 other counties to hash out the state's Democratic Party platform on June 14-16 in Boise. County residents also elected two alternates in case any of the delegates is unable to serve.

Ballou said she was happy to see some new faces in the crowd.

"We did have some people [nominated] who have been involved in the community but not in the party," she said. "To have them step up and say 'I want to be a delegate' was very nice."

Ketchum residents Betty Murphy, Sen. Michelle Stennett, Greg Moore and Jima Rice will join Hailey residents Gini Ballou, Jeff Ballou, Kim Laragan-Uranga and Mimi Henried, Bellevue residents Kathleen Cameron and Larry Schoen and Sun Valley resident Donald Lappin at the state convention in June.

Katherine Wutz: kwutz@mtexpress.com

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