Thurston County Democratic caucus needs an update

This was not my first Democratic convention/caucus. However, it will probably be my last.

I was elected as a Bernie Sanders delegate representing my precinct. I arrived at the Thurston County convention site on May 1. After submitting my name for future consideration as a Bernie delegate to the state convention, I was given the paperwork for the convention rules and the county platform. When the convention began, the auditorium was almost full, the energy was very high and the majority of the people present were Bernie supporters.

Because of state Democratic Party convention rules, we were not allowed to either vote on the platform, nor break into our legislative district caucus for the election of state delegates. These rules stated that before any business could be conducted, all delegates and all alternate delegates must be confirmed. Six hours later my legislative district delegates had still not been confirmed.

By now the majority of the people had left the auditorium, the energy had evaporated, newly registered Democrats had been totally discouraged and turned off, and I left before I could be considered as a candidate for Bernie.

The Thurston County Democratic Party needs to join the 21st century; all the checking could have easily been done within an hour if the data had been computerized prior to the convention. Was this a calculated measure to accomplish the goal of turning off and discouraging new, young Democrats for Bernie, as well as older Democrats for Bernie?

This story was originally published May 12, 2016 at 2:10 PM with the headline "Thurston County Democratic caucus needs an update."