I'm running for National Delegate - Part 2, Counting Ballots

Upon landing in Denver eight years ago, I made a new friend in baggage claim. We were both Clinton delegates looking for the shuttle to the Texas delegation hotel. Julie and I were together the whole convention. Over the past eight years we have kept up our friendship. Four years ago at state convention in Houston, Julie helped work the check in line while I was running for SDEC. In Houston in 2012 we caught up one of our other Denver convention buddies, Kathy from Fort Bend, and said that we should all run again in 2016.

Kathy, me and Julie 2012 State Convention

I sent Julie a text that I was thinking about running again when I returned from the SDEC meeting in Austin. Within 30 seconds the phone rang, "You are running, well I'm going to run too!" Now I'm in - Julie is running and now I am running. The goal is for both of us to go.

During the weeks leading up to the convention, Julie did everything she could to earn votes. She called delegates, sent out a mail piece and sent out several emails. Unfortunately for her, there was only one Clinton female spot in her Senate District and she was running against the current SDEC Committeewoman. 

Unlike previous years, elections to National Delegate were done on paper ballots. As a result, winners were not known immediately. Ballots were taken down to counting rooms on the bottom floor of the Alamodome in separate rooms for the Clinton and Sanders delegates. Several Senate Districts, including 16, also voted on paper ballots for all Committee positions, Committeewoman and Presindtial elector. As Committeewoman I helped count the ballots. David and I recruited several counters to help us. The Clinton Counters, Sanders Counters and the SDEC counters split up and counted ballots. 

Counting seven separate elections was quite tedious, especially that we had slice up close to 300 ballots on a paper cutter. I took a break and went out into the hallway and ran into George and Theresa, our Clinton counters. I was greeted with "Congratulations"! And Theresa gave me a cookie! Hooray! I was happy!

And then I saw Julie in the hallway. She had not won. That's all she was told. I told her to try to run as an At-Large delegate. I knew that she wouldn't have much of a chance, but it was worth a shot.

To be continued.....