Conventions of the Michigan Democratic Party to select delegates to Denver were held on Saturday, April 19. Saginaw County is gerrymandered into two different congressional districts, with a majority of the county’s area being in the heavily Republican 4th Congressional District and the heavily Democratic City of Saginaw stuck into the Democratic stronghold of the 5th Congressional District, which includes Genesee County. It is no surprise that Republican Dave Camp (4th) and Democrat Dale Kildee (5th) are two of the longest-serving Representatives in the US Congress.

The Michigan 4th Congressional District, which extends from Saginaw to Traverse City , held their convention in Mt. Pleasant . There were 138 attendees. The convention was split into two caucuses for voting, Clinton and “Uncommitted.” Since there are only two presidential candidates left, “Uncommitted” now means Obama. There were 89 attendees in the Uncommitted caucus and 49 attendees in the Clinton caucus. Delegate numbers were assigned by the distribution of votes in the January 15 Michigan primary, which saw Clinton get 55% and Uncommitted get 40% statewide. The 4th was assigned as follows: Clinton - two male delegates and one female delegate, plus one female alternate; Uncommitted – one male delegate and one female delegate.

Some SADC members attending the 4th District Convention were Bob Ciaffone, Kitty Packard, Terry Manwell, Sue Prine, and LoRayne Apo-Joynt. After we were divided into counties, Kitty Packard accepted the responsibility of counting the Uncommitted votes and reporting them.

SADC Vice President Ciaffone was one of three candidates for male uncommitted delegate. He was endorsed by the Michiganders for Obama organization because he is known to be a strong Obama supporter. That organization is a grassroots group that has been very active in Michigan statewide. (The regular Obama campaign had to pledge to not campaign in Michigan this year.) On the first ballot, Ciaffone got 49% of the vote from those present. However, no one from Kalkaska county showed up at the convention. By the MDP rules, their four votes were split three ways, which brought Ciaffone up over the 50% mark by a fraction, and he was declared to be the winner. Perhaps being elected by this thin a margin and the final over-the-top vote being cast by no one present is some sort of a record?

In the contest for female uncommitted delegate, the 4th District Regional Director of Michiganders for Obama, Mary Bacon of Midland , was elected unanimously.

The Clinton caucus elected 4th District Chair Bob Donoghue of Midland as a male delegate. Two prominent UAW figures, Duane Zuckschwerdt of Shiawassee County and Diane Kettler of the Traverse City area, were picked as the other two Clinton delegates. Freeland’s Ruth Averill was chosen to be the alternate. Clinton delegates are still subject to approval by the Clinton campaign; Uncommitted delegates are official, and are pledged to support Senator Obama––a pledge Bacon and Ciaffone took with gusto.

After the event, Saginaw people and others went to a nearby restaurant, where a well-attended campaign fundraiser for 4th District Congressional candidate Andy Concannon was held. Concannon also spoke at the convention before we divided into caucuses.

At the A.Phillip Randolph Dinner in Saginaw
The guest speaker cancelled at the last minute. I left before the substitute speaker started talking. The dinner was excellent. Lots of elected officials; Kaltenbach, Brown, Woods, Foxx, Sangster, Hadsall, also Carl Williams and our Mayor (Joyce Seals). I went to the Randolph event and had a great time. Some Party and Club members were there- JJ (Horgan), Cheryl (Hadsall), Jack Campbell & wife, Sheriff Brown & wife, Andy Coulouris, Eddie Foxx, Gary Shepherd, Moe Woods, Larry Jones, et cetera.

-Bob

From Jerry Ulrey- 5th District Convention in Flint.

While I did not take notes of the 5th Congressional District Convention, I'll try to give you as much as I can recall (along with a copy of a slate that I still have). Cheryl Hadsall, Mike Hanley, and myself (Jerry Ulrey) traveled to UAW Local 599 in Flint for the Convention. Also present were Clara Bremer, Nancy Link, Terry Sangster, Ron Tibula, and Gerald Kariem from Saginaw. (If there were more from Saginaw, I either didn't see them or I didn't know them). The union Hall was as big as UAW Local 455, and all the seats were taken. Delegates were lining two of the walls standing up. For the vote (as I recall) Genesee County had 169 votes, Saginaw County has 29 votes, Bay County had 28 votes, and Tuscola County had 13 votes. It should be no surprise that in the Hillary Clinton delegate selection process, Ron Duncan and Michael Behm (Genesee County) were chosen as the 1st and 2nd male delegates, Rosa Holiday (Bay County) and Vickie Price (Genesee County) were selected as the 1st and 2nd female delegate and Gerald Kariem (Saginaw County) was chosen as the male alternate delegate. For uncommitted, Floyd Clack (Genesee County) was selected as the male delegate and Geraldean Hall (Genesee County) was selected as the female delegate.

The Convention was chaired by Dan Kildee, Treasurer Genesee County, with the help of 5th C.D. Executive Director, Matt Schlinker, and Nancy Link as Secretary. Genesee County Commission Chair, Woodrow Stanley gave a rousing speech, as did State Senator, Deb Cherry, and a labor representative from AFSCME. Several elected officials, including our own Cheryl Hadsall, Saginaw County Commission Chair, and candidates were introduced.

After approval of the Credentials Committee was completed, the Rules Committee, which I had the privilege of serving on, was approved. The Clinton delegates then moved to another room where we voted for the National Convention Delegates while the Uncommitted delegates did the same in the main hall.

All in all, it was quite an experience and we returned to Saginaw.

Jerry Ulrey

From Garnet Lewis from the Great Lakes Loons Run/ Walk in Midland

The Second Annual Loons Run/Walk was a huge success! Participant numbers were up this year as the event was more widely publicized. The crowd of runners and walkers enjoyed a warm morning with a loop out that started at the stadium, out along the Rail Trail and returning over the Tridge to the ballpark.

Several runners and walkers wore Lewis t-shirts! It was a great run.

--Garn

Vicky Cobb- From the Midland County Democratic Party's Pasta Dinner in Midland

Midland Dems Celebrate Progress
It was a fun and uplifting evening at the Midland County Democratic Party Annual Pasta Dinner. Over 125 people were present to hear MCDP Chairman Joe Weir describe the great progress being made in Midland County toward their goal of making the Democratic Party a viable and influential group. Saginaw Area Democratic Club's own Garnet Lewis, candidate for the State House 98th District, described the importance of funding education and the need to stop balancing the state budget on the backs of our students. Andy Concannon, candidate for the US House 4th District, described the positive feedback he's received across the entire 4th district and the need to refocus the national priorities to Democratic values and give people their voice back in Washington. SADC's Connie Glave, candidate for the Midland County Commission requested signatures for her candidacy. Please contact Connie if you live in Ingersol, Homer, or Midland Twp to make arrangements (989-631-2356).

From Kitty Packard- 4th District Convention, Andy Concannon Fundraiser, Soaring Eagle Casino (?), and Midland County Democratic Party Pasta Dinner

Terry Manwell and I started the day early, 7:45 am, and left for Mt. Pleasant...just a beautiful morning. We went to the 4th Congressional District Convention to vote for Bob Ciaffone in the uncommitted caucus. Saginaw County had 12 delegates. Ten voted for Ciaffone and 2 for Duvall from Midland. Not sure of the final vote, but Bob won narrowly against Duvall. Kalkaska County was the only County not represented, but were still able to vote and their 3 votes may have determined the outcome. VOTES COUNT! Bob is the male delegate and Mary Bacon the female delegate.

Terry, Sue Prine, and I left there and walked to the fundraiser for Andy Concannon. Very nice reception. Terry and I then proceeded to the Casino...I had $2.50 in quarters and Terry $3. The reservation does not exist because of people like we two. The plan was to meet in 20 minutes. I left with $37.50 and Terry was penniless. Later, I then went to the Midland Pasta Supper at the American Legion in Midland. Very well attended. Jeff Mays, Bay City Rep. with a small part of Midland, was their guest speaker and did a great job. I then won their 50/50!

-Kitty